Checking a bag into the hold and using a credit card could add almost thirty per cent* onto the advertised price of some �budget� airline tickets, shows new research from Which? Holiday.

The price of a flight to Paris with BMIBaby increased by around 25 per cent when one piece of hold luggage was checked in and the ticket was booked using a credit card, and the price of a flight to Malaga increased by 23 per cent.

Ryanair charges �50 extra across all its routes for checking in a hold bag and paying with a credit card; an increase of between 8 per cent and 29 per cent on the advertised cost of the fare.

Although Jet2 were found to add the most to the cost of a flight for the charges - �92.16 � this was an increase of just 10 per cent on the advertised ticket price.

Easyjet consistently had the lowest luggage and card charges of the four airlines Which? Holiday looked at, ranging from �26 - �38 extra. However, in one case this still amounted to a 17 per cent increase on the advertised price**.

Rochelle Turner, Head of Research for Which? Holiday, says:

�It�s hard to believe that any airline could justify increasing the ticket price by almost a third just for checking a bag into the hold and paying on a credit card � two services that not too long ago were included in the headline price.

�Airlines argue that they are being fairer to customers who don�t use these services. But, in reality, how many people don�t use a credit or debit card to pay for their flights, or travel without luggage? These aren�t extra services. They are part and parcel of taking a flight.�

-Ends- Notes to editor

Which? Holiday compared the prices of four of the UK�s largest no-frills airlines on flights to four different destinations. It then looked at the charges incurred on these flights for checking a piece of luggage into the hold and for paying with a credit card. Prices were for a three-night break between 11 and 16 February 2010 * The cost of a ticket on a Ryanair flight between East Midlands airport and Malaga increased by 29.1 per cent when a bag was checked into the hold and the ticket was paid for using a credit card. (�121.98 to �171.98) ** On a flight between East Midlands airport and Faro, the cost of an Easyjet ticket increased by 17.6 per cent when a bag was checked into the hold and the ticket was paid for using a credit card. (�121.96 to �147.96). Flight to Price BMIBaby Easyjet Jet2 Ryanair Initial quote �197.96 �126.04 (1) �301.96 (3) �182.26 (5,*) Paris Final total �262.94 �152.04 (1) �359.76 (3) �232.26 (5,*) � extra �64.98 �26.00 �57.80 �50 % extra 24.7% 17.1% 16.1% 21.5% Initial quote �223.96 (b) �267.76 �230.96 (3,c) �121.98 (c ) Malaga Final total �288.94 (b) �296.40 �288.85 (3.c) �171.98 (c ) � extra �64.98 �28.64 �57.89 �50 % extra 22.5% 9.7% 20% 29.1% Initial quote �357.98 + �650.54 (2) �818.96 (4) �519.20 (a,**) Rome Final total �374.98 + �688.75 (2) �911.12 (4) �569.20 (a,**) � extra �17.00 �38.21 �92.16 �50 % extra 4.5% 5.5% 10.1% 8.8% Initial quote �233.76 (a) �121.96 �261.96 (3,c) �200.18 (a) Faro Final total �298.74 (a) �147.96 �321.66 (3,c) �250.18 (a) � extra �64.98 �26 �59.70 �50 % extra 21.8% 17.6% 18.6% 20% Prices are based on a return flight for two people, paying with a credit card and checking in one piece of hold luggage. All flights are from East Midlands airport, Fri 12-Mon 15 Feb, unless otherwise stated.

1 London Luton 2 London Gatwick 3 Leeds Bradford 4 Manchester 5 Glasgow Prestwick a Sat 13-Tue 16 Feb b Fri 12-Sun 14 Feb c Thur 11-Sun 14 Feb + Operated by partner carrier Germanwings * Paris Beauvais (BVA) ** Rome Ciampino (CIA) Which? is the leading independent consumer champion in the UK. We provide impartial, expert information on products and services in our magazines, books and online to help consumers make more informed choices, and we campaign on issues that matter to all consumers, from food to finances, health to estate agents. For more information on how we can help you, visit http://www.which.co.uk or http://www.which.co.uk/campaigns

Rebecca.leach@which.co.uk / 0207 770 7561

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