subject: Avoiding Excess Baggage Fines When Flying [print this page] The invention of budget airlines has revolutionised the industry. Previously, flying was an elitist hobby that only the richest parts of society could afford. Since the birth of budget airlines though, it has been far cheaper to be a globetrotter; with faraway places are far more accessible. Budget airlines, like Ryanair, have made it possible to fly the breadth of Europe for as little as just five pounds return. This has led to millions of people jetting off around Europe for weekend breaks, whenever they fancy.
Budget airlines are able to offer such low rates as they pay the taxes, which passes the savings onto their customers. However, many airlines have received a backlash from disgruntled passengers for their hidden charges that push the prices up immensely. Sometimes this includes charges for paying by a credit card online for each sector of the complete journey or additional check-in costs. One way that budget airlines can inflate travelling costs is by charging customers for the luggage they take with them. Whether you need additional bags for taking presents over for Christmas, or just clothing for two weeks, it all costs extra. Baggage fees can make even the cheapest flights seem expensive without much trouble.
To make life more complex the size of the hand luggage you are able to take onboard budget aircraft has steadily decreased over the years. If you do accidentally over pack your hand luggage, or bring an oversized bag, then you will have to pay to put it in the hold or throw some things away. To avoid such an experience, it is vital to find out the luggage allowance for the cabin that you are flying in. There is no longer any excuse for turning up at an airport unaware of cabin baggage restrictions as all airlines are required to have a webpage outlining regulations and excess baggage charges. It is also easy to find the right luggage as baggage retailers have cottoned onto the regulations and you will find a raft of suitably sized carriers in store and online.
If you do decide to put bags in the hold then you need to know the exact weight allowance you can have in each bag. It is normally 20kg, but each airline will stipulate different weights that may catch you unawares. Some airlines may also allow you to have one checked in bag for free and charge you extortionately for any other bags you need to take on. If you are eager to avoid over-zealous baggage fees then it is imperative to get acclimatised to one-bag travel as it can save you a fortune on budget air travel.
