New and Increased Luggage Charges Rattle Passengers: Airline Fees on the Rise
Passengers are being stung by new and increased luggage charges, with a number of airlines ramping up costs. Air Malta has scrapped it’s free 10kg luggage allowance, while Finnair ditched it’s free suitcases in their basic ticket fares last year.
Airline Fees Surge: Passengers Bear the Brunt
And US airlines JetBlue, American and United and Frontier Airlines have all raised their prices. American Airlines passengers will have to pay £31 to check in a bag at the airport, the first price rise in three years.
Insider Tips: How to Dodge the Luggage Fee Bullet
United’s first checked in bag also costs £31 at the airport, while JetBlue charges as much as £35 for checked luggage. And Frontier Airlines now charges £58 for luggage between 41 and 50 pounds.
Travelpro CEO Reveals the Backpack Trend
A travel expert has revealed how to avoid these fees – with many opting for backpacks over suitcases. Rob Cooper, CEO of the luggage manufacturer Travelpro, told Forbes: “We’re seeing increased demand for backpacks across the board, from frequent travellers and commuters to customers looking for a new everyday bag.
Travelling Light: The Key to Skipping Luggage Fees
He added that his biggest pet peeve was find your suitcase had a “wobbly or rough wheel” when pulling it through the airport. Mr Cooper said: “I think you’ll also see a bigger emphasis on personal bags, such as larger totes, backpacks, and duffels allowing travellers to maximize what they carry on.”
Budget-Friendly Bagging: How to Avoid Extra Charges
If you can pack light, there is a bag going viral online that lets you skip all hand luggage restrictions – even Ryanair. Costing £12, the Wandf bag on Amazon is small, but some have fit in as much as a week’s worth of clothes inn – and avoided paying anything extra.
Luggage Hacks: From Filling Pillows to Bypassing Charges
Other drastic attempts to avoid luggage costs is to fill a suitcase or a travel pillow with clothes instead. A number of travellers have found success with it, managing to sneak some extra things onto the plane. But the Sun Online Travel’s resident flight attendant warned against it.
Hand Luggage Rules Simplified
Otherwise we’ve reviewed the best hand luggage suitcases to take on your next holiday. We’ve rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare. Ryanair allows one personal bag, EasyJet permits one personal bag, Jet2 allows one personal item and one cabin bag, TUI permits one personal item and one cabin bag, British Airways allows one personal bag and one cabin bag, while Virgin Atlantic permits one personal item and one cabin bag.