Imagine booking a flight, excited for your upcoming adventure, only to discover that the advertised low prices for cabin bags are nowhere to be found! This is the reality for many travelers, as a recent investigation by Which?, a UK consumer watchdog, has revealed.
The Catch-22 of Budget Airlines
Which? surveyed nearly 1,500 bag prices across major European budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air, and the results are eye-opening. The lowest advertised carry-on prices, often touted as a great deal, are available less than 1% of the time!
But here's where it gets controversial...
These airlines, known for their low-cost flights, have been under scrutiny for their cabin bag policies. The survey considered four different dates in peak and off-peak travel seasons, and the findings were consistent: the cheapest options are rarely, if ever, available.
For instance, EasyJet's advertised lowest fee of £5.99 was not found on a single flight out of 520 surveyed. The cheapest fare found was £23.49, and the average price was £30. With round-trip journeys, passengers effectively pay double.
And this is the part most people miss: some airlines' cabin bag charges can exceed the flight fares themselves, especially for those budget-friendly European routes that attract cost-conscious travelers.
In contrast, larger airlines like British Airways, KLM, and Qatar Airways still offer a free cabin bag, a perk that budget flyers might appreciate.
The issue extends beyond just the prices. Budget airlines' gate fines for luggage, often obscure and unexpected, have also come under fire. In November 2024, Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry fined five budget airlines a whopping €179 million for "abusive practices" related to luggage. However, the EU Commission has questioned Spain's authority to impose such fines.
The European Parliament's transport committee has even advocated for free standard cabin bags on all airlines.
Which? has shared its findings with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which is now investigating.
"Our research shows that passengers will pay much more than the advertised cheapest price for a cabin bag. Instead of a few pounds, bag prices can often exceed the flight cost," said Rory Boland, editor of Which?.
EasyJet, for its part, maintains that its bag options and pricing are transparent and well-understood by customers, allowing them to pay only for what they need.
Ryanair, not far behind EasyJet, has also disputed the survey's findings, calling them "total rubbish." The airline operates over 100,000 flights monthly, and the survey's sample size of 634 flights was deemed too small to be representative.
Wizz Air, too, has defended its cabin bag policy, stating that the survey's sample size of 350 flights was not representative of its full network, which serves over 75 million passengers annually.
So, what's the verdict? Are these airlines being transparent with their cabin bag policies, or are they employing tactics that deserve scrutiny?
What do you think? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
