Excess air baggage costs £186m

British air passengers were charged a total of £186 million for excess baggage last year.

On average, limits were exceeded by 3.5kg (about 7.7lb), according to a survey by website Kelkoo.

About 27 per cent of those due to fly this summer are expected to exceed baggage limits and these charges are likely to total almost £1m a day during the peak holiday season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of those who faced charges in 2011, 37 per cent were travelling on low-cost airlines and 20 per cent on charter flights.

On average, the excess-baggage charges on low-cost carriers is £13.20, with the charter charge being £7.15 and the scheduled airline charge being £7.46.

The survey showed that the no-frills carriers took 47 per cent of the total charges collected.

It was also revealed that 9 per cent of travellers either guessed or had no idea what their hold baggage weight limit was and 22 per cent said they did not weigh their luggage before checking in.

Also, 8 per cent who had to pay charges said they would not use the airline again. In addition, 42 per cent said that when they last went on holiday, they knew they were over their limit and so were not surprised when they were charged extra.