Airlines criticised for 'rip-off' baggage charges

Airlines were criticised yesterday by Ireland's largest tour operator for having a "rip-off mentality" on baggage charges.

Budget Travel claimed baggage fees could add as much as €416 to a family holiday before take-off and urged consumers to consider the additional charges they pay when they book a so-called "DIY" holiday.

In a separate development, the National Consumer Agency (NCA) has appointed an external legal expert to carry out research on the pricing practices used by one Irish airline on foot of complaints received both in Ireland and abroad.

Budget Travel's comments, published in its new winter sun brochure, mark the latest salvo fired at airlines for introducing charges such as fees for checked-in baggage, fees for pre-selected seats and fuel surcharges.

Clem Walshe, its head of marketing, said there was a danger that consumers were being "sucked in by very clever marketing saying you can get to a certain destination for €10".

Budget Travel does not charge for baggage up to a limit of 20 kg per person and most of the larger tour operators, which operate chartered flights, have similar policies. The additional costs of €416 are based on a family of four each taking 20 kg in checked-in baggage and paying Ryanair's baggage fees at the airport. Ryanair charges €8 for each kg that exceeds its 15 kg per person limit.

The family would pay €64 to check in the same volume of baggage at Aer Lingus.

Mr Walshe's comments were backed by the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), which said Budget Travel was "absolutely right" to point out that it does not charge for baggage or fuel.

ITAA chief executive Simon Nugent said it was important that there was price transparency.

Brendan Moylan, head of the NCA's enforcement unit, said it had received complaints about all types of airline charges but the airlines were not breaking the law.

A spokeswoman for Aer Lingus said the airline did not compete in the package holiday market. Aer Lingus's fuel surcharge only applies to long-haul flights and most package holidays are to European destinations, making the surcharge irrelevant for those holidaymakers, she said.

A Ryanair spokeswoman said its baggage fees were "entirely discretionary" and that 45 per cent of its passengers currently avoided such fees by not checking in baggage.