Holidaymakers are being told which budget European airlines charge the most in hidden fees like extra leg room, late check-in and seat selection.
Travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk have sifted through the extra costs across eighteen European budget airlines to reveal which carriers hit passengers hardest with add-on charges.
The experts analysed fees for extra leg room, standard seat selection, cabin bags, luggage costs and late airport check-in fees to determine the true cost of flying with each airline.
Their findings revealed Spanish airline Vueling, which offers cheap flights to major European cities, charges the most for extra fees.
The airline charges over £90 for a 20kg hold bag, and with other optional add-ons like seat selection, cabin bag and extra leg room, the fees can reach £163.36.
Second on the list is one of the best-known budget airlines in Europe, Ryanair, which hits passengers with add-ons totalling £152.99.
With Ryanair, travellers need to be prepared to check in online in advance, as failure to do so can result in a hefty airport check-in fee of £55 per person. Additional costs also come from selecting seats and bringing extra luggage, with a 20kg checked bag costing nearly £45.
In third place is Dan Air, which began operating regular passenger flights under its own brand in June 2023, after spending several years providing charter and wet lease services for other airlines.
Passengers flying with Dan Air can end up paying an extra £117.33 on top of the ticket fare for optional add-ons, as well as an airport check-in fee of £12.62.
Following close behind is the British low-cost carrier, easyJet, which is one of the largest airlines in the world, operating 1,099 routes across 35 countries.
Despite its scale and low ticket fares, easyJet’s extra charges can make a seemingly cheap flight significantly more expensive, pushing the overall cost up by £114.96.
At the opposite end of the ranking is Iberia Express, a Spanish low-cost airline owned by Iberia, operating short and medium-haul routes from Madrid to feed into its parent’s long-haul network.
With Iberia Express, travellers get their 10kg cabin bag included in the price, checked luggage for £26.10, standard seat selection from £5.05 and extra leg room for £10.95 – totalling at just £42.10 – almost four times less when compared with Vueling airline.
Other airlines that don’t charge heavily for optional extras include Turkish airlines AJet and Pegasus, German carrier Eurowings, and Czech airline Smartwings, with extra fees ranging from £50.40 to £76.32.
Budget European airlines collectively appear to earn the most from hold luggage (20kg and over) per passenger, totalling £661.18 across all analysed airlines.
On average, holidaymakers who want to take a hold bag will need to pay an extra £37 on top of their ticket price. While six of the airlines still include a free cabin bag, the majority charge passengers an average of £28 for bringing a cabin bag on board.
While most airlines don’t charge for airport check-in, travellers should be cautious, as some carriers such as Jet2, Wizz Air, Ryanair, PLAY, FLYONE, and HiSky, can charge up to £55 if passengers fail to check in before arriving at the airport.
Helen Rolph travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Budget airlines can offer incredibly low ticket fares to popular European destinations, making them an attractive option for summer holidays.
“However, often the ticket price doesn’t reflect the true cost passengers will end up paying, as it doesn’t factor in essential extras like baggage or seat selection, and a flight that looks cheap at first glance might end up being more expensive than other options once all the hidden charges are included.
“We analysed all major European budget airlines that operate from the UK, using their prices for common travelling extras, to reveal which low-cost carriers charge the most in additional fees – to help travellers see the real cost of their trip and find themselves some savings.
“Our research showed a dramatic difference in pricing between airlines, ranging from £163.36 down to £42.10, meaning it is well worth using our index to get an estimated final cost when choosing between airlines. This could help travellers make significant savings on their booking, leaving them with additional funds to support their holiday.
“We recommend taking the time to compare not only the ticket price but these essential extra fees, such as seat selection and baggage allowance, especially if travelling with a family, going away for a longer time or if additional space is needed.
“Also, when finalising the booking, airlines often suggest adding travel insurance at the checkout, but it’s worth taking the time to shop around and compare different policies to help find competitive coverage at a lower price, tailored to the specific needs of the traveller in question and their particular holiday.”
Full research and rankings can be found here.
Quotezone.co.uk helps travellers compare travel insurance products and find real savings.
