THERE is a real buzz when you source a bargain holiday, especially when times are tough, financially. But once you factor in the hidden extras , it could end up a different story. From seat-selection charges to pricey on-board snacks and airport parking , costs add up.
Yet it’s baggage fees that really sting. Like other parents, I’ve tried to save on a family holiday by using overhead cabin bags but budget airlines now hit you for these. So, for a week’s holiday with husband Thom, and kids Ralph, seven, and four-year-old Max, flying to Morocco with Ryanair, I decided to pack savvy in a bid to beat the system.
I allowed each family member just one free carry-on bag to fit under the seat in front of them. I wanted to avoid Ryanair’s charges of up to £239.96 for two 20kg checked bags each way — plus fines if you exceed the weight limits.
Spanish authorities last month fined Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling and Volotea £128million for what they called “abusive” charges for hand-luggage. But airlines are refusing to back down over their fees. The only way to avoid them is to restrict yourself to their free limits.
So could I cram everything my family needed for our break into just those four small bags? Here’s how I got on . . .
RYANAIR has the strictest under-seat allowance of the leading airlines, so I invested in four £18 backpacks from Amazon that complied with the airline’s 40x20x25cm limit. I listed travel essentials for each member of the family, with a “two.