Passengers flying from UK airports urged to make simple check

People preparing to catch a flight soon are being advised to carry out several important checks before setting off for the airport - and it's pretty simple. Consumer experts at Which? have recommended travellers "avoid being surprised by airline extras" by thoroughly reviewing all booking details at the point of purchase, rather than making assumptions about what is included. It pointed out that while flights may appear cheaper on comparison websites, they frequently end up costing considerably more than the headline figure suggests. Some airlines , for instance, charge extra for certain type of luggage, including bags that don't meet the rules. This can significantly bump up the final cost of your holiday, leaving you with less cash available to enjoy your actual holiday. Which? warn: "Sometimes the airlines that appear cheapest on a flight comparison site are much more expensive than the initial price suggests. "Ryanair, Wizz and easyJet will charge you for any luggage that won't fit under your seat." WizzAir says: "All baggage options have size and weight limitations. Exceeding these limits will incur additional fees." Ryanair says: "You must adhere strictly to the baggage allowance on your booking. If your small bag or 10kg cabin bag does not fit in the baggage sizers, it will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee at the level set out in our Regulations . You will be required to leave your bags at the aircraft steps, in the gate bag trolley, or as directed by Ryanair agents, for stowage in the hold." easyJet says: "We check cabin bag sizes before you board. If your cabin bag is larger than the maximum allowed size, or if you bring a large cabin bag to the departure gate without the correct seat selection or without one pre-booked for your flight, it won’t be able to go in the cabin. We’ll have to check it into the aircraft hold and charges will apply." Always check that you meet the requirements and rules before borrowing to avoid fees. This applies to any bag whether it's hold or cabin. Which? further noted that in 2024, it found "this could quadruple the cost of the cheapest Wizz flights and more than double the cost of the cheapest easyJet and Ryanair flights. If you want to check luggage into the hold, you'll pay even more." It added that while some airlines may not charge for cabin luggage, it "may appear more expensive initially, but the price you see on the first page is likely to be what you'll actually pay." In its other tips, it suggests: Don't pay to sit together Consider buying a package Check school holiday dates - and consider a different airport Consider a different destination airport Fly out on Saturday rather than Friday If you're flying short-haul, try to choose January Check when it's cheapest to book flights. You can try the Skyscanner tool here Set up a flight price alert