Plan ahead and dress wisely: How to minimise add-on costs...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Don’t get swept into paying for extras you don’t need.

Plan ahead and dress wisely: How to minimise add-on costs when you fly 1 day ago Save Emer Moreau and Josh Martin Save The price of a flight on your phone is sometimes different to booking on a computer Budget airline easyJet was given a rap on the knuckles this week for misleading users about how much it charges for a carry-on bag. The business model for many airlines involves charging attractively low prices for the actual ticket, but making users pay separately for luggage, seat selection and priority boarding. (wild, right?)

And it is lucrative: add-on fees, or “ancillary revenue”, brings in billions for these airlines every year.

The Details

In some cases, passengers find paying the fees is unavoidable, especially if youre flying with children. But heres how to beat some of them.

Be ruthless when it comes to packing There are sometimes bargains to be had when it comes to carry-on bag charges, says Laura Anne Sargeant, who documents her holidays online under the name Travelling Page Turner. But in her experience never anything as low as the £5.

Why This Matters

“Its usually closer to £20,” she says. EasyJet has now been told s advertising watchdog to stop claiming this price is available, after it flopped to provide evidence users could bring a bag on for that cost. While budget airlines say they offer low carry-on prices, Which?

Market watchers are paying close attention to developments like this.

Key Takeaways

• Found in the vast majority of cases they werent available.
• To avoid a bill for carry-on luggage, Laura Anne is “fr ruthless” with her packing.
• “Ill use the hotel body wash,” she says, “I never take a hairdryer.

The Bottom Line

“Ill use the hotel body wash,” she says, “I never take a hairdryer. ” Then if she is travelling with someone else they can a case and split the cost between them.

What’s your take on this whole situation?