Airline Add-Ons
Which airlines charge the most hidden fees?

For most, booking a flight is often the first step towards an exciting new adventure: the holiday. Most of us spend hours pouring over comparison and airline websites to find the absolute best deal for our trip.

Nowadays, the process of booking a flight has evolved, with airlines often presenting travellers with various optional add-ons that can be confusing for holidaymakers.

To give passengers more clarity, NetVoucherCodes has conducted a thorough analysis of 80 airlines operating in Europe, America and the world, to shed light on these additional costs and help travellers make more informed choices.

But why do airlines offer these add-ons in the first place?

The Rise of Hidden Airline Fees

For most of us, airlines charging for add-ons seems like the new norm, but it wasn't always this way. Ryanair began the trend in 2006 by charging passengers a £2.50 fee for checked luggage, followed by £4 for “priority boarding” in 2007.

As online bookings became more prevalent, by 2011, other airlines joined in a bid to make their airfares comparatively cheaper while pushing costs into optional add-ons. Airlines now charge for baggage, to select a preferred seat, wifi and some even charge a fee to hold website prices.

In 2022, The Times reported that in the U.S., baggage-fee revenue rose sevenfold, from £350 million in 2007 to £2.5 billion in 2013, following the introduction of baggage charges.

Fast forward to 2023, both US President, Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak are trying to put an end to the lack of transparency around these hidden charges, supposedly dubbed “drip-selling”.

However, with COVID-19 putting passenger flights at a standstill in 2020, airlines are fighting to recover from their monumental loss. In a statement reported by Cirium in 2022, the drop in airline revenues since the coronavirus pandemic has led to industry-wide net losses totalling almost $220 billion. Ouch.

How We Conducted the Study

To determine which airlines have the most optional extras, we first created a list of the largest airlines operating in Europe, the USA, and internationally. These airlines formed our sample group.

We then selected a sample short-haul flight for each airline on their respective websites which had the same date, a similar flight route and a similar number of miles travelled.

We examined the hidden fees associated with each airline by moving through the booking process. We noted the costs of additional charges such as seat selection, carry-on baggage, 20kg check-in baggage, fast track, insurance, and onboard Wi-Fi.

Finally, we calculated the total hidden costs by summing up the additional charges and determined how much the hidden fee is as a percentage of the original fare. We also recorded the number of times airlines attempted to upsell customers.

“Hidden fees” in the study refer to optional add-ons that airlines offer during the booking process. They are not required in order to fly, however, they may offer a more comfortable flight experience.

An Overview of Airline Hidden Fees

Navigating airline prices can be tricky. What may seem like a low-cost flight at first can quickly turn out to be significantly more expensive once additional add-ons are included.

Baggage fees, seat selection charges, and other unexpected fees can quickly accumulate, resulting in a total cost that exceeds the initial advertised price. While not everyone will choose to include add-ons, some people might find them necessary, such as families who want to sit together or people on holidays for more than a few weeks.

In the world of airlines today, this has become a common practice. Some airlines offer low base fares with additional add-ons at higher costs, while others advertise slightly more expensive flights, but compensate by having the add-ons included in the original fare.

Our findings have uncovered these hidden extras and shed light on which airlines offer the best value for your money. We will explore the notable differences in hidden costs and fee structures across airlines to help travellers make more informed decisions and avoid unexpected expenses when booking flights.

How to Avoid the Most Common Hidden Fees

Although hidden fees are now commonplace when booking a plane ticket, there are certain ways around them if you're looking to become a savvy traveller. By avoiding hidden fees and following our top tips, you could save up to £282 on your next flight.

Rebecca Bebbington is a travel expert at NetVoucherCodes. Having studied the intricate details of airline fees, Rebeca has utilised her previous expertise and knowledge of the travel industry to uncover effective strategies that can assist passengers in saving money and making informed decisions when booking their next flights.

She shares 5 tips on how to avoid hidden fees from airlines:

1. To avoid baggage fees, try fitting all your belongings into a carry-on bag. These tend to be free with budget airlines. Be sure to pack strategically to avoid overweight baggage fees.
2. Research the seat selection fees of different airlines. Consider skipping seat selection during booking and try selecting seats for free during online check-in, within the 24-hour window. If you're travelling in a group, book tickets together to increase the chances of being seated together without paying extra for seat selection. To avoid seat selection fees altogether, try asking to be seated together at the airport during check-in or consider changing seats once onboard your flight, as passengers are typically seated within close proximity.
3. If you need to check a bag, purchase it online in advance as it's usually cheaper than paying at the check-in counter. But be aware of the size and weight restrictions for carry-on and checked bags to avoid additional charges.
4. Research your airline's change fee policy before booking. Consider making changes within 24 hours of booking or explore options for refunds through credit card travel insurance.
5. Flying long-haul? Research meal options beforehand to see what's included and avoid being stung with on-flight prices. Sometimes it's better to prepare snacks beforehand and bring a reusable water bottle to avoid high in-flight food and beverage costs.

Looking for your next holiday away and want to put our tips to the test? Check out our extensive list of travel voucher codes to book your trip.

Methodology