Add up all those extra charges before you book on Ryanair

The intra-Europe carrier Ryanair is famous for its super-cheap airfares, with one-way sale fares often starting as low as one pence, or about £10 with taxes and fees. However, if you’re not careful, flying Ryanair can be pretty expensive. The airline has to make money somehow, and it does so by charging extra fees for nearly every possible service:

• £3 for online booking made with a credit card; £1 for debit cards
• £3 each way for checking in at the airport (anyone checking a bag must check in at the airport)
• £6 for your first checked bag and £12 each for your second and third bags, if paid in advance online
• £12 each for checked baggage, if paid at the airport or by phone
• £7.50 per kilo for checked baggage (combined weight of all bags) weighing more than 15 kilos
• £6 for checked infant equipment if paid online
• £12 for checked infant equipment if paid at the airport or by phone
• £3 for carry-on bags that exceed size and weight limits, plus the £12 checked bag fee
• £3 for priority boarding

Imagine being unaware of these charges and, for example, showing up at the airport with two bags to check weighing a total of 50 lbs (23 kilos), an amount most U.S. airlines will accept for no extra charge. With Ryanair, you’d owe £87— for airport check-in, mandatory baggage charges, and overweight luggage fees. That’s $175! (see XE.com for current exchange rates) Make a game plan before booking to avoid these fees, particularly in regards to baggage.

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