EasyJet has “humiliated” a mother who attempted to board a flight carrying breast milk, news outlets are reporting. Daisy Crawford was due to fly from Bristol to Belfast on 27 April 2025, but told reporters she was stopped at the boarding gate by easyJet staff who questioned her about the milk and breastfeeding equipment and attempted to charge her £48 (around €56) for the extra bag.
That’s despite UK government guidance that allows parents to travel with breast milk in hand luggage, even when not travelling with an infant, just like Crawford. What’s more, there are no limits on the amount of milk passengers can take on board, providing the vessels have a capacity no larger than two litres.
When Crawford tried to explain the situation to the carrier’s team, they insisted “it doesn’t matter, you still need to pay now,” according to a report in The Independent. Crawford told the newspaper: “Breastfeeding is protected by law, and if you’re charging me to carry this when it’s medically essential, you’re effectively financially penalising me.”
Risk of infection
She went on to point out that breastfeeding mothers who are away from their babies need to continue to express milk via a pump during the period they are nursing their child to avoid experiencing discomfort or problems with the way their body expresses milk.
“Regardless of whether you breast or formula feed your baby, there shouldn’t be any barriers in place externally whatever way you choose to do that,” she said, explaining: “If you don’t pump, not only can it affect your supply, but also you’re more likely to get mastitis,” she added. “You get engorged, and mastitis is a precursor to things like sepsis, [which] is quite a serious infection, and you get temperatures and flu-like symptoms.”
“Very sorry”
EasyJet staff refused to listen to Crawford’s pleas, she said, and a manager hung up during a phone call with her. With the employees continuing to pressure her to pay and telling her she would otherwise miss the flight, she then felt obliged to unpack clothes and repack the milk and pump equipment. This felt like a violation of privacy, she said, describing herself as “distressed” and “embarrassed” at the way in which her “private situation was being made very public” in front of other travellers.
EasyJet later issued a statement in which the company policy does “allow customers an additional free-of-charge bag for a breast pump and milk” but only if passengers inform the firm in advance of travel. An airline spokesperson said: “We are very sorry for Ms Crawford’s experience while boarding her flight, as this is not the level of service we expect.”
