These hidden flight fees can add hundreds to your ticket price

Euronews

6 hours ago

Last month, a group of consumer organisations asked the European Commission to conduct an inquiry into what they alleged are unfair hand luggage charges imposed by budget airlines.
Fees for carry-on bags can be particularly frustrating when it isn't immediately made clear that it's not included in the initial ticket price.
The organisations argued that this makes it difficult for consumers to compare prices or make informed economic decisions.
Hand luggage surcharges are not the only hidden extra travellers have to watch out for, however.
Recently, financial news site Tradingpedia delved into the myriad ancillary fees and taxes charged by European airlines on top of the basic air fare. Here are the airlines that charge the most.
With airfares projected to rise by 2.8 per cent this year, flying abroad is set to become even more expensive.
While low-cost carriers may appear to offer relief, the reality is often more complex, the new report shows.
These surcharges, ranging from seat selection to name-change fees, are not entirely hidden - they are disclosed during the booking process, screen by screen.
But they are rarely included in headline prices or promotional adverts for fares, meaning the true cost of a flight only becomes apparent toward the end of the purchase journey.
The report found that Wizz Air tops the list with airlines' not-so-obvious fees for a flight, charging a total of £207.93 (€245) for several optional, yet sometimes unavoidable fees.
These include €100 for checked baggage, €10 for online booking, and €21.50 for airport or online check-in. That said, it is one of the few in the ranking that doesn't charge extra for carry-on luggage.
Ryanair ranks second, charging its passengers £198.58 (€234) on top of the air fare for the same services. It also charges €25 for hand luggage.
EasyJet has the third-highest fees at £180.48 (€213), followed by Vueling with £151.20 (€179). Vueling has the second-highest checked baggage fee in the ranking, at €85.
Euronews has reached out to all three airlines about their ancillary costs.
British Airways appears to have the lowest additional fees at only £64 (€75). Norwegian has the second-lowest fees at £71.53 (€84) in total, while Jet2 charges £91.50 (€107) on average.
While some of the extra fees and surcharges are avoidable, such as seat selection, in some cases, passengers have no choice but to purchase these 'optional' services.
One of these is the group administration fee – it is €10.50 if you fly with Wizz Air, but with easyJet, group bookings are charged €25 per person.
Ryanair also has a card payment fee, so you may be charged a percentage of the total transaction if you pay via a credit or debit card.
When you fly with an infant (under the age of 2 at the time of the flight), you do not need to purchase a ticket, but there is a mandatory fee.
With Wizz Air, it is €32, while with easyJet it is €31, and Jet2 charges you only €23.50.
Norwegian, on the other hand, offers infant tickets, which cost 10 per cent of the adult fare plus any airport taxes.
Another fee that seems questionably optional is the so-called rescue fee charged by all airlines when the passenger misses the flight.
If you arrive at the airport right before or shortly after takeoff, you can pay the rescue fee, and you will be given a seat on the next flight. Ryanair charges €100 per person, easyJet – €130, while Vueling has a rescue fee starting from €105 for international flights.
Wizz Air's rescue fee is only €80, and Jet2's rescue fee is the cheapest at €32. The other airlines also charge a fee, but do not clearly state how much it is on their websites. In some cases, the passenger is required to cancel the booking and rebook another flight at current prices.
When all these undisclosed fees are added to the airfare, it often makes low-cost airlines as expensive as full-service carriers (as companies that include ancillary service fees in their ticket prices are known).
As the team at Tradingpedia concludes, 'the findings shed light on whether budget airlines are genuinely cost-effective or merely perceived as such.'
Southern Europe is rumbling again. Popular holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, including Crete, Santorini, Sicily and Turkey, have all been affected by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the last month.
While the chances of being caught in a natural disaster still remain low, a recent spike in seismic activity has left many travellers questioning whether they should go ahead with their holiday or cancel.
The answer, experts say, depends on the fine print.
Here's what to know before you book – or cancel – your summer holiday.
In short: not usually.
Most basic travel insurance policies do not include coverage for natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods or wildfires.
'Travellers must be aware that most travel insurance policies won't cover earthquakes as standard, or any other natural disaster outside of anyone's control,' says Ernesto Suarez, founder of insurance provider Gigasure.
'While AI and data analytics are helping insurers measure the risk of these events happening more accurately, anything outside of an individual's control is very difficult to underwrite.'
But you won't necessarily have to eat the costs. Many insurers offer add-ons that can provide protection if your holiday is disrupted or cancelled by a natural disaster.
'We have a range of different policies that cover unforeseen events that stop you going away, disrupt your holiday or force you to cut short your trip due to natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires,' says Simon McCulloch, commercial director at Staysure.
'It's important to understand that this typically applies when your trip is directly affected and if your holiday is non-refundable,' he adds.
Suarez says Gigasure's add-on includes coverage for additional accommodation, transport costs, pet sitter fees and a daily allowance for up to 10 extra days abroad.
If an earthquake or eruption disrupts your trip while you're overseas, help may be available, especially if you've purchased extended coverage. But McCulloch advises keeping your priorities in order before worrying about reimbursement.
'In cases where you're already abroad and a natural disaster strikes in your location, the most important thing is to get yourself to safety and follow the advice of local or national authorities,' he says.
Once safe, he recommends reaching out to the airline, tour operator or travel provider you booked your trip with to determine your next steps. 'They will be able to help bring you home early or move you to safe accommodation,' he says.
Those with additional protection may be able to claim for unused parts of their trip or extra costs due to delays.
'Our first priority is always to help support our customers who are currently in the affected area,' says Suarez. 'For those that need it, we extend our policy duration for up to 30 days or until they can return home safely.'
If you're feeling uneasy about a destination but it remains open to tourists, your insurance is unlikely to help.
'Earthquakes and other natural disasters can understandably make travellers nervous about trips they have booked and paid for, though whether you'll be covered by your travel insurance depends on the specific details of your policy and official guidance at the time of travel,' says McCulloch.
'Before any trip, it's worth keeping an eye on updates from [national authorities such as] the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office,' he explains, referencing the UK's ministry of foreign affairs.
'If it hasn't advised against travel (or all but essential travel) to a destination following a seismic event – as was the case recently in Crete – then cancelling your trip purely out of caution is unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.'
Suarez agrees. 'If someone chooses to cancel their trip because of a recent earthquake, it's unlikely that their travel insurance will cover them.'
Recent tremors in Turkey, the Greek islands and Italy have already caused concern among travellers. In Santorini, one of Greece's most visited destinations, local tourism officials estimate that arrivals could fall by as much as 25 per cent this year.
But many destinations will be as safe as they always are. The best approach to forecasting your summer travel is to stay informed, say McCulloch and Suarez.
Review your policy before travelling, speak to your insurer about what's included and monitor official advisories. If the worst does happen, the right insurance could help you recover your losses or get home safely.
'Natural disasters are unpredictable, but your insurance shouldn't be – as long as you take steps to make sure you're properly informed of the protection it provides,' McCulloch says.