British Airways has been found to be cheaper than Ryanair and Wizz Air on two out of three routes. Consumer group Which? found that while budget airlines often had the cheapest headline fares, they were not always the best value for money when the cost of extras was taken into account.
The research involved a snapshot price analysis for the cheapest return flights from London airports to Malaga, Athens and Naples with Ryanair, Wizz Air, British Airways, Jet2 and easyJet booked in December 2023. The flights were set to operate in April 2024.
Ryanair and Wizz Air failed to offer the lowest price when the cost of a cabin bag and seat selection was included. Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “It’s easy to assume that budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air are always the cheapest option.”
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“But if you want to sit next to your kids or take more than a few items of clothes with you, then you’ll increasingly find better prices elsewhere.” He said: “Next time you’re booking a flight, look beyond the headline fare and factor in the cost of extras you need, before you book.”
A Ryanair spokesman said: “This is more fake news from Which?. Ryanair has the lowest fares of any airline in Europe and additional ancillary products, such as extra luggage, are entirely optional for customers.” A spokeswoman for Wizz Air said its “average price” for cabin baggage and priority boarding is “much lower” than the one found by Which?
She went on: “As an ultra-low-cost carrier, we allow passengers to choose which services they wish to purchase so that we can offer the most affordable travel opportunities.” She went on: “Optional add-ons are not required to fly, and we believe that customers should be offered the choice and flexibility to choose the right products for them.”