How much extra can airlines charge for baggage and seating – and how can you avoid hidden fees?

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discountsGet Simon Calder’s Travel emailIn the King’s Speech this week, the government vowed to crack down on “drip pricing”, such as when extras are added to the basic air fare.Airline passengers are said to be particularly vulnerable to “consumer harms”, including additionial charges for luggage or seating. Carriers say charges are clear, and passengers can choose what they need.But how high can the price of extras rise – and can you avoid them? These are the key differences.Airport check-inVery few airlines charge a fee for checking in at the airport. Two that do are Ryanair and Wizz Air.For Ryanair, passengers who have not checked in online up to two hours before their flight can do so at the airport with the payment of a fee – £55 in the UK, less elsewhere. Passengers who have checked in but cannot present the boarding pass on the Ryanair app or on paper must pay a boarding pass reissue fee of £20 in the UK, €20 (£17) elsewhere.Wizz Air allows passengers to pre-book airport check-in for £11.50/€13 – but airport check-in without pre-booking costs £35.50/€40.Checked baggageAirlines vary widely in their practices, and often it depends on the length of a flight – and sometimes how much demand there is for it. These are the basics:British AirwaysDomestic and European flights tend to have a charge of around £17 one way for a 23kg bag – rising to £50 for many long-haul flights.EasyJetOn the longest easyJet flight, a six-hour haul from Belfast to Hurghada in Egypt covering 2,762 miles, a15kg checked bag costs £31, while a 23kg case is £40. On a short flight such as Belfast to London Gatwick the price falls to £21 and £26 respectively.Jet2For a typical flight such as Newcastle to Faro, a 22kg checked bag costs £38.RyanairA typical flight is from London Stansted to Budapest. On this, a 10kg checked bag is £15, while a 20kg case is £25.Wizz AirThe airline has a wide range of options. From Liverpool to Warsaw, for example, the rates are as follows:10kg: £2220kg: £4026kg: £4232kg: £46It is clearly worth taking one mighty 32kg bag than, say, a 10kg and 20kg case.Cabin baggageBritish AirwaysBA has an extremely generous free allowance of two pieces (one small backpack sized, one large roll-along) with a weight limit of 23kg each.EasyJetA large piece of cabin baggage typically costs an additional £24.Jet2The airline has a 10kg allowance for every passenger, with generous dimensionsRyanairTypically £14 including priority boardingWizz AirTypically £29 including priority boarding.Assigned seatsBritish AirwaysCharges vary according to the class of travel and ticket type (as well as extra legroom in economy), but my view is that they are never worth paying. Families are automatically seated together before general free online check-in begins 24 hours before departure. If you are travelling without children, then timing your online check-in for exactly 24 hours ahead is worthwhile: you can normally source reasonable seats at this point.Frequent flyers with Silver status and above can select seats at any time for free.easyJetMost seats are on sale for £7–£10, though if you want to be in the front part of the cabin, or an emergency exit row for additional legroom, the price increases – to around £40 for the front row of the plane.Jet2Seats range from around £10 to £31 – the highest, once again, for the front row.RyanairStarting at around £7, front row typically £30.Wizz Air“Ordinary” seats are around £15, with the front row going for £36.Any ways to avoid the charges?Yes. Travel light and be relaxed about your choice of seat. If that does not apply to you, then avail of British Airways’ enormous cabin baggage allowance.Alternatively, frequent easyJet flyers should sign up for easyJet Plus. Annual membership costs £215 and allows you to choose any seat on the plane, including the cherished front row, free of charge. You also get a dedicated bag drop at bigger airports, fast track security, speedy boarding and an additional cabin bag.