The Real Cost Of A Cheap Flight

Whilst many low cost airlines continue to announce new routes, additional hubs and money saving promotions on a weekly basis, it is worth considering the real cost of booking a cheap flight.

Following the announcement that Ryanair intends to charge passengers a ‘pound to spend a penny’, the Metro newspaper has investigated a number of charges that are added to cheap flights, including fees for credit and debit cards bookings, the cost of hand and hold luggage, additional check-in fees and even the price of a sandwich.

Looking at five of the most popular budget airlines, Aer Lingus, bmibaby, easyJet, Ryanair and Thomson Airways, many consumers would be surprised at the charges issued. Many of us book flights online using a debit but do we consider the booking fee added on? Whilst Thomson Airways do not charge any fees for debit card bookings, Aer Lingus and Ryanair both charge over £4 per person per flight. For those booking with a credit card, aside from Thomson Airways charging 2.5% fee, none of the other budget airlines featured charge less than £3.50 per booking, whilst Ryanair charge the highest at £4.75 per person per flight.

 

Surprisingly none of the airlines featured charge a fee for hand luggage, however the allowance for hold luggage differs greatly. Both Ryanair and Thomson Airways have offer only a 15kg hold luggage allowance, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, easyJet offer a 32kg allowance.

 

Lorna Cowan, editor of Which? Holiday said: “We’re disappointed to see major budget airlines introducing charges for services that were once included in the cost of a ticket,

 

“Ryanair’s charge to use its check-in desk is especially unfair. The only way to avoid this is not to check luggage into the hold...Although the airlines view these services as optional, who would go on a week’s holiday without checking a bag into hold?”

 

If you are eager to board you’re flight before the rush ensues, then you may have considered priority boarding. EasyJet charge you £6 for Speedy Boarding, more than any other airline featured. Priority boarding on Ryanair flights will cost £1.90 online, or £2.85 at the airport/call centre. Bmibaby charge a nominal fee, whilst Aer Lingus and Thomson Airways allocate their seats at no extra charge.