Excess Baggage Fees

When searching for flights through apps, most travellers are drawn to the cheapest price shown first. But the surprise comes when baggage fees or essential services are added.

Some tickets cover only a small bag, or do not include any luggage at all. And once excess baggage fees are added, the final price becomes far higher than expected, which makes the ticket that was cheapest at first not actually the cheapest.

They are the amounts airlines charge travellers when they carry bags exceeding the weight or number allowed on the basic ticket.

These fees include paying for an extra bag, charges for excess weight, or even paying for a cabin bag if it is not covered by the original price.

These fees can differ from one airline to another, and can sometimes make up a large part of the cost of the trip, so it is important to pay attention to them when booking through apps.

Baggage policies usually divide into two main types, as follows:

Hand luggage

• The small bag a traveller is allowed to take into the cabin.
• It is usually free within the ticket, but some low-cost airlines may charge for it.
• The weight and size are limited, usually between 7 and 10 kg.
• It suits short trips or travellers who prefer to travel light.

Checked baggage

• The large bags handed over at the airline counter to be placed in the hold.
• Usually not included in the cheapest economy tickets, and requiring additional fees.
• The allowance differs by airline, usually 23 kg or 30 kg.
• It suits long trips or families who need to carry more.

When booking a flight ticket you may encounter several kinds of baggage fee, differing according to each airline's policy. Here are the main types of excess baggage fee:

• Checked bag fees: charged when a bag is put in the hold, and usually not included in the cheapest economy tickets.
• Cabin bag fees: some low-cost airlines charge extra even for a small bag carried into the cabin.
• Excess weight fees: if your bag exceeds the weight allowance, you pay an additional amount for every extra kilogram.
• Extra bag fees: if you have more than one bag, excess baggage fees are charged for each bag over the allowance.
• Special baggage fees: such as sports equipment or musical instruments, usually with set charges.

When booking flight tickets, what the price includes can differ from one airline to another, but there are kinds of baggage allowed free on most flights without excess baggage fees.

Knowing these details before booking helps you estimate the true cost of travel and avoid surprises at the airport. Here are some of the kinds of baggage allowed free of charge:

• Hand luggage: usually a small bag or backpack of a set weight, generally within 7 to 10 kg, placed in the overhead locker or under the seat.
• A personal item: such as a laptop bag, a handbag or a small backpack. Usually allowed free alongside the hand luggage.
• A pushchair or infant car seat: allowed free by most airlines, usually handed over at the gate or checked in.
• Essential medical equipment: such as breathing apparatus or a wheelchair, usually exempt from fees.
• Coats or extra clothing: can be carried without counting towards the baggage allowance, provided the owner carries them.

When planning your trip, it is not enough to look at the cheapest flight prices alone — you must take into account the excess baggage fees that can noticeably increase the final cost. To calculate the cost precisely, do the following:

1. Start by reviewing the airline's baggage policy: does the ticket include a checked bag, or is it limited to hand luggage only?
2. Check the fees charged for each extra bag by weight, size and destination, as some airlines charge a fixed fee while others base it on distance or excess weight.
3. Calculate the fees for the outbound and return legs if your trip is not one way.
4. Compare tickets that include baggage with cheaper tickets to which fees are added later. Especially when choosing cheap flight bookings, you may discover that the all-inclusive deal is cheaper and more comfortable in the long run.

Many travellers think that choosing heavily reduced flight tickets is always the best option, but the truth is that excess baggage fees can change the calculation entirely.

Budget airlines usually display low prices to attract travellers, but they cover only a small piece of hand luggage, while traditional airlines usually include at least one checked bag in the price.

The result is that the fee for a single bag can exceed half the ticket price, which makes the apparently cheaper ticket far more expensive once everything is counted.

For example: an economy ticket at 100 dollars without baggage may have 60 dollars added for a single bag, making it 160 dollars, while a ticket from a traditional airline at 140 dollars including baggage and services may end up cheaper and more comfortable.

The Tjwaal app is one of the best apps for booking hotels online and flights at the cheapest prices — not only because it offers you a variety of options to suit your budget, but also because it helps you avoid falling into the trap of excess baggage fees.

It does this by displaying the true costs clearly before payment. Here are the main things that set the app apart and help it make the true costs clear:

• A transparent display of the price with baggage before completing the booking: when you search in the Tjwaal app you will see the final price including the cost of baggage, so you are not caught out by extra fees at the airport.
• Filtering flights by baggage policy: you can choose flights that include a checked bag, or settle for low-priced flights with hand luggage only, depending on the nature of your trip.
• Notifications of offers that include free baggage: the app sends you instant alerts about deals that include free baggage, so you save even more.
• Easy comparison between airlines: the app lets you compare ticket prices while seeing each airline's baggage policy, which helps you choose the most suitable deal.
• Clear details of the weight and size allowed: you will not need to search the airline's website, as the app displays the full terms so you can travel with peace of mind.

When booking your flight, some tickets may look far cheaper, but excess baggage fees can double the cost later. Here are the main tips for choosing the most suitable ticket and avoiding surprises:

• Read the baggage terms before paying: check the flight's baggage policy carefully to know the weight and number of bags allowed free and the cost of any excess.
• Book baggage in advance through the app: adding baggage at the time of booking is cheaper than paying at the airport, where the fees can rise sharply.
• Compare the cheapest ticket with the all-inclusive one: do not be fooled by a low ticket price, as the all-inclusive ticket that covers baggage is usually cheaper in the long run.
• Choose a smart, light bag: a lighter bag helps you make the most of the weight allowance and avoid paying extra for excess weight.
• Make use of loyalty programmes: some airlines give free baggage or reduced fees if you are a member of their loyalty programme.
• Use smart booking apps such as Tjwaal: trusted apps show you the true cost of the ticket including baggage and let you filter the results by baggage policy.

With the Tjwaal app, searching for the cheapest tickets is no longer complicated: it brings together the best flight and hotel deals in one place, which makes it the best app for booking flights and hotels.

It displays prices with complete transparency along with the baggage policies before payment, so you avoid any hidden costs and enjoy a fast, secure booking.

Download the Tjwaal app now here for Android or here for iPhone and book your ticket at the best price with complete confidence and ease. And get notifications of exclusive offers as soon as they appear so you can book flights at the cheapest prices.