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.

Since the fees were introduced, the three low-cost airlines have repeatedly hiked their luggage charges, with costs rising as much as 150%.

Ryanair raised its €3.50 online charge to €4, then to €4.50 and recently to €6 — an increase of €2.50 or 71% in 18 months.

But passengers who check in bags also have to pay a compulsory €3 levy as well for using a check-in desk — that’s a total of €9 and an effective rise of €5.50 or 157% per bag.

For those who fail to pay online the cost has risen from €7 to €15 including the check-in levy, a rise of €8 or 114%. In addition, passengers wanting to check in more than one bag each on Ryanair are charged €12 for each additional piece of luggage.

BMIbaby’s online charge, introduced in February, has risen from €4 to €4.95 and is now €8 — a 100% increase in eight months.

Passengers who fail to pay the baggage fee online have to shell out €16, a rise of €6 or 60% since February.

The initial €4 online fee on Aer Lingus has risen 25% to €5. The €8 charge for passengers who opt to pay the luggage fee at the airport is to rise 12.5% from January to €9.

Yesterday the Consumers’ Association of Ireland said creeping rises in baggage fees were akin to a stealth tax. The group’s chief, Dermott Jewell, said: “Consumers are being forced to pay an extraordinary amount of money just to take a bag on holiday with them.

“The vast majority of travellers need to take some luggage with them and will end up paying.

“But realistically nothing will change unless there is a sustained outcry among travellers about these fees.”

Airlines are making significant profits from baggage fees, boasting to shareholders how the levies are now a crucial part of their income alongside fares.

In the year to March, Ryanair’s profits rose 33% to €100 million with airline bosses pinpointing new luggage fees as one reason for the increase.

Aer Lingus, in its latest set of results in August, said income from sidelines such as meals, car hire commission and luggage brought in €50m in six months, up from €20m in the same period last year.

“Introduction of bag charges in January 2007 has driven substantial growth,” said the airline’s report.

Last year Aer Lingus got €7.20 extra from every passenger in sales of food, drink and gifts yet the amount has risen to €11.50 since luggage charges came in.

Ryanair, Aer Lingus and BMIbaby allow passengers to carry on one item of luggage for free but have strict weight and size limits.

Security restrictions mean passengers who opt to carry on their luggage face delays at security and are also barred from carrying standard toiletries as well as liquids like alcoholic drink.

Of the main airlines flying in and out of Ireland, only Aer Arann carries luggage in the hold of the aircraft for free, though smaller operators like Jet2.com have brought in charges.

Last year there were 6.1m plane trips abroad made by people based here — a rise of 14% on the year before.