The debate continues

In response to my rant about budget airlines, Pete offers this comment:-

It is miserly Keith, but they do have a defensible argument. Going budget means, as you say, that every conceivable thing they can charge you extra for they will. Luggage is heavy, and weight means fuel. Weight limits are strict. If you want to take hold baggage it needs to be loaded and unloaded. This needs baggage handlers. So if you want to take a bag you pay for it. Is it right that on a regular commercial service where I'm taking only a briefcase I subsidise the person who wants to take 35kg of luggage because they simply can't leave their straighteners at home?
If you think that credit card payment, generous cabin allowances, a pre-allocated seat, decent legroom, something to eat and a 20kg luggage allowance are essentials for your flight, then you can take a scheduled flag carrier. At least the budget lines do, in theory, give you the opportunity to get a cheap price if you are prepared to make sacrifices. If you're not, then you pay for it. In many ways it's fairer, though it is perhaps more representative of the American ideology than the British. You pay for what you use.
To be honest, much as I wince at the cost, I think a little part of me is glad that my most regular flight destination, Finland, isn't available on a budget route. I know I'll get there safely, in comfort, and on time.

Pete has managed to temper my post with a great deal of common sense.

Of course there are some aspects of a scheduled flight that you wouldn't expect from companies like Jet2.com. You wouldn't expect generous legroom nor would you expect to be fed. However there are some basics that I believe should be built into the advertised price. For example, I don't understand why the price online doesn't include the non-optional taxes?

The issues of luggage and booking fees are illustrated in the table below which I hope is up to date.

Airline	Price per checked bag online (each way)	Price for checked bag at airport (each way)	Excess Baggage Fees	Booking Fees	Price of extras
Ryanair	£8 for first bag, £16 for each additional bag (up to three bags in total)	£16	15kg allowance. £12 per kg over	Credit/debit cards £4 each way. No charge for Visa Electron.	£32
easyJet	From £5 each way	£12	20kg allowance. £7 per kg over	Credit cards 2.5% of fare (minimum £4.95). Debit cards £1.75 flat fee. No charge for Visa Electron.	£11.75
Flybe	£8	£12	20kg allowance. £9 per kg over.	Credit cards £2.99 each way (minimum £5.50). Debit card £1.50 each way (minimum £1.99) No charge for Visa Electron.	£19
BMI Baby	£7.99	£12	20kg baggage allowance. £6 per kg over	Credit cards £3 each way. Debit cards £2 each way.	£19.98
Jet2	From £5.99	From £11	17kg baggage allowance. £6 per kg over	Credit Cards 3.75% of fare (minimum £6.99). Debit cards 1.75% of fare (minimum £1.99).	£13.97

It is interesting that the carrier with the least luggage allowance also charges the most for excess weight. Some would see this as their way to supplement competitive pricing. It certainly makes it very difficult to compare prices online. You have to literally go through the whole booking process with each airline to get a true comparison.

As Pete says, you can avoid extra baggage charges by only taking hand luggage onto the plane but bear in mind size and weight rules for these items.

Three of the five budget airlines in the table above will let you take up to one bag weighing 10kg on board, as long as it has dimensions of no more than 55x40x20cm. Jet 2.com stipulates it should not be in excess of 46x30x23cm and Flybe specifies dimensions of 50 x 35 x 23cm.

If your bag exceeds this, you may be forced to check it in, meaning you will have to pay the inflated 'airport check-in' prices.