Imagine the situation: you see an advertisement for air tickets at a very tempting price. You are satisfied with everything, and you go to the airline’s website and start booking, already mentally imagining yourself at your destination. But suddenly it turns out that you still need to pay for hand luggage, checked baggage, seat selection, legroom, and many other additional options. As a result, the final cost of the ticket is two or even three times higher than the price for which you visited the airline’s website.
Just recently, an elderly couple on a Ryanair flight had to pay €129 to have their boarding tickets printed. Passengers were indignant for a long time, but there was nothing to do – they had to pay. This story once again shows how a cheap, at first glance, air ticket can quickly become expensive.
European airlines have many pitfalls where you start booking a ticket with one price, and by the end of the booking process, the cost of the ticket has doubled or even tripled.
Which European airline charges the most surcharges?
According to research by NetVoucherCodes, 97% of European airlines have at least one hidden service. The most common offer is seat selection – 94% of European airlines charge extra for this.
According to the study, Ryanair has the most hidden services, with passengers paying up to 344% just for additional options when booking tickets.
On average, a Ryanair passenger pays €9.30 for seat selection, €26.30 for checked baggage, and €17 for hand luggage. While tickets cost approximately €21.50 at the outset, additional fees alone can amount to more than €50.
In second place is Wizz Air, whose hidden services are 272% higher than the original cost of the ticket. EasyJet came in third place – the final ticket price was 170% higher than at the very beginning of booking.
How to avoid paying hidden fees when booking a flight?
“To avoid baggage fees, try to fit all your belongings into your carry-on,” said NetVoucherCodes expert Rebecca Bebbington. “Budget airlines usually offer free carry-on baggage, but still try to pack wisely so you don’t end up overweight.”
It’s also worth researching in advance how much you need to pay to select a seat on different airlines. If you’re not concerned about where exactly you’ll sit, consider skipping the “seat selection” option. Sometimes you can select seats for free 24 hours before departure. “If you’re traveling in a group, book together to increase your chances of being seated next to each other without incurring additional fees,” Bebbington added.
If your ticket does not include meals, it is worth bringing food and a water bottle with you to save money.
Be sure to check your airline’s rules so you don’t have to print out your boarding tickets at the airport. Some airlines (e.g. Ryanair) require you to print your boarding pass or download an electronic version of their app.