With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us will be eager to escape what has been a run of often dull and cold spring weather and plan a break away.
But those looking to jet off somewhere can find airlines' differing rules are hugely confusing, to the point they're not sure what charges and extras apply and which don't. Prices can vary depending upon whether you're taking a cabin bag with you or want to check a suitcase into the hold, of course, but they can be alter too if you've booked online or at the airport itself.
TUI, Jet2, EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Wizz Air all have different luggage rules and prices, reports The Mirror, and many have changed since the pandemic so for holidaymakers who haven't travelled for some time they find the changes extra difficult to navigate. It always well worth checking carefully in advance of a trip, however, to ensure there are no nasty surprises when on arrival at the airport with a bag that turns out to be too big or too heavy for what you've paid.
Here is a guide to what to expect at six of our most popular airlines.
Ryanair
Each Ryanair customer gets a small personal bag included with the ticket, which must fit under the seat in front and measure a maximum of 40x20x25cm. From an extra £5.30, you can pay for a second carry-on bag weighing up to 10kg, or a check-in from £11.50 if the former option is sold out because the cabin space is already allocated.
Prices vary significantly depending on when you opt for the extra baggage. For example, checking a 20kg bag costs you £25 if booked online but twice as much - £50 - at the airport. A travel cot or booster seat will set you back £15 online but £20 at the airport while musical instruments are £50 online and £65 at the check-in desk.
Read Ryanair's full bag policy here.
EasyJet
All passengers are permitted to bring one piece of hand luggage as a carry-on, measuring 45cm x 36cm x 20cm including handles and wheels, or smaller, and it must fit underneath the seat in front of you. While there is no weight limit on these bags, if it is too large you can end up paying the price.
If you go straight to the boarding gate and your bag is oversized, you will be charged £48, MyBaggage reports. The price of a checked bag varies significantly from flight to flight, with a 15kg bag cost ranging from £6.99 to £35.99 online.
You can read easyJet's full bag policy here.
Jet2
Jet2 passengers are allowed one piece of carry-on hand baggage with their ticket, with a weight limit of up to 10kg and of a size no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25cm. Varying fees will be charged if the bag doesn't meet these requirements and it will be put in the hold by boarding gate staff.
Checked bags weighing up to 22kg cost from £8 to £45 depending upon route and booking, while excess baggage weighing up to 32kg costs an extra £12 a kg. Customers should try and book online as prices tend to be about 50% more expensive at the airport.
If you have not pre-booked all of your hold baggage prior to the arrival at the airport, a fee of £45 per item will be charged. Jet2's full bag policy can be read here.
British Airways
All customers are permitted to carry one piece of hand luggage and one small item, such as a handbag or laptop, on board. Hand luggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and the small item must be no bigger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, with both having a max weight limit of 23kg each.
If they exceed the limits, they'll be checked into the hold. Luckily you can add them to your checked-bag for no extra charge if the two bags together don't exceed the maximum checked bag limit of 23kg to 32kg.
Checked bags vary from £20 to £65 depending on the route. British Airway's bag policy can be found here.
TUI
TUI holidays operate with a number of airlines, so you'll need to check the individual airline in your booking and go with their policy. If you're flying with TUI Airways, hand luggage is defined as one piece, weighing up to 10kg and 55x40x20cm, while checked bags are 15kg maximum.
Make sure you check your booking thoroughly so you know how much you're entitled to bring. The TUI bag policy can be found here.
Wizz Air
All Wizz Air passengers are permitted to bring a small carry-on bag on board, measuring 40cmx30cmx20cm and weighing 10kg or less. Priority ticket holders can bring an extra 'trolley bag' measuring 55cmx40cmx23cm and weighing 10kg or less, included in their ticket price.
Checked baggage fees vary significantly depending on whether your book online or at the airport, and what season you're flying in. One 10kg bag can cost from £5 to £51.
Wizz Air's full bag policy can be found here.
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