EasyJet's Cheapest Cabin Bag Prices May Be a Myth

The Hidden Costs of Budget Airline Baggage

For budget travelers, the thrill of finding a great flight deal can quickly turn into frustration when they realize additional fees for luggage are required. These extra charges can significantly increase the overall cost of a trip, making it essential to understand the true expenses involved.

Several budget airlines offer what appear to be affordable options for cabin bags, but recent research suggests that these deals may not always be as straightforward as they seem. For example, easyJet advertises carry-on luggage from as little as £5.99, while Ryanair offers similar options for as little as £12, and Wizz Air promises them from €10 (£8.70). However, new findings reveal that these advertised prices are often difficult to find.

Research Reveals Discrepancies in Pricing

A study conducted by Which? analyzed nearly 1,500 cabin bag prices across three major budget airlines. The research covered eight different routes per airline to popular holiday destinations and was spread across peak and off-peak dates. The results were surprising.

The consumer champion concluded that finding the advertised cabin bag deals was "like finding a needle in a haystack." In most cases, the cheapest advertised bag deal was not available for Ryanair and Wizz Air flights. For easyJet, Which? was unable to find the bargain price at all across the 520 flights it checked.

According to the research, the average price of a cabin bag came out to £30—five times the cheapest advertised by the company. The lowest price found was £23.49. When Which? challenged easyJet to provide an example of a flight where a cabin bag could be purchased for £5.99, the airline declined to do so. As a result, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is investigating after Which? reported their findings on easyJet to the regulating body.

Airlines' Responses and Controversies

In response to the findings, an easyJet spokesperson stated: "We have a range of prices for our cabin bags and always have large cabin bags available from the lowest price of £5.99 on some flights." They emphasized that their bag options and pricing are transparent and allow customers to pay only for what they need.

EasyJet provided evidence of the £5.99 cabin bag price to the Daily Mail, but all examples were for domestic flights in March and April next year. Meanwhile, Which?'s analysis only found Ryanair's £12 cheap deal on two of the 634 flights in the study—accounting for just 0.3 percent. The average cost for the budget airline worked out to be £20.50.

Wizz Air's €10 bag was found just twice on the 338 flights checked by the consumer champion—accounting for 0.6 percent. The airline's average cabin bag charge came to £28.93 on average. Which? also didn't manage to find a flight that charged the top advertised price for a cabin bag by Wizz Air—a whopping €163 (£142)—which has since been reduced to €130 (£114).

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: "Our research shows that the tens of millions of passengers who need to take a cabin bag will pay much more than the cheapest price advertised—rather than a few pounds, prices for bags can often be more than the flight itself."

Industry Reactions and Ongoing Debate

Ryanair responded to the study by calling it "total rubbish," arguing that the sample size of 600 flights was too small to be representative. They claimed that their Priority Boarding (PB) services are "transparent and optional" and that customers can choose to opt out.

Wizz Air defended its pricing model, stating that a sample of 350 flights isn't representative of cabin bag pricing across its full network. The airline explained that bag prices vary by route, season, and demand, and that showing a price range is the only feasible option.

They added: "At Wizz Air, our bag pricing is transparent and fully compliant with consumer protection laws. Every ticket includes a free under-seat bag, and customers can choose to add larger luggage if they wish."

Despite the controversy, the debate over baggage fees continues. Many travelers feel that the additional costs are not clearly communicated, making it difficult to plan effectively. As the industry evolves, the question remains whether airlines are truly offering fair and transparent pricing or simply using complex fee structures to maximize profits.