Third baggage fee hike

CONSUMERS are being hit by a triple whammy of airport baggage charges after three airlines increased their luggage fees within days of each other.

Aer Lingus is raising the cost of checking in a bag from €9 to €12 on all short-haul flights booked online from tomorrow.

The rise is an inflation-busting increase of 33% and the second increase in a mere six months. In early December, the rate was increased from €6 to €9 in time for Christmas.

Ryanair announced nine days ago its baggage charges would rise by €1, or 11%, to €10 for all flights booked from May 5, while the fee for using a check-in desk would rise to €5 from €3.

BMIbaby, which flies to and from regional airports, followed suit by raising its fee by 14%, or €1.60, to €12.78.

Last night, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland accused Aer Lingus and BMIbaby of following Ryanair’s lead in hiking baggage charges.

“The baggage fee is pure profit for the airlines,” said association chief executive Dermott Jewell. “They say it is to encourage passengers to travel with less luggage, but unless you are flying on a very short trip then you cannot avoid these baggage charges.

“It is most certainly not a good value-for-money charge: it is just a fuel surcharge, really,” said Mr Jewell. Aer Lingus also plans to allow passengers at Dublin Airport’s area 14 to check in their bags automatically at self-service kiosks soon, but gave no firm date.

Airlines have identified fees like baggage charges and fees for choosing seats as lucrative money-spinners to compensate for the rising price of fuel.

Last year, 60% of Aer Lingus passengers paid for their baggage to be checked in and stowed in the hold, helping the airline to amass €108.7 million in extra revenue.

Yesterday, the Government’s Central Statistics Office confirmed hikes in baggage fees as well as fuel surcharges were taken into account when inflation was worked out.

Inflation is 5% — one of the highest rates in Europe — while transport costs have risen 5.6% in the past 12 months.

Aer Lingus said the rise was designed to help the airline reduce its costs and benefit passengers in the long run. “We want to encourage more passengers to carry hand-baggage and also to travel with less baggage so the travelling experience can become even quicker and more efficient for everyone,” said corporate affairs director Enda Corneille.

“Today’s increase reflects the general pricing structure across the industry.”

Weighty luggage bill

WHO’S put up their baggage charges?

* RYANAIR

Raised fee from €9 to €10 on Monday

* AER LINGUS

Raises fee from €9 to €12 tomorrow

* BMIBABY

Upped fee from €11.18 to €12.78 within last eight days