See more about Airline Hidden Charges.
Airlines change their hidden charges quicker than I can write about them. Is this page now out of date? Do you have an extra hidden charge to add? Another airline to investigate? Then leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
- Ryanair, Flybe, Germanwings, Jet2, Monarch, Aer Lingus, Transavia and BMI Baby all list their basic fares without taxes and fees included
- Ryanair, and BMI Baby have below the industry standard 20kg checked luggage weight limit. BMI Baby's limit is 18kg, while Ryanair has a measly 15kg.
- Ryanair lists Girona and Reus airports as 'Barcelona' despite being 100km away.
- Ryanair adds a mandatory web check-in fee to all customers on most of their flights.
- Ryanair and BMI Baby both charge to check in at the airport. Ryanair's fee is an astonishing 40 euros per person, though they have renamed it a 'boarding card reprint fee'.
- easyJet, Thomsonfly, Monarch and Jet2 add baggage to your bill without telling you, forcing you to remove it (that is, if you notice).
- Flybe adds a seat charge to every customer and doesn't tell them that the fee is optional. Passengers need to deselect the seat and hope for the best.
- EasyJet, Jet2, Monarch, Aer Lingus and BMI Baby all add insurance to your bill without asking for it. Customers have to remove it if they don't require insurance.
- Flybe changes the amount due to your own currency (using a poor exchange rate) without asking.
- Jet2 and Thomsonfly add a meal to your flight without you asking, forcing you to remove it if you don't want it. Amazingly, when taking an indirect flight with Jet2, the airline adds a premium meal to both of your flights.
Though not a fee as such, the potential hassle caused by the following point is worth noting:
- Ryanair, Germanwings, Thomsonfly, Aer Lingus, Jet2 and BMI Baby all fail to provide a contact form or email address to its customers.
Is this list out of date? Do you have a charge you think should be added? The add your comment below. (Please don't use this form to share your experience of airlines' hidden charges if it is already on this list. Use it just to add charges that are not listed above. If you have an experience to share, do so here: Share Your Airline Experiences.)