49. Hidden Costs of Budget European Airlines (Ryanair/EasyJet)

For travelers visiting Europe, seeing a flight from London to Barcelona for €19.99 feels like a miracle. It seems cheaper than a train ticket to the next town over. However, veteran travelers know that the initial price is rarely what you pay at the checkout. Airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air operate on an “unbundled” model. They sell you the bare minimum—essentially a seat and a seatbelt—and charge for everything else.

If you are not careful, that bargain ticket can easily balloon to €100 or more. Here is a detailed breakdown of the hidden fees and specific policies that catch travelers off guard.

The Boarding Pass Trap: Print It or Pay

One of the most infamous fees in budget travel comes from Ryanair. Unlike legacy carriers that will happily print your boarding pass at the counter for free, Ryanair penalizes you for it.

If you arrive at the airport without having checked in online, Ryanair charges an airport check-in fee of €55 (or £55) per passenger. This fee often costs more than the flight itself. Even if you have checked in online but failed to print your pass or download it to the app, they may charge a “Boarding Card Re-issue Fee” of €20.

How to avoid it:

  • Download the airline’s official app.
  • Check in as soon as the window opens (usually 24 hours before departure for free seats).
  • Save a screenshot of the QR code just in case the app crashes or you lose service at the airport.

Baggage Fees: The Math Is Against You

The days of free overhead cabin bags are largely over for the lowest fare classes. This is where the price difference between a budget carrier and a standard airline like British Airways or Lufthansa begins to shrink.

Ryanair Baggage Rules

The standard fare allows only one small personal bag.

  • Dimensions: Must fit under the seat in front of you (40cm x 20cm x 25cm).
  • The Cost: If you bring a standard carry-on wheelie bag (10kg) to the gate without paying for it, you will be charged a gate fee of up to €45.99.
  • The Fix: You must purchase “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags” during booking. This usually costs between €6 and €36, depending on the route and demand.

EasyJet Baggage Rules

EasyJet allows a slightly larger under-seat bag than Ryanair.

  • Dimensions: 45cm x 36cm x 20cm.
  • The Cost: To bring a large overhead cabin bag, you must book an “Up Front” or “Extra Legroom” seat. Alternatively, you can pay for the bag separately, which starts around ÂŁ5.99 but can skyrocket to ÂŁ48 if added at the airport.
  • Oversized Penalty: If your bag fails the “sizer” test at the gate, EasyJet charges a ÂŁ48 fee to check it into the hold.

Seat Selection: The "Random" Allocation

If you are traveling with a partner or children, do not assume you will sit together. These airlines use algorithms that deliberately split groups up to encourage you to pay for seat selection.

  • Random Allocation: Free. You will likely be placed in a middle seat, often rows apart from your travel companion.
  • Paid Selection: Choosing specific seats costs between €4 and €20 per person, per flight. For a family of four on a round trip, seat selection alone can add €160 to the total vacation cost.

Strategy: If sitting together is not critical, skip this fee. If you are traveling with children under 12, Ryanair generally forces one adult to pay for a seat reservation (approx €4) so the children can sit next to them for free.

The Name Change Fee

This is perhaps the most punitive fee of all. If you make a spelling error on your ticket or want to transfer it to a friend, the cost is astronomical.

Ryanair charges €115 / £115 for a name change if done online, and €160 / £160 if done via an agent. In almost every scenario, it is cheaper to abandon the original ticket and simply buy a brand new one.

Note: Most airlines allow you to correct minor spelling mistakes (like “Jonh” instead of “John”) for free within 24 hours of booking, but you have to contact chat support immediately.

Dynamic Pricing on "Extras"

A crucial detail many travelers miss is that fees are not static. The price of adding a bag varies depending on when you add it.

  1. During Booking: This is always the cheapest price.
  2. Post-Booking (Online): The price increases significantly. A 20kg checked bag might cost €25 during booking but €40 if added a week later.
  3. At the Airport: This is the “distress rate.” You will pay maximum price.

Secondary Airports and Transfer Costs

The flight price is only part of the equation. Budget airlines often fly into secondary airports located far from the city center to save on landing fees.

  • Paris: They often fly to Beauvais (BVA), which is 85km from Paris. The shuttle bus costs roughly €17 one-way and takes 75 minutes.
  • Barcelona: Some flights land in Girona (GRO), over 100km away.
  • London: Flights to Stansted (STN) or Luton (LTN) require expensive train tickets (Stansted Express is approx ÂŁ23 standard return) compared to taking the Tube to Heathrow.

Always factor the bus or train ticket price into your flight comparison. A €40 flight to Beauvais plus €34 in bus transfers is €74. A €90 Air France flight directly to Charles de Gaulle might actually be cheaper and save you two hours of travel time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it ever cheaper to fly legacy carriers? Yes. If you plan to check a bag, select a seat, and bring a carry-on, airlines like British Airways, KLM, or Lufthansa are often competitive. Their prices usually include a carry-on and seat selection, and they fly into main airports, saving you transfer costs.

How strict are they with bag sizes? Extremely strict. Staff at the gate are often incentivized to catch oversized bags. If your wheels stick out of the sizer, you will be charged. Soft backpacks are safer than hard-shell suitcases because they can be squashed into the measuring device.

Can I bring my own food on board? Yes. You cannot bring liquids over 100ml through security, but you can bring solid food (sandwiches, snacks) from home. This saves you from buying the €10 meal deal on board. You can also bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain after security.

What happens if I am late to the gate? Budget airlines operate on tight turnaround times (often 25 minutes). They will not wait for you. If you miss the flight, your ticket is worthless, and you will have to buy a new one at the walk-up rate. Arrive at the gate 30 minutes before departure.