Travel insurance experts at the price comparison site sifted through the extra costs across 18 European budget airlines to find out which carriers charged the most in hidden fees for add-ons such as cabin bags, extra legroom, late check-in and seat selection.
The study found that Spanish airline Vueling, which offers cheap flights to major European cities, charges the most for extra fees.
According to Quotezone’s research, the airline charges more than £90 for a 20kg hold bag, and with other optional add-ons like seat selection, cabin bag and extra legroom, the fees can reach £163.36.
Ryanair was second on the list, and typically hits passengers with add-ons totalling £152.99. With Ryanair, travellers need to check in online in advance, as failure to do so results 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.
Dan Air was in third place. The carrier 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.
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The cheapest airlines for add-ons
Researchers found that Iberia Express, a low-cost airline owned by Iberia, was one of the cheapest carriers when it came to add-ons.
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 legroom for £10.95 – totalling just £42.10.
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.
Baggage fees
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 surveyed 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.
“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.”
A report by Which? last year found that Ryanair and Wizz Air were the worst airlines when it came to adding on extra charges. However, both airlines have criticised the research, with Ryanair describing it as “fake news” and Wizz Air claiming to offer customers “choice and flexibility”.
