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UK-based publication “Which?”, has called out low-cost airlines operating in and out of the country for confusing and constantly changing prices it charges its passengers for the ability to carry luggage with them while traveling. After sampling luggage prices on over 1,500 flights across easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air networks at different times, the publication has also stated that these carriers are charging considerably higher prices than those advertised.
However, all three carriers have stated that their pricing policies when it comes to luggages are transparent. However, this is an issue faced across the wider European continent, with this even being discussed in the European Parliament earlier this summer.
Sampling 1,500+ Prices, What Are The Findings?
Which?, a UK-based publication, sampled over 1,500 luggage allowance prices across the three major low-cost carriers operating in the country, easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, and compared their findings to the price range advertised by these airlines to find some interesting conclusions. The publication found that the prices charged by these airlines were constantly changing, often charging up to five times the lowest advertised prices.
In the case of easyJet, despite the prices being advertised for £5.99, the publication could not find any prices for that cost, and the majority of prices discovered were around £30, and while the airline declined the request from Which? to send details of a flight where bags cost less than £10, the airline stated that more than half the luggage allowances were available for £26 or less. In the case of Wizz Air, the average fee was £28.93, while the airline advertised a fee range of €10-€60. However, the airline stated the number discovered by Which? is “potentially misleading”.
In the case of Ryanair, the advertised price for cabin bags are £12, but from over 600 flights sampled, Which? could only find that price on two occasions, with the average prices recorded to be £20.50. Ryanair responded to the data presented by Which?, stating the following:
“Ryanair operates over 100,000 flights each month so your “survey” of just 600 flights is statistically too small to be representative or accurate.”
easyJet vs Ryanair vs Wizz Air: How Do Their Hand Luggage Allowances Compare?
Each of the European low-cost giants has slightly different rules on this front.
Payments For Luggage Allowance Is Important
While it makes sense that low-cost carriers charge extra for cabin and checked luggage, which contributes to the airline’s ancillary revenue, it is important to recognize how important these charges are. For low-cost carriers, ancillary revenue could contribute up to 40% of the airline’s overall revenue. Moreover, in the case of airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, revenue from luggage allowance is so important that these airlines are known to pay commissions to their gate agents for spotting passengers trying to board with luggage exceeding their allowances.
With either carrier, all passengers can carry a complimentary personal item which has the following limitations placed on its dimensions: 40cm x 30cm x 20cm and 45cm x 36cm x 20cm for Ryanair and easyJet respectively. However, passengers who show up to the gate with items exceeding these dimensions will be charged extra, and the airlines reportedly pay their ground staff bonuses for flagging these luggage allowance violations.
Reports indicate that easyJet pays a commission of £1.20 per violation flagged, while Ryanair previously used to pay €1.50 which earlier this year was hiked to €2.50 per violation flagged. However, this might all change soon.
Legal Disputes Growing In Europe
Last year, the Spanish Government imposed a collective fine on four European low-cost carriers, easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and Vueling, for (among other things) charging passengers to bring additional piece of luggage on board the aircraft.
Additionally, earlier this summer, this topic was debated in the European Parliament, with the transport committee even backing a proposal that all passengers (regardless of the airline business model) should be allowed to carry an additional piece of hand luggage onboard the aircraft at no additional charge. While this is yet to be ratified, if the ruling does come into effect, this would essentially result in passengers flying on all flights within the EU market or flying to and from an EU member states will be legally allowed to carry additional hand luggage onboard.
However, there is the wider implication on low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, who are able to offer no-frills tickets, who will then be forced to raise the prices to account for the additional service it would be forced to provide. While some passengers might see this as an advantage, it is possible that a considerable portion of the market would be opposed to this.
