Budget airlines flying circus
A surprise surcharge AFTER you have paid – it’s the latest crazy twist in the . . .
BOOKING a flight used to be so simple – choose the destination and class of travel, select a seat and you could be sure your baggage was also included in the price along with some food and drink on board. Holidaymakers could start their getaway feeling relatively relaxed.
Now travellers need the attention to detail of a contract lawyer combined with the skills of a mathematician to know if their ticket represents a good deal.
Get it wrong with regards to your baggage allowance, make a typing error on the booking form or – as opposite – accidentally press the wrong button on the payment page that triggers onerous currency exchange charges and those bargain prices suddenly balloon.
Passengers must have their wits about them to keep on top of airline rules. Constantly changing luggage allowances is just one bugbear – and they differ between airlines.
Now Ryanair is at the centre of allegations – which it denies – that it splits up families travelling together to panic them in to paying up to £11 a person extra each way for allocated seats.
All these hurdles stoke up costs and stress.
Martyn James, of online complaints service Resolver, says: ‘Airlines which put people through this decision-making circus need to bear in mind that their customers are only a few clicks away from a competitor. Something has got to change to end the series of indignities and stress people face just to book a flight.’
Here are just some of the flight extras that inflate a ticket price:
SEATS
WHETHER it is extra legroom, a wider seat, switching seats or sitting together, charges mount for those who want to select a certain level of comfort on their flight or fear the airline’s random allocation.
Charges for allocated seats range from £1 to £55 depending on airline and cabin class. Changing seat is free with some airlines as part of a higher ticket price, while others, such as BA’s standard ticket, applies a £7 charge to switch even to a neighbouring seat.
Tip: Only choose allocated seats if it is vital to sit together, such as when travelling with children.
LUGGAGE
PRICES for hold luggage vary hugely, as do weight and size limits. With the new automated bag drops used by some airlines, it is now tricky to win over check-in staff with a smile or a sob story about baggage being slightly over the limit. Get it wrong and you could pay between £10 and £20 per extra kilogram. Many carriers also have a one cabin bag rule, with size and weight variations (some as small as a laptop case). Tip: Check weights before leaving home – and always book hold luggage in advance as rates escalate at the check-in desk and gate. Ensure there is space in any cabin bag for a handbag to avoid being charged extra.
PAYMENT
CREDIT card charges usually apply at a rate of up to 3 per cent, with a few exceptions such as Monarch. Although rules now require such fees to be made clear up-front, many travellers neglect to budget for them in advance. Tip: Consider using a debit card to avoid charges.
FLIGHT CONFIRMATION
SOME airlines charge to send a text confirming details of a flight. This can cost £1. Tip: Rely on an email instead.
PRIORITY BOARDING
PRIORITY boarding may be on offer only to members of airline loyalty schemes or those whose ticket includes allocated seating.
Some charge extra such as Wizz Air (£5 online and £25 at the airport). Tip: You may ensure your hand luggage gets a space in the cabin but you will not get to your destination
any faster by boarding first. It is a cost not worth bearing.
INSURANCE
AUTOMATIC insurance add-ons were once ubiquitous and a serious annoyance when booking a flight.
These days they are few and far between but offerings are still presented alongside the booking details to lure lazy buyers. Most cover is at best basic and poor value for money. Tip: Take out your own travel policy in advance. Compare deals at websites such as Travel-Supermarket or Compare The Market.
CAR HIRE AND TRANSFERS
AS WITH insurance, car hire and transfers are now offered only as voluntary extras – unlike in the past when people had to untick a box to exclude them from such deals.
But watch out – some airlines still do this outside the UK. Tip: Deals are likely to be more competitive if you do your own searching. Try comparison websites such as Skyscanner or Kayak.
IN-FLIGHT PURCHASES
FEW airlines now provide standard ticketholders freebie food and drink, especially on short haul flights. Tip: Buy a picnic before heading on board and avoid buying lottery tickets and other in-flight offers pushed by stewards. Take earplugs and zone out of the sales patter.
CHECKING IN
SOME airlines charge for checkin at the airport – £50 with Ryanair, for instance. Many also charge to reissue boarding passes. Tip: Set a reminder on your phone to check in online and print your own boarding pass or use a mobile phone boarding pass if available.
NAME CHANGES
MAKE a mistake with a name on a booking, such as using a nickname – and you could face a charge of £100 or more to correct it. Tip: Ask a relative or friend to look over your booking before you press the purchase button.