Deep pockets: Brits are paying the price for extra weight
The UK collectively spend £1.6 billion per year on excess baggage, according to statistics and research from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
The website polled 1235 people in the UK and found that just over a third had payed excess baggage fees in the last two years. The average weight of excess baggage was 2.8kg at an average cost of £42.
The website then matched those results with passenger figures from the Civil Aviation Authority, which stated that there were just under 110 million departing passengers in 2011.
83 per cent of respondents taking part in the research felt that a lot of the UK airlines do not offer sufficient baggage allowance.
Budget airlines are infamous for charging for extra baggage and Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, commented: “Even though low-cost airlines offer great deals to go on holiday abroad, most charge passengers extra money on the side and you can often end up paying more money for your luggage than your flight itself.
“Just over two kilos of excess baggage doesn’t seem like that much per person, but when you realise how much we collectively pay as a nation for excess baggage, the results are shocking.”
He added: “With the Christmas holidays upon us, there is a big chance Britons are going to carry a lot more than usual with all of their Christmas presents in their bags.
“I would advise anyone travelling with gifts to book extra baggage in advance, which can usually offer a much better deal than the extortionate extra baggage fees at the airport.”
FemaleFirst @FemaleFirst_UK