Low Cost Carrier Baggage Fees

I was genuinely shocked seeing the cost of an EasyJet hold luggage fee on a flight I was about to book, so thought it was worth looking at all the main Low Cost Carriers to see if they are just as bad!

Of course these fees depend on the length of the flight, and the time of year, and the way the wind is blowing - but this should still be directionally correct.

I'm using London to Paphos or Larnaca as my case study - since all the main European LCCs fly this route.  Or course all airlines are required to give you a personal item so I've ignored that for this comparison.

When you checkin you'll again be offered to add bags - both cabin and hold.  The prices may be higher or lower depending on the airline algorithms!

Skip to the table near the end for the money shot.

EasyJet

After selecting your flight you get three different bundle options.  These were the prices that seemed crazy expensive.

If you decline all the bundles and the seat selection you initially get the cabin bag option, and in the next screen you get the hold bag options.  These are still pretty crazy!

Ryanair

After choosing your flight you get three different bundles with a handy comparison table.  NB the Flexi Plus bundle does not include any hold luggage.

If you decline all the bundles, and skip the seat selection page, you then get to add a cabin bag or a hold bag.

Wizz Air

After struggling with the Wizz website I finally got it to offer up the bundles for a Larnaca flight.

And after declining the bundles you get the cabin and hold luggage options.  Wizz cabin wheelie price is remarkably decent and puts EasyJet to shame!

Jet2

Whilst Jet2 is primarily a holiday company, they also sell stand alone flights.  They include a 10kg cabin bag in all their fares (as well as a personal item) and don't offer bundles.

And instead of offering a range of hold bag weights - they have a more simple 22kg take it or leave it option!

British Airways

For completeness here's what British Airways bundles look like.

And after declining the bundles, here's their luggage option.  A single piece of luggage for this flight is more expensive than their Economy Plus bundle!

Comparison

Cabin Bag - whilst BA & Jet2 include them for free, Wizz price is best and EasyJet is worst.

Cabin Bundle - Wizz and EasyJet pricing looks wild compared to a cabin bag on it's own, whilst Ryanair looks less over priced.

Hold Bag - Ryanair have the best prices for 10kg and 20kg bags, whilst EasyJet pricing above 15kg is particularly punchy.

Hold Bundle - because EasyJet hold luggage pricing is so high, their bundle almost looks reasonable.  Wizz and Ryanair charge a similar premium for their hold bundle.

If you've got a 20kg hold bag it will cost you:

£40.99 with Ryanair

£43.25 with Wizz

£47.50 with Jet2

£48.99 with EasyJet

£52.00 with British Airways

Differentiation

We're used to the big supermarkets selling us slightly different sized versions of the same product to make it harder to compare prices. It's clear from the table above that airlines are now doing something similar with slightly different weights of hold luggage.

Conclusions

There is a huge difference in pricing between airlines. Jet2, BA & Wizz win on the hand luggage front, whilst there is no clear winner on the hold luggage side.

EasyJet really is sleazy in their pricing of both cabin bags and hold luggage.

Tenerife to La Palma

After last year's trip to El Hierro, this year we're planning to visit the larger island of La Palma.  We have already booked flights to Tenerife South Airport, and will spend the first night near the airport.  Last year we had a very pleasant day in San Isidro, just 10 minutes from TFS, before taking a ferry to El Hierro.

So now we're looking at how to get from Tenerife to La Palma.

There are two ferry operators.  Fred Olsen Express offer two departures from Los Cristianos - at 8.30am and 7pm for 60 euro per person each way.  With the port being about 40 minutes from San Isidro by bus and stroll, or 20 minutes by taxi - the earlier departure might be a challenge!

Armas Ferries are now owned by Balearia and they also have two departures - at 8am and 6.30pm and charge 64 euro per person each way.

There's also the option to fly with two airlines shuttling between the islands.

Binter have two daily flights from Tenerife South to La Palma departing at 9.25am and 6.50pm for 102 euro per person - including 20kg hold luggage and 8kg hand luggage.

Binter also have 14 daily flights from Tenerife North airport to La Palma with the last departures at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm & 10.15pm - for 92 euro per person including luggage.

The bus journey from San Isidro to TFN takes about 90 minutes including a change of bus in Santa Cruz. A taxi to TFN takes about 45 minutes.

Canary Fly also operate the route from Tenerife North to La Palma with 7.45am, 3.10pm & 5.10pm departures. The cheapest flight costs 52 euro per person when through their partner Air Europa.  Booking directly the prices start at 57 euro per person.

Both booking options include cabin and hold luggage - but Air Europa fares theoretically include 23kg of luggage whilst a direct booking includes 20kg.

Last January when we were departing El Hierro island all the flights to Tenerife were cancelled due to weather - and passengers were moved to the ferry. La Palma airport is further away from the mountains and has a much longer runway, so hopefully is less impacted by weather.

Decision Time

Ferry or Fly ... early or late ?

  

London to Birmingham Airport

When flights from London's six airports are expensive, my first choice alternatives are Birmingham and Southampton airports.  Although cheap flights out of Liverpool are often too attractive to turn down, and I recently flew out of Leeds Bradford.

I've written posts about getting to Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Heathrow - by bus, tube and train.  And since I'm currently on a train to Birmingham International, I thought it was worth a post as well.

Train operator choice

The great thing about getting to Birmingham Airport from London is that you have a choice of operators.  Whilst Avanti West Coast will speed you from Euston station to Birmingham International station in just over an hour, you also have the slower London Northwestern Railway option. If you have the patience for a two hour journey, you can save a lot of money.

These options are for a weekday daytime booked around 48 hours in advance.

If you have a travelcard you may save even more, and with a Network Railcard most ticket sellers will check whether two tickets are cheaper.

If you want to see more cheap London Northwestern options, it's worth checking their own website, and clicking on the Our Trains toggle box.

I look at which train gets into Birmingham International an hour before my flight departs (I'm usually flying out at quieter times), and then take the train before that in case of cancellations.  Your risk tolerance may be different!  One time the whole line was closed, so I couldn't get to BHX in time - but that can happen travelling to London airports as well.

Sometimes it's cheaper getting to Birmingham Airport, and even Liverpool Airport, than it is on the Express train to Stansted or Luton.

And when booking a train from Birmingham back to London the off peak single (more flexibility for a late arrival) on LNR is usually reasonably priced.

Birmingham SkyRail

Once you exit the barriers at Birmingham International train station, you turn right for the NEC and turn left for the airport.

The little people mover gives a frequent service and takes under two minutes to get to the airport terminal.

Or if the weather is fair the walk is less than 10 minutes - although you don't get any aeroplane views.

Only once when I've used BHX has the people mover been out of action - but the airport provided a bus replacement service.

Once you're in the main terminal there are a decent number of shops - including an M&S and a Greggs between the far check in desks and the arrivals section.  It's worth having a look around if you have time and are in the mood.

And Birmingham security machines have all been upgraded and no longer have the dreaded 100ml limit - which makes life easier for departing passengers.  If you're departing at a very busy time, then Fast Track security is available for a pretty reasonable £7 fee.

Conclusion

If you like a cheap rail journey, then the slow train to Birmingham might be for you.

Just be aware that you probably won't be able to get a train in time for an early departure from BHX - although I'm not a fan of first wave flights, so it's not really an issue for me!