Budget airlines criticised for extra charges

A new report has attacked low-cost airlines for the extra charges they levy for certain services on top of initial ticket costs.

Some budget carriers charge for services such as check-in and priority boarding, taking the total cost of the flight to up to £28 more than the advertised ticket cost on some occasions, the research by Holiday Which? found.

The report singled out Ryanair as the "worst offender" for its policy of charging £20 to check in hold baggage for a return flight.

Holiday Which? editor Lorna Cowan said that the findings were disappointing for passengers, especially as these extra costs used to be included in the full price of flight tickets.

"Ryanair's charge to use its check-in desk is especially unfair," she commented.

"Although the airlines view these services as optional, who would go on a week's holiday without checking a bag into the hold?"

Amanda Diamond of Holiday Which? told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that making priority boarding optional can be problematic for families who are likely to wish that their children sit with parents and may only be able to make this happen by paying extra.

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