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Watchdog Investigates Budget Airlines Over Cabin-Bag ‘From’ Prices After Which? Probe

A consumer complaint challenges whether ultra-low quoted fees are meaningful for most travellers.

Overview

  • UK regulator the Advertising Standards Authority opened an investigation after Which? filed a complaint about cabin-bag price claims by easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
  • Which? reviewed nearly 1,500 flights and reported that the lowest advertised fees were either unavailable or seen only in rare cases.
  • On easyJet, Which? found none of the advertised £5.99 price across 520 checks, with the cheapest at £23.49 and an average around £30 each way.
  • For Ryanair, the £12 “Priority and 2 Cabin Bags” price appeared twice in 634 searches (0.3%), with an average fee of £20.50; the airline dismissed the findings as a tiny, unrepresentative sample and said charges are optional.
  • Which? said Wizz Air’s starting price was effectively unavailable across 338 checks, citing an average of £28.93, while the airline argued prices vary by route, season and demand and described the research as potentially misleading.