A flight attendant told Express.co.uk that in order to avoid luggage fees, passengers should use the duty-free shopping bag method.

Use a duty-free bag to carry your belongings

Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz explained that this method consists of using a duty-free shopping bag to carry clothes and other items that don’t fit in the hand luggage.

This is a clever way to sneak an extra bag on board as “duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage,” and gate agents won’t say anything. Holidaymakers can bring a duty-free bag from home or buy one at the duty-free shop in the airport terminal.

He explained: “If you have something that doesn’t fit in your suitcase or you want to bring an extra bag on board, here’s the trick.

“All you have to do is carry a duty-free bag. Or ask for one at the duty-free shop and you place whatever you want in the shopping bag. There is obviously limited space, but at least you are bringing an extra bag on the plane with you.

“Now you know. If you ever find yourself in that situation, just put whatever you want in a duty-free bag. You are welcome!”

Use a pillowcase to carry extra items

Another method is to use a “fake pillow,” which doesn’t count as a piece of luggage, to carry extra items, but holidaymakers will have to bring their own pillowcase.

Hundreds of travellers have shared the popular hack on social media saying that security officers and gate agents “don’t say anything”.

A TikTok user explained: “I did it on two transatlantic flights and it worked,” and another one said: “It certainly seems genius to me!”

Use your clothes to carry extra items

Finally, your clothes can be used to carry more items and avoid luggage fees. A travel expert from Handluggageonly recommended: “Pack all the clothes you need in your backpack but if that person checking you in for your flight turns around and says anything about your bag being overweight and tries to charge you the excess baggage fare, simply pop over to the bathroom and wear as many clothes as possible.

“Technically, no one can say anything about the fact that you just wore your extra clothes on you instead of having them in your luggage and more importantly – they can’t charge you the extra fare as your bag weight should be much more in line.”

Passengers can use the pockets to carry toiletries, chargers, socks and other small items.