UK-based publication “Which?” has called out low-cost airlines for confusing and constantly changing prices for baggage fees, including almost never offering its lowest advertised prices. After sampling luggage prices on over 1,500 flights with easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, the publication stated that these carriers are charging considerably higher prices than those advertised.
All three carriers have stated that their pricing policies when it comes to luggage are transparent. However, this is an issue faced across the wider European continent, with this even being discussed in the European Parliament earlier this summer.
Low-Cost Airline Baggage Fees
Which?, a UK-based publication, sampled over 1,500 luggage allowance prices across the three major low-cost carriers operating in the country, easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, and compared their findings to the price range advertised by these airlines to find some interesting conclusions. The publication found that the prices charged by these airlines were constantly changing, often rising up to five times the lowest advertised prices.
In the case of easyJet, despite prices being advertised for as low as £5.99, the publication could not find any prices for that cost, and the majority of prices discovered were around £30. While the airline declined the request from Which? to send details of a flight where bags cost less than £10, the airline stated that more than half the luggage allowances were available for £26 or less. In the case of Wizz Air, the average fee was £28.93, while the airline advertised a fee range of €10-€60. However, the airline stated the number discovered by Which? is “potentially misleading”.
In the case of Ryanair, the advertised price for cabin bags is £12, but from over 600 flights sampled, Which? could only find that price on two occasions, with the average prices recorded to be £20.50. Ryanair responded to the data presented by Which?, stating the following:
“Ryanair operates over 100,000 flights each month so your “survey” of just 600 flights is statistically too small to be representative or accurate.”
Baggage Fees Are Big Earners For Airlines
It makes sense that low-cost carriers charge extra for cabin and checked luggage, and it is important to recognize how crucial these ancillary charges are. For low-cost carriers, ancillary revenue could contribute up to 40% of the airline’s overall revenue. Moreover, in the case of airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, revenue from luggage allowance is so important that these airlines are known to pay commissions to their gate agents for spotting passengers trying to board with luggage exceeding their allowances.
With either carrier, all passengers can carry a complimentary personal item which has the following limitations placed on its dimensions: 40cm x 30cm x 20cm and 45cm x 36cm x 20cm for Ryanair and easyJet, respectively. However, passengers who show up at the gate with items exceeding these dimensions will be charged extra, and the airlines pay their ground staff bonuses for flagging these luggage allowance violations.
Reports indicate that easyJet pays a commission of £1.20 per violation flagged, while Ryanair previously used to pay €1.50 which earlier this year was hiked to €2.50 per violation flagged. However, this might all change soon.
easyJet vs Ryanair vs Wizz Air: How Do Their Hand Luggage Allowances Compare?
Each of the European low-cost giants has slightly different rules on this front.
Legal Disputes Growing In Europe
Last year, the Spanish Government imposed a collective fine on four European low-cost carriers, easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and Vueling, for (among other things) charging passengers to bring additional pieces of luggage on board the aircraft. Additionally, earlier this summer, this topic was debated in the European Parliament, which backed a proposal that all passengers (regardless of the airline business model) should be allowed to carry an additional piece of hand luggage onboard the aircraft at no additional charge.
While this is yet to be ratified, if the ruling does come into effect, this would essentially result in passengers flying on all flights within the EU market or flying to and from an EU member states will be legally allowed to carry additional hand luggage onboard.
However, there are wider implications for low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, which are able to offer such cheap tickets because of their extra baggage fees. The carrier would almost certainly be forced to raise fare prices to account for these changes. While some passengers might see this as an advantage, it is possible that a considerable portion of the market would be opposed to this.
