Passengers feel the pinch as luggage fees hit €16 a bag

AIRLINE passengers are being stung by repeated price hikes since fees for luggage were brought in last year — with charges now as high as €16 a bag.

In March 2006 Ryanair became the first airline to charge for baggage, setting the initial price at €3.50 per bag per flight per passenger.

A year later Ryanair’s rivals like Aer Lingus and BMIbaby introduced similar fees, both fixing the price at €4 if consumers paid online.