What is the additional amount that airlines can impose for luggage and how can you prevent undisclosed charges?

This week, the government promised to take action against “drip pricing”, which refers to the practice of adding additional charges to the base airfare.

According to reports, airline travelers are at a higher risk for experiencing “consumer harms”, such as extra fees for baggage or seat selection. Airlines maintain that these charges are transparent and individuals have the option to select the services they require.

What is the maximum increase in cost for additional features – and is it possible to avoid them? These are the main distinctions.

Only a small number of airlines require passengers to pay for airport check-in. Two examples are Ryanair and Wizz Air.

For Ryanair, passengers who have not checked in online up to two hours before their flight can do so at the airport with the payment of a fee – £55 in the UK, less elsewhere. Passengers who have checked in but cannot present the boarding pass on the Ryanair app or on paper must pay a boarding pass reissue fee of £20 in the UK, €20 (£17) elsewhere.

Passengers flying with Wizz Air have the option to pre-book airport check-in for a fee of £11.50/€13, while those who do not pre-book will be charged £35.50/€40 for airport check-in.

Different airlines have varying procedures, which are often influenced by the duration of a flight and the level of demand for it. Here are some fundamental aspects to consider:

For domestic and European flights, the cost for a one-way 23kg bag is typically £17, but for longer flights, it can go up to £50.

On the longest easyJet flight, a six-hour haul from Belfast to Hurghada in Egypt covering 2,762 miles, a15kg checked bag costs £31, while a 23kg case is £40. On a short flight such as Belfast to London Gatwick the price falls to £21 and £26 respectively.

A standard trip from Newcastle to Faro would require a fee of £38 for a checked bag weighing 22kg.

A common journey is from London Stansted to Budapest. For this trip, a checked bag weighing 10kg costs £15, and a 20kg case costs £25.

The airline offers a variety of choices. For instance, the prices for flights from Liverpool to Warsaw are as listed below:

It is definitely more beneficial to bring one large 32kg bag instead of two separate cases weighing 10kg and 20kg each.

British Airways offers a very generous policy of allowing two pieces of luggage, one small enough to be a backpack and one large enough to be rolled along, with a maximum weight limit of 23kg each.

The fee for a bulky carry-on bag is usually £24 more.

and additional fees

The airline allows each passenger to bring 10kg of luggage, and there may be extra charges for larger dimensions.

The usual price is £14, which includes priority boarding.

The usual cost is £29, which includes priority boarding.

Prices for travel and ticket type differ based on the class chosen, including additional legroom in economy. However, I personally believe that these charges are never worth paying. Families are assigned seats together before the general online check-in opens 24 hours prior to departure. If you are traveling without children, it is beneficial to check in exactly 24 hours before departure as you can usually find decent seats available at this time.

Passengers who hold Silver status or higher can choose their seats at no cost at any point.

The majority of seats can be purchased for £7-£10. However, if you prefer a seat in the front of the plane or an emergency exit row for more legroom, the cost will go up to approximately £40 for the front row.

The prices for seats vary from approximately £10 to £31, with the most expensive being the front row.

The price range for front row seats usually starts at approximately £7 and can go up to £30.

The regular seats typically cost £15, while the front row seats are priced at £36.

Pack lightly and feel at ease with your seat selection.

If that does not suit you, you can take advantage of British Airways’ large allowance for cabin baggage, which is an unusually generous 46kg. You have the option to choose your own seat 24 hours in advance, or if you are traveling with a family, the assignment team can handle it for you.

Regular travelers with easyJet should consider enrolling in easyJet Plus. The yearly fee is £215 and grants you the ability to select any seat on the flight, including coveted front row seats, without additional cost.

For easyJet Plus members, the extra cabin bag, which usually costs £24, is now included for free. If you want a seat with more legroom, you can pay an additional £16 assuming there are openings at the front or in the emergency exit row.

You will also receive a designated baggage drop at larger airports, expedited security, and priority boarding. Although I do not consider these benefits to be highly valuable, the ability to choose your seat and bring a free carry-on bag is worth approximately £40 per flight. Therefore, if you plan on taking at least six easyJet flights (or three round-trips) in a year, the membership is a worthwhile investment.

Source: independent.co.uk