A LEADING low cost airline has increased its baggage charges once again, with the aim of encouraging passengers to travel without hold luggage.

Ryanair announced that as from May 5 it will continue its drive to increase the number of passengers checking in on-line by increasing baggage and airport check-in charges.

From this date Ryanair's checked in baggage fee will rise from £6 to £8 while airport check-in fees will increase from £3 to £4.

The airline says it encourages passengers to avoid these charges altogether by travelling with the airline's 10kg hand luggage allowance and checking in on-line.

Announcing the latest increases, Ryanair's Peter Sherrard said: "Forty per cent of Ryanair passengers currently avoid queues at both check-in and boarding by availing of our free web check-in service, and this increase in baggage fees will result in fewer checked in bags and more passengers changing to on-line check-in.

"On-line check-in is faster, more efficient and costs Ryanair less. There is no doubt that it is the future for air travel.

"We will continue to increase baggage fees until half of our passengers check-in online, which will allow us to reduce check-in and handling costs and pass on these savings to our passengers in the form of Europe's guaranteed lowest fares."

Airline charges have long been a bee in every traveller's bonnet. Unclear and at times difficult to understand, three major low cost airlines, operating from the two Belfast airports, easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe, all have differing charges and ways to impose them.

EasyJet charges £5 for each bag booked online or £10 at the airport with a maximum baggage weight of 20kg, flight charges of £12 and one standard piece of hand baggage to a stipulated maximum size.

The phrase "Fly without hold bags - pay less, Fly with hold bags - pay more", is stamped on easyJet's website. It highlights the fact that by making the booking online you have saved £7.50 per seat over telephone prices.

Flybe charges £5.99 per journey for a maximum 20kg hold baggage, 10kg for hand luggage and £23 in flight charges, made up of Airport Departure Tax, Passenger Service Charge, a security/Insurance & Fuel surcharge. While booking you are reminded that because of booking online you have saved £10.

Meanwhile Ryanair charges £8 per journey for hold baggage for a maximum three bags totalling 15kg, £4 for airport check in, and £26.77 for flight charges.

These amounts were based on a one way flight from Belfast to London. In comparison easyJet came up trumps as they imposed the least baggage and flight charges, and don't specify a hand luggage weight.

Ryanair however imposes the least baggage weight but charges the highest flight and baggage charges. According to our website survey, by booking a flight through Flybe online you save the most at £10

The first stages of booking a bmiBaby fare include taxes, fees and charges, although the fee amount of £15 is shown in the summary page just before booking.

No fees for baggage are shown while booking and on further inspection of the website, the Baggage Advice section gives information on their free hand and checked baggage policy allowance

by Elaine McComb