News | Know Before You Go | Hidden Charges of 'low cost airlines'

Hidden Charges of 'low cost airlines'
(updated June 2010)

Booking a flight on a “low-cost airline” can often end up costing you more than you think. When booking a flight don't forget to take into account check-in and baggage fees, costs for carrying sport and musical equipment and payment card fees. If you have your own travel insurance, make sure they haven't added insurance to your booking.

Before you book your next “low-cost” flight take a look at the table below to ensure you book the best deal.

 

 

RYANAIR

 

EASYJET

 

FLYBE

 

BMIBABY

 

JET2.COM

 

THOMSON AIRWAYS

Check-In Fee

 

 

 

 

Check-in at the airport and call centre: £10 per person.

Check-in online: £5 per person.

 

No fee.

 

 

No fee.

 

 

 

 

Check-in at the airport and call centre: £10 per person.

Check-in online: Free but only with hand luggage. Can not check-in online if you have baggage therefore you must pay £10 airport check-in fee.

Airport check-in with hand luggage: £8.

Airport check-in with baggage: £16.

Online check-in with just hand luggage: £2.

Online check-in with baggage: £8.

No fee.

Admin Fee

At airport and online: £5 per one-way flight.

£3.50.

Booking Fee: £4 per person, per one way. min £5

Via call centre: booking fee of £7.50 per flight.

Online booking fee: 3.5% of total but minimum of £4.99.

Call centre booking fee: £6 per person, per sector.

No fee.

Checked-In Baggage

Online bookings:

  • First bag of 15kg allowance: £15 per flight.
  • First bag of 15kg allowance Peak Travel during July/August: £20 per flight.
  • First bag of 20kg allowance: £25 per flight.
  • First bag of 20kg allowance Peak Travel: £30 per flight.
  • Second bag of 15 kg allowance: £35 per flight.
  • Second bag of 15kg allowance Peak Rate during July/August: £40 per flight.

Call centre and airport bookings:

  • First bag of 15kg allowance: £35 per flight.
  • First bag of 15kg allowance Peak Travel July/August: £40 per flight.
  • First bag of 20kg allowance: £45 per flight.
  • First bag of 20kg allowance Peak Travel: £50 per flight.
  • Second bag of 15 kg allowance: £70 per flight.
  • Second bag 15kg allowance Peak Travel July/August: £80 per flight.

Online bookings:
£18 per bag (increases incrementally from three bags onwards).

Double price for booking at airport.

Online bookings (up to 20kg):

  • £9.99 per bag, per flight.
  • £28 second bag.

Call centre and airport bookings (up to 20kg):

  • £18 per bag, per flight.
  • £28 second bag.

Call centre and airport bookings: £20 per bag, per flight.

Online bookings: from £12.99 per item, per one way flight.

At airport: £25 fee.

£12.99 per person, per one way flight for one bag.

£30.98 per person, per one way flight for two bags.

£43.97 per person, per one way flight for three bags.

Online check-in:

  • £16 per return journey.
  • £20 mid-haul per return journey.
  • £30 long-haul per return journey.
  • Airport check-in: £32 per return journey.
  • £40 mid-haul per return journey.
  • £60 long-haul per return journey.

 

Excess Baggage

Online: not available.

Call centre and airport booking: £20 per kg.

£18 per bag (currently half price offer, usually £36).

£10 per kg over 20kg.

 

£12 per kg, for the first 3kgs.

£15 per kg, for between 4kg – 6kg.

£20 per kg over 6kg.

Excess baggage unable to be booked online.

£12 per kg, per item on UK, Eire & International flights.

 

 

£10 per kg.

Online:

  • £10 per kilo for short haul flights.
  • £12 per kilo for mid haul flights.
  • £15 per kilo for long-haul flights.

Call centre and airport:

  • short and mid haul £25 return per 5kg.
  • long haul £49.50 return.

Travel Insurance

£11.48 per person, eight days.

£10.50 per person.

From £10.49 per person.

Single trip travel insurance from £5.50 per adult.

Annual multi-trip insurance from £29.99 per adult.

From £9.50 per person single trip.

From £16.99, single-trip, EU.

Sports & Musical Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online bookings:

  • £40 for each sports item or musical instrument per flight.

Call centre and airport bookings:

  • £50 per item, per flight.

 

 

 

 

Online and call centre bookings:

  • £18.50 for each sports item or musical instrument per flight.

Airport bookings:

  • £26 per item, per flight.

Golf clubs, snowboards, skis etc. cost £28 per item, per flight.

Musical instruments cost £28 (£18 via the call centre).

Sports equipment costs from £28 per item, per flight.

Sports equipment can only be made via the call centre or at the airport, not available online.

Online bookings:

  • ski and scuba equipment, golf clubs, musical instruments and other bulky equipment, £17.99 per item, per flight
  • Larger items £24.99.

Call centre and airport bookings:

  • £23 per item, per flight.
  • Larger items, £30.

 

Online bookings: clubs, skis, snowboards, scuba equipment and musical instruments cost £22.50 per item, per flight.

At the airport: golf clubs, skis, snowboards, scuba equipment and musical instruments cost £27.50 per item, per flight.

Fishing rod: £15 per item, per flight at the airport.

Windsurfing boards, body/surf boards and bikes must be pre-booked through call centre: £27.50 (can not be booked online)

Starts from £15 per item, per flight for bikes, golf clubs and ski’s only. All other equipment will be charged according to excess baggage fares.

 

Infant Equipment (car/booster/travel cot)

Online bookings: £10 per item, per one-way flight (one pushchair free of charge).

Call centre and airport bookings: £20 per item, per one-way flight (one pushchair free of charge).

£15

No charge for one pushchair or pram and one car seat.

A pram is free for under 5’s.

Infant travel cots and car seats cost £10 per item, per one-way flight at time of booking.

Buggies/car seats and travel cots up to 10kg free.

Pushchairs and infant car seats free.

Cots are included with your baggage allowance, if not then must purchase excess baggage.

Meal

 

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

No complimentary snacks or drinks available.

Wheelchairs/ Assistance

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Credit Card Charges

Payment handling fee: £5 per person, per flight.

2.5% of the total cost of the booking, with a minimum charge of £4.50, whichever is greater.

£1 per person, per one way. Min £1.50.

 

£4.50 charge per person, per flight. Min: £6.50

2.25% of total.

2.5% of the total cost of the booking.

Debit Card Charges

Payment handling fee: £5 per person, per flight.

Mastercard: no fee.

£3.50 per transaction.

No charge for payments with Electron.

£3 per person, per flight.
Min: £.4

 

Visa electron and Solo free, otherwise 2.25% of total.

£2.95 per transaction.
Free for: Maestro; Solo; Visa Electron and Delta.

Cancellation Fees

 

 

 

Flights can not be cancelled and are non refundable.

There is a £16 admin charge per person, per ticket.

No refund unless cancelled within 24 hours of booking being made. £25 fee per person per flight.

There is a £25 admin charge per person, per flight (non refundable).

Non refundable and
may incur admin fee as well of £25

Non refundable.

 

 

 

Non refundable.

 

 

 

Name Change Fee

Online: £100 per passenger.

Call centre and airport booking: £150 per passenger.

£25 online administration fee plus the difference in fare.

£37.50 through call centre

Flight changes online: £25 per passenger.

Flight changes: £30 at call centre or airport.

Name changes at call centre or airport only: £30.00.

£40 per person per flight plus any difference in fare. Available only through call centre.

£27.50 per one-way flight

£25 per person, per sector plus difference in fare if any.

Pre Assign Seats

Not available.

Not available.

Online
£6 per flight for a standard seat.

£15 per flight for emergency and bulkhead seats booked online.

£12 for extra leg room.

Call centre/airport booking
£8 per person, per flight.

Standard seat
£16 per person, per flight.

Exit Seat
£18 when booked at the airport.

From £4.50 per seat per flight.

£3.99 per one way flight – standard seat

£8.99 per one way flight for extra leg room.

£15 per adult.
£7 per child

APH makes every effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate at the time of collection and publishing but it is provided without any kind of warranty. APH accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.