Three of the UK’s biggest budget airlines have cut the size of their cabin baggage allowance by half in the last six years.
RyanAir, easyJet and WizzAir have all significantly reduced the size of the bag passengers travelling on their flights can take onboard for free.
An investigation by BBC One’s Rip Off Britain found that RyanAir was the worst culprit shrinking the size of their bags by 55 per cent.
The airline, which is headquartered in Dublin, allowed passengers to carry bags with the maximum volume of 55 x 40 x 20cm in 2018.
But today, customers can only take a bag that is 40 x 20 x 25cm, without being charged. This is the smallest bag of any airline checked by the BBC’s investigation.
An investigation by BBC One’s Rip Off Britain, which airs on August 11, found that RyanAir was the worst culprit shrinking the size of their bags by 55 per cent
WizzAir was next in line, with their bags shrinking by 52 per cent since 2018.
Six years ago customers could take a bag that was 55 x 40 x 23cm onboard for free. This has since been reduced to 40 x 30 x 20cm.
Meanwhile, easyJet used to allow passengers 56 x 45 x 25cm in free hand luggage, but the permitted size is now 45 x 36 x 20cm – which for a budget airline is still one of the largest.
All three airlines have been contacted for comment.
A Wizz Air spokesman said: ‘The Wizz Air baggage policy has been the same for the last six years. Wizz Air is committed to providing customers with the lowest fares possible whilst giving passengers the flexibility to customise their booking by adding only the services they wish to pay for.
‘Every basic fare ticket entitles passengers to one piece of free hand luggage that must fit under the seat (measuring a maximum of 40 x 30 x 20 cm). For those passengers who need more hand luggage allowance, it is possible to purchase WIZZ priority which includes an onboard trolley bag (measuring up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm).
‘Passengers who bring additional bags onboard will be charged at the gate as per Wizz Air’s policy, with luggage put in the hold if there is not available space onboard.’
An easyJet spokesman said: ‘easyJet has one of the most generous cabin bag allowances whereby all customers can bring a small under seat bag into the cabin for free and have always had this option, and, like most European short haul airlines we also offer the option to bring a large cabin bag onboard from just £5.99, providing customers with as much choice and flexibility as possible and ensuring they don’t pay for things they don’t need.’
BA was found to be ultimately cheaper when additional fees were added in than both Ryanair and Wizz Air on two out of three routes
Those who would like more baggage on board will have to pay – with a sliding scale of costs depending on when the extra baggage is purchased.
Passengers on Wizz Air would have to purchase a more expensive priority ticket to get a bigger bag. RyanAir offers the same option, as well as a £36 fee at the airport.
easyJet charges from £6 to £40 depending on when the baggage is booked.
A Wizz Air spokesman told the programme: ‘Wizz Air updated its baggage policy at the end of 2018 to ensure a smooth boarding process for passengers and to minimise hand luggage related delays. Wizz Air is committed to providing customers with the lowest fares possible whilst giving passengers the flexibility to customise their booking by adding only the services they wish to pay for.
‘Every basic fare ticket entitles passengers to one piece of free hand luggage that must fit under the seat (measuring a maximum of 40 x 30 x 20 cm). For those passengers who need more hand luggage allowance, it is possible to purchase WIZZ priority which includes an onboard trolley bag (measuring up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm). Passengers who bring additional bags onboard will be charged at the gate as per Wizz Air’s policy, with luggage put in the hold if there is not available space onboard.’
British Airways works out better value for money than its budget rivals when extras such as baggage and seat selection are taken into account, a Which? study has found
It comes after experts at Which? found that British Airways often beats budget rivals on price, when accounting for add-ons.
Experts at Which? have discovered that the low headline fares advertised by the likes of Ryanair and Wizz Air are not what they seem.
Once ‘sneaky fees’ covering things such as baggage and seat selection are taken into account, the likes of BA are better value.
The findings will dent the claims of Ryanair to be the ‘cheapest airline’ for flying between the UK and holiday hot spots in Europe.
Which? carried out a snapshot price analysis of three April 2024 routes for return trips from London airports to Malaga, Athens and Naples – returning a week later.
It assessed the fares charged by BA, easyJet, Jet2, RyanAir and Wizz Air based on the headline figure and then what people are likely to pay once fees for a cabin bag and seat selection are added.
British Airways compared to other airlines for a return trip from London to Naples in October this year
Based on this scenario, BA was ultimately cheaper than both Ryanair and Wizz Air on two out of three routes.
Which? found that baggage and seat selection fees accounted for 49 per cent of the total ticket price with WizzAir when averaged across the three routes.
These fees made up 27 per cent of the final cost with easyJet and 20 per cent with Ryanair.
The editor of Which? Travel, Rory Boland, said: ‘It’s easy to assume that budget airlines are always the cheapest option – but if you want to sit next to your kids or take more than a few items of clothes then you’ll increasingly find better prices elsewhere.’
Ryanair described the research as ‘fake news’. EasyJet said: ‘Our customers only pay for the extras they choose.’