Budget carriers under fire for extra charges
The price of a flight to Paris with Bmibaby increased by around a quarter when one piece of hold luggage was checked in and the ticket was booked using a credit card, and the price of a flight to Malaga increased by 23%, according to research by the organisation.
Ryanair charges £50 extra across all its routes for checking in a hold bag and paying with a credit card; an increase of between eight per cent and 29% on the advertised cost of the fare.
Jet2.com was found to add the most to the cost of a flight for the charges – £92.16 – this was an increase of just 10% on the advertised ticket price.
Easyjet consistently had the lowest luggage and card charges of the four airlinesWhich? Holiday syudied, ranging from £26 to £38 extra. But in one case this still amounted to a 17 per cent increase on the advertised price.
Which? Holiday head of research Rochelle Turner said:“It’s hard to believe that any airline could justify increasing the ticket price by almost a third just for checking a bag into the hold and paying on a credit card – two services that not too long ago were included in the headline price.
“Airlines argue that they are being fairer to customers who don’t use these services. But, in reality, how many people don’t use a credit or debit card to pay for their flights, or travel without luggage?
Initial quote £197.96 £126.04 (1) £301.96 (3) £182.26 (5,*)
Paris Final total £262.94 £152.04 (1) £359.76 (3) £232.26 (5,*)
£ extra £64.98 £26.00 £57.80 £50
% extra 24.7% 17.1% 16.1% 21.5%
Initial quote £223.96 (b) £267.76 £230.96 (3,c) £121.98 (c )
Malaga Final total £288.94 (b) £296.40 £288.85 (3.c) £171.98 (c )
£ extra £64.98 £28.64 £57.89 £50
% extra 22.5% 9.7% 20% 29.1%
Initial quote £357.98 + £650.54 (2) £818.96 (4) £519.20 (a,**)
Rome Final total £374.98 + £688.75 (2) £911.12 (4) £569.20 (a,**)
£ extra £17.00 £38.21 £92.16 £50
% extra 4.5% 5.5% 10.1% 8.8%
Initial quote £233.76 (a) £121.96 £261.96 (3,c) £200.18 (a)
Faro Final total £298.74 (a) £147.96 £321.66 (3,c) £250.18 (a)
£ extra £64.98 £26 £59.70 £50
% extra 21.8% 17.6% 18.6% 20%
1 London Luton 2 London Gatwick 3 Leeds Bradford 4 Manchester 5 Glasgow Prestwick
a Sat 13-Tue 16 Feb b Fri 12-Sun 14 Feb c Thur 11-Sun 14 Feb
+ Operated by partner carrier Germanwings
* Paris Beauvais (BVA)
** Rome Ciampino (CIA)
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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