European low cost airlines have become increasingly popular with travellers looking for cut-price flights. However, they come with many regulations, fees and penalties – perhaps more so than scheduled or charter airlines.
Updated With Latest Fees
These are often extremely complex and with every airline having different regulations – travel with European low cost airlines can be just a little taxing. The size of hand luggage, the cost of extra legroom and even the price of a cup of coffee vary depending on which of the European low cost airlines you chose to fly with.
Being aware of the extra fees and charges you may face before you fly is extremely important. It can prevent you from having to pay large sums at the airport.
Did you know that the penalty for overweight baggage can vary between £7.50 and £45 per kilo?
Even using a credit card can lead to extra charges with some airlines adding up to £15 per booking in administration fees. Don’t get caught out by restrictions on European low cost airlines restrictions. Instead follow this handy guide so you’re well armed on the rules for flying with each.
Also don’t miss our guides to travelling on low cost airlines in North America and Asia.
Upgrade your flights
Travel on European low cost airlines doesn’t have to be basic. Want to upgrade your low cost travels? Take a look at our guide to upgrading the service you receive on low cost flights.
Travel rules with European low cost airlines
Airline | Booking, Admin and Card Fees | Hand Luggage | Hold Luggage | Baggage Extras | Baggage Fees and Penalties | Extras on Board | Fees and Penalties | Other Charges |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Air Berlin | Card Fee: There is a charge of €5-€20 per person on payments made by Paypal and Direct Debit. | Weight: 8kg Dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 23cm May take an additional handbag or laptop case weighing no more than 2kg: Dimensions: 40 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm | Weight: up to 23kg in Economy and 32kg in Business Class Cost of Hold Baggage: €15 - €120 | Check in Additional Bag: €13 - €175 Check in additional overweight bag: €50 - €275 | Overweight Baggage: €15 per kg | Allocated Seating: €16 - €99 Extra Legroom: €20 - €99 | Name Change: €60 - €240 Flight Change: €60 - €240 Paper ticket charge: €25 Cancellation Fee: €180 - €240 | Check-in at desk: €15 per person Pets in the cabin: €40 - €105 Pets in hold: €75 - €250 Infants under 2 charge: 10% of adult fare |
bmi Regional | Card Fee: Bookings made by credit card will incur a charge of 2.75% per booking. Admin Fee: Bookings made via the airport or call centre will incur an £8 per person charge. A refund administration charge of £35 applies to non refundable tickets, and tax will also be refunded. | Weight: 12kg Dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 23cm. Make take an additional handbag or laptop case. | Weight: 23kg Cost of Hold Baggage: Included in price of flight | Check in Additional Bag: £40. Non-refundable, can be added to booking up to 4 hours in advance of flight. | Overweight Baggage: £10 per kg | Allocated Seating: £8-£15 | Name Change: Not permitted Ticket Change: £50 + difference in fare for Classic fares, £100 for ClassicPlus fares and no fee for Executive fares. Not available on Sale fares. | Supervision fee for young passengers travelling alone: £80 Sports Equipment: £45 Infant charge: 10% of adult fare |
Easyjet | Admin Fee: £15 Group Booking Fee: £10 Bookings made by Visa Credit Card will incur an additional fee of 1% of the total transaction. | Weight: No Restrictions Dimensions: 45cm x 36cm x 20cm | Weight: 20kg Cost of Hold Baggage: £13-£45 per bag | Additional Hold Baggage: £13-£45 per extra bag up to 20kg | Overweight Baggage: £10 per kg | Allocated Seating: from £1.99 Extra Legroom: from £8.49 | Name Change: Online - £15-£50 Flight Change: £15-£50 + fare difference Cancellation Fee: £25-30 | Sports Equipment: Prepaid - £35-£50 Infant Charge: £22 |
Flybe | Booking Fee: Call Centre - £8 Payments made by credit card will incur a fee of 3% of the total transaction fee with a minimum charge of £5 | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 55cm x 35cm x 20cm. Make take an additional handbag or laptop case - both items must have a combined weight of 10kg. | Weight: 15kg to 40kg (dependent upon weight purchased) | Extra Weight (booked online): Small bag (15kg) - £18.50 Standard bag (20kg): £19 Extra Kilos bag (23kg): £24 2 bags/1 bag and golf bag (40kg) - £49 | Overweight Baggage: £15 per kg | Allocated Seating: Online - £6.50 Call Centre/Airport - £8 Extra Legroom/Exit Seat: Online – £15 Call Centre/Airport - £16 | Name Change: £50 Date and Time Change: Online - £40 Call Centre/Airport - £45 Cancellation Fee: All flights are non-refundable | Supervision fee for young passengers travelling alone: £39 Infant Charge: 12% of adult net fare Sports Equipment: £30 Musical Instruments: £30 |
German Wings | Card Fee: Payments made by Credit Card or PayPal will incur a surcharge of £9. Admin fee per booking for debits refused: £11 | Weight: 8kg Dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm | Weight: up to 23kg Cost of Hold Baggage: Online/Call Centre - £11 Airport - £23 | Check in Additional Bag: £68 | 1st Item of Overweight Baggage: £45 (up to 9kg of excess weight) Additional overweight baggage per item: £45 (up to 9kg of excess weight) | Allocated Seating: £9 Extra Legroom: £18 Extra Seat: Same price as existing ticket if bought on same day before midnight | Surcharge for making changes to booking: £18 Name Change: £54 Flight Change: £54 Cancellation Fee: £23 | Supervision for unaccompanied minors: Shorthaul - €40 Longhaul - €80 Transport of skiing equipment: no fee Transport of sports weapons per item: £45 (including ammunition) Transport of bicycle per item: £45 Transport of pets: £36 |
Jet2 | Booking Fees: There are no longer any booking fees on Jet2.com | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Make take an additional handbag or laptop case. | Weight: 22kg per bag Cost of Hold Baggage: 1 bag (22kg) - £15 2 bags (44kg) – £30 3 bags (66kg) – £45 | Extra Weight: £12 per kg Check-in (per one way flight): Online check-in (no bags) – £0 Online check-in (1 or more bags) - £6 Airport check-in (no bags) - £9 Airport check-in (1 or more bags) - £10 | Overweight Baggage: £12 per kg | Seat Selection: Check with airline, prices vary by flight. | Name Change: £27.50 Flight Change: £27.50 plus change in fares, taxes, fees or charges Print Boarding Card: 17.50 | Infant Charge: £20 Meals (per one way flight): In-flight meal - £9 Infant/Youth in-flight meal – £5 Champagne and Chocolates (per one way flight): Champagne - £25 Chocolates - £5 Sports Equipment: £25 |
Monarch | Booking Fees: Online - There are no longer any booking fees on Monarch | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 56cm x 40cm x 25cm | Weight: 20kg 10kg for infants Cost of Hold Baggage: Online – £15-£36 Contact Centre - Same rate as online + £5 Airport - £36 | Extra Weight: £10 per kg | Shorthaul Overweight Baggage: Online - £7.50 per kg Airport - £10 per kg Longhaul Overweight Baggage: £12 per kg | Allocated Seating: from £3.99 Extra Legroom: £4.99 - £34.99 Priority Boarding: Available when seated in the premium cabin | Name Change: Online - £100 Contact Centre - £120 Flight Change: Online - £40 Contact Centre/Airport - £45 Replacement of lost tickets: £40 Cancellation Fee: Flight numbers starting with ZB are non-refundable. For all other flights, contact your travel agent. | Infant Charge: £20 Sports equipment: From £25 per passenger, each way |
RyanAir | Reservations made via Ryanair.com: £7 Reservations made at airport and call centre booking fee: £20 Government Tax refund administration fee: £17 Credit Card payments will incur a fee of 2% of the total transaction. | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm Make take an additional handbag or laptop case which must not exceed 35cm x 20cm x 20cm. | Weight: 15-20kg (dependent upon weight purchased) Cost of Hold Baggage: £10 - £50 (dependent upon season and flights) | Check in Additional Bag: £10 - £50 (dependent upon season and flights) | Overweight Baggage: £10 per kilo | Reserved Seating: £2-£3 Priority Boarding: £11 | Name Change: Online - £110 Airport - £160 Flight Change: £30 - £90 (dependent upon season and booking online/at airport) Reprint Boarding Card: £15 Missed Departure Fee:£100 | Infant Charge: £20 Infant Equipment: Online - £10 per item, one way Airport - £20 per item, one way Sports Equipment: Online - £30 per item, one way Airport - £35 per item, one way Oxygen Reservation: £50 |
Vueling | Admin charges: €5 Payments made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard and PayPal) will incur a charge of €12.50 Payments made by credit card (Amex and Diners) will incur a charge of 2% of the total transaction. | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Make take an additional handbag or laptop case which must not exceed 35cm x 20cm x 20cm. | Weight: 23kg Cost of luggage check-in: from €10-€29 (dependent upon destination) | Check in Additional Bag: €25-€90 | Overweight Baggage: €12 per kilo each way Hand luggage: €35 | Allocated Seating: XL Seat: €12.99 Seat in back rows: €2.99 Seat in front rows: €6.99 | Name Change: €50 + price difference Flight Change: €50 + price difference | Special luggage: from €35 Pet on board: Domestic - €25 International - €40 Infant Fee (under 2 years old): €5-€40 + fees Supervision for young passengers travelling alone: Domestic - €45 International - €55 |
Wizz Air | Admin Fee, per flight per passenger: €8 Call centre fee (per passenger, per flight): €15 Airport Booking Fee: €10-€30 | Weight: 10kg Dimensions: 42cm x 32cm x 25cm Large Cabin Bag: €10-€20 (dependent upon season and flight time) Large cabin bag fee at check-in/gate: €35 Dimensions: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | Weight: 23-32kg Dimensions: 149cm x 119cm x 171cm Cost of Hold Baggage: €16-€65 (dependent upon weight, season and flight time) Cost of Hold Baggage at check-in/gate: €55 €20 surcharge for bags weighing 23-32kg | Check in Additional Bag: €16-€65 (dependent upon weight, season and flight time) Cost of Hold Baggage at check-in/gate: €55 €20 surcharge for bags weighing 23-32kg | Baggage Fee at check-in: See hold luggage fees + €20 surcharge for bags weighing 23-32kg | Reserved Seating: Online/Call Centre: €1-€31 Priority Boarding: Online/Call Centre - €5 Airport - €25 | Name Change: Online - €45 Flight Change: €40 + fare difference Cancellation Fee: €60 | Infant fee: €8-€27 each way Airport check-in fee: Online - €10 Airport - €30 Sports Equipment: Online/Call Centre - €30 Airport - €60 |
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