Expats flying with budget airlines may find their tickets are cheap but the cost of their trips can double if they add extras.
The warning comes from consumer champion Which? after researchers looked at how budget airlines pile on the charges for extras to make cheap flights overseas cost the earth.
Many budget airlines make extra charges for essential add-ons like storing luggage in the aircraft’s hold, reserving a seat with extra leg room, paying for tickets with a credit card or snatching a drink and a sandwich during the flight.
Comparing costs between budget airlines is notoriously difficult and the headline ticket price often fails to show the complete flight cost once add-ons are added – especially when online customers often see them applied at the checkout.
Which? illustrates how the charges can affect expat flight prices by taking five budget airlines and comparing the same flight on costs on the same day to Tenerife, a popular expat sunshine destination.
Flight costs can almost double
The research showed Monarch and Ryanair flew to the top of the table when adding the extras.
The Monarch ticket headline price increased by 94% and Ryanair’s by 86%.
One comparison problem for airline customers is charges for the same extra vary between companies, so expats can never be quite sure how ticket prices will work out.
For example, Ryanair charges £30 for stowing luggage – the most out of all the airlines.
Monarch and Easyjet are the most expensive for buying an in-flight hot drink and a sandwich – both charging £6.50.
So are budget airlines really cheaper than scheduled flights?
Scheduled flights can cost less
One consideration is budget airlines rarely fly to scheduled airline hubs. On islands like Tenerife, the problem is not so much of an issue as they share the same airports, but for short-haul destinations to the European mainland, the airports can be some distance away from the city.
British Airways has scheduled flights to Tenerife regularly, currently costing £83.77, generally including stowing a 23 kilogram bag in the hold and in-flight refreshments for free. Add £4.50 for paying by credit card and £8 for booking a seat in advance.
That adds up to £96.27 – more than £10 cheaper than the most expensive budget flight with extras.
“It clearly makes sense for passengers to check out the costs of their budget flights against those of scheduled airlines before booking, because in some cases they can land nearer to their destination and save on transfer costs and pay less for the flight as well,” said a Which? spokesman.
Table notes: Prices based on a one-way flight from a London Airport
to Tenerife on 11/12 May 2014. Extras cost combines the following: hot
drink and a sandwich (not pre-ordered), checking in hold baggage min.
20kg, reserving a seat with extra legroom in advance (cheapest available
if there was more than one option) and paying by credit card.
Source: Which?
