When booking a flight, there are many hidden fees you can end up paying if you’re not careful. Budget airlines are renowned for charging these surprise fees – what might seem like a cheap flight deal upfront could quickly soar into a sky high bill. Below are just some of the most common extras that airlines and travel companies charge, and how to reduce/avoid them.
Airport check-in
Many budget airlines will charge you an extra fee if you check in at the airport instead of checking in online beforehand. Airlines like Wizz Air have been known to charge up to £35.50, while RyanAir charges much more.
Online check-in often opens up 24 hours before your flight is due and you can do this via the app. If you’ve selected a seat, you may be able to check in a few days earlier. You will usually get an email notifying you to check in. Remember to do this on the way out and the way back!
Seat selection
When you book a flight for a group of people, you may not always be guaranteed seats together. In fact, unless you have a child travelling with you, you could all end up with seats in different parts of the plane – unless you pay extra to book your seats.
If you’re travelling business class or first class, you’ll usually get free seat selection. And some premium airlines will also allow you to choose your seat for free (with the exception of extra legroom seats – which you may still have to pay for). However, budget airlines will always charge for seat selection. This could cost £5 to £30 per seat depending on how early you book seats and the flight you’re taking (seat selection may cost more for long-haul and peak flights).
Name change
There are instances where you may need to change the name of one of the flyers (for example, if someone pulls out and someone else comes in their place, or if you’ve recently got married). Some airlines will allow you to change the name on your booking for free, but others will charge you for it. In fact, RyanAir charges an eye-watering £115 fee for a name change online (and more if you request it through an agent).
To avoid name change fees when booking with a budget airline, make sure that you accurately fill out each name (if you’re booking tickets for friends, double-check the spelling of their name). If someone is hesitant about coming, they may need to be prepared to pay the name change fee if they decide to pull out. When it comes to honeymoons, you’ll usually be given a grace period under which you can travel on your old name (no need to get a new passport), but it’s worth double-checking this with the airline.
Excess luggage
Many airlines have stringent luggage restrictions – you may only be able to take a certain number of bags and they may need to be certain dimensions and weights. If you try to check in an extra bag or if your suitcase is too large or heavy, expect to pay a large fee (potentially £70 or more from some airlines).
It’s important to look into these baggage restrictions and ensure that your luggage is within the limits. Some airlines will only allow you to take one carry-on bag and you’ll have to pay extra for any other suitcases you take (make sure to pay for these in advance rather than turning up to the airport with a suitcase you haven’t notified them of). Don’t assume which types of bags you can take with you onto the plane – even if a tiny suitcase is within the weight limits, some airlines may not allow any type of suitcase in overhead storage, and you may end up paying extra to put it in the hold.
Sports equipment
You often have to pay extra to take sports equipment like skis, golf clubs and surfboards. The fee may depend on the size of this equipment.
It’s usually cheaper to pay to check-in this equipment online rather than waiting until you get to the terminal. That said, you’ll still have to take it to the check-in desk for it to be put onto the plane. Other equipment like musical instruments may also come with an additional fee. Prams typically are free, but you’ll usually only be allowed one pram per child.
Currency exchange fees
When booking a flight abroad, you may be asked if you want to buy foreign currency during the online booking process. Some people like to buy currency during this stage so that they don’t forget to do it later. However, you could pay a large exchange fee to buy currency via the airline/travel company – and an even bigger fee if you wait until you get to the airport.
Consider other places to transfer your currency such as online currency exchanges or your local post office. These will usually give you the best rates. If you’re travelling to a more obscure country with a less commonly used currency, buying your currency when you get to your destination may actually be cheaper.
Airport parking
During the online booking phase, you may also be given the opportunity to pay for airport parking. If you’re planning to take your car to the airport, you might be tempted to pay for parking there and then. But stop – you might actually get cheaper parking prices by shopping elsewhere.
Sites like Parking Up can allow you to shop around for airport parking options and you may be able to get a better deal using these third-party sites. Just make sure to book parking early – Often, the later you leave it, the more you will pay, as there will be less availability.
Food and drink
Finally, it’s worth considering inflight food and drink. This is often included for free on long-haul flights. But on shorter flights, expect to pay for any food or drink (and expect extortionate prices!).
On a shorter flight, to avoid paying £10 for a sandwich, consider eating a big meal before you get to the airport, or eat in the airport itself. Some airport food can be expensive, but it could still be cheaper than what some airlines charge on the plane. You can also buy snacks and foods in the airport to take on the plane – you’ll just have to buy them after you’ve gone through security.
