European Low-Cost Airline Charges

Posted by Henk Bekker Jun 7, 2008

As the dollar continues to weaken, foreign travelers are increasingly advised to take the cheapest flight available to Europe and then explore the continent by using European low-cost airlines.

However, non-European travelers should note that low-cost airlines are quite imaginative at adding charges for services often taken for granted on flights in other parts of the world. The following charges by Irish low-cost airline Ryanair are fairly typical for the industry:

• €10 per checked bag of only 15 kg if booked online – deciding or being forced to check-in a bag at the airport will cost you €20 for the first bag
• €20 each for a similarly light second or third bag
• €5 for checking-in at the airport – free online check-in with free priority boarding is not available to non-European Union residents
• €5 for priority boarding
• €4 for paying with a credit card – it is best to have cash at hand because having to use that credit card again at the airport means another €4 charge!

On the upside, Ryanair guarantees no fuel surcharges – one of my pet hates. Somehow, Ryanair manages to work fuel prices into the ticket price together with paying the pilot, fitting tires, and other costs of business.

• Tax refunds are available on missed flights but you can forget about getting back any airline charges.

Always compare low-cost airlines and alternative routes. Generally, no discounts are given for return flights so open-jaw routings and using different airlines often save money.

On shorter routes, high-speed trains are not necessarily cheaper but do cut out the hassle of using airports. Moreover, you buy your ticket and may drag for free onto the train whatever you can carry.