Budget airlines find new ways to bump up prices

Travellers flying with budget airlines are still paying more than the advertised price of the ticket, according to a report by consumer group Which?

Despite legal measures forcing airlines to include compulsory taxes and charges in their headline prices, budget airlines are devising new ways in which to levy extra charges -- sometimes up to 28 pounds more than the advertised cost of a return flight.

Which? found Ryanair to be the worst offender, charging passengers up to 20 pounds at the airport to check a bag into the hold and four pounds to use the check-in desk.

Monarch Airlines and bmibaby were also found to charge up to 20 pounds for checking a bag into the hold, while Flybe charges up to 18 pounds and Easyjet up to 10 pounds.

Easyjet charges 15 pounds for its "speedy boarding" service, while Ryanair levies a four pound fee.

These charges comes on top of credit card fees airlines charge at the time of booking, ranging from 3.50 to 4.90 pounds.

Lorna Cowan, editor of Holiday Which? magazine, said: "We're disappointed to see the major budget airlines are introducing charges for services that were once included in the full cost of the ticket.

"(We) would like to see airlines put a halt to these extra charges - who knows what they'll be charging us for next."