Do you pay all the extras when flying.

[markwilding]

To get the best possible price I don't pay for any all those extras which can push the price of an airline ticket. For example, what is the point of paying for a chosen seat or speedy boarding? I prefer my travelling budget to stretch to more flights, not only back to the UK, but also short getaways to other places rather than being able to board a flight quicker than other passengers, which when all is said and done, everyone leaves at the same time.

[peteroldracer]

We used to opt for Priority boarding (which includes choosing a seat) so that there was a chance of there being room in the overhead lockers for our cabin bags, but these days I get the assistance (excellent at Alicante, less so at Leeds Bradford) so we are loaded at the rear and must opt for one of the seats for the less abled, which must be paid for, so impossible to avoid some on-costs.
The most annoying thing currently is that both Ryanair and Jet2 offer the cheapest - sorry less expensive - flights with departures at dawn or late at night, and double the cost if there is another flight during human time as an option! I still remember my first commercial flight - Iberia from Heathrow to Barcelona in 1969 to race in the 24 Horas de Montjuich. Comfy seats, a decent meal, cheap drinks, £35 return.

[Wicksey]

I've used assistance on a number of flights due to my dodgy leg and we've booked seats and priority (see below) as normal. The only seats we cannot use are those by the emergency exits. Other people also having assistance have been scattered around the plane.

The reason why (on Vueling, Easyjet and Ryanair) we book priority is that is often the cheapest way of getting a carry-on case on board. The basic cost now often only includes a backpack sized bag which must fit under the seat in front and should not be put into the overhead lockers. We never take hold luggage, so need a carry on wheelie case and a backpack each which we can take if booking priority. It's nothing to do with getting on first, as often the priority queue is as long as the ordinary! You can pay separately to add on a carry on case, but it usually ends up much the same as booking priority, so we book it anyway.

My OH likes a window seat so always book them. If I go on my own I don't mind where I sit. The flights we've been on in the past year have been pretty much fully booked and my OH who is a lot taller than 5' me doesn't want to end up squished in a middle seat and hates the aisle.

When using Vueling we have sometimes found that the upfront seats with more room do not cost much more that buying the priority and seat separately as these are included, so treat ourselves to larger seats in the front few rows. We usually book well in advance so trips planned for later this year have still only worked out at 55€pp each way including the up front spacious seats, priority and bags on board.

[costakid]

We go for the cheapest deal possible normally with Ryanair, dont care where we sit or who next too. I always buy a cup of tea but thats it.

[novak7]

I personally agree with you YourHerbs that it is better to save money on extras and use that money to take more flights or to upgrade your accommodations. However, I understand that some people find these extras to be worth the money. One of the pros is that you can choose your seat in advance, which can give you more comfort and space. You may also be able to choose a seat with extra legroom or an exit row seat. But actually you may not always get the seat or boarding time that you want.

[peteroldracer]

Like Wicksey, we find that with my meds and a minimum of clothes we need to take a cabin bag each. Booking priority reduces the cost of this and lets us choose seats, plus my laptop and IPad in a bag together fits under the seat in front. This is not premium travel in my opinion, just basic needs, unless you are a poor student with only a small backpack!
At one point Ryanair started insisting that people needing assistance could only use one of 4 allocated seats, with no option for a companion to be seated nearby, effectively rationing the amount of passengers would could get assistance on any flight. This does seem to have been changed.
Were we to win a big lottery prize the one luxury I would go for is private jet flights from the nearest airport to same at our destination!

[firsttango]

Were we to win a big lottery prize the one luxury I would go for is private jet flights from the nearest airport to same at our destination!

Totally agree POR and they are not really that overly expensive these days.

[Wicksey]

Were we to win a big lottery prize the one luxury I would go for is private jet flights from the nearest airport to same at our destination!

Totally agree POR and they are not really that overly expensive these days.

That's our idea of luxury

[costakid]

Harrods aviation Luton to Malaga £10000 for a private jet that seats 4. Ryanair from Luton To Malaga in September £40. If i had untold money I would do the private jet although apparently they are not as safe as commercial airlines.

[markwilding]

Obviously, it also depends on how long your trip is. I go on a lot of short trips My next ones are to London in December and January, both Friday to Monday morning and a 3 day stay in Rome just after Christmas so I don't need a massive suitcase in the hold or even the smaller cabin bag, Although the airline says my bags are supposed to go under the seat, there is always room to put them with any Jacket in the overhead lockers. I also take my Ipad and on the return from London have a shopping bag, until; now nobody has stopped me

I know Ryanair are stricter but they don’t fly from Bilbao so we usually take Vueling. I like either a window seat or an aisle while my wife doesn't mind either so I always sit in one or the other. I do occasionally take Ryanair flights from Santander and I know that they could quite easily sit couples together and they actually choose to separate people.

It has changed quite a bit now but a few years back it wasn't possible to choose seats if you had checked in hold luggage. I used to organise groups to Ireland and could only check in a certain amount of people at a time. I think it was 10 maximum or so. I had to check everybody in in batches. Everybody was kept apart in each group but when I booked the next lot, they were sitting next to one from one of the other groups.

Our plans for next Summer is to have our main summer holiday outside in so we will need bigger suitcases but we will still want to go to as many other places as possible and my preference is always to have a very good hotel rather than to spend, which for us, are unnecessary extras.

[markwilding]

Turns out that the Spanish government is investigating whether charging for cabin luggage and seat allocation contravenes consumer laws. I´m not sure if this will be a benefit for those who don't like to pay for the extras as the price will very likely increase to compensate

https://murciatoday.com/spain_investiga ... 536-a.html

[Wicksey]

I saw that, but as you say, it will then just put up the price for everyone. I think it's better that there is a choice. You can travel quite cheaply if you don't book the extras. If you've paid for a hold bag then you're unlikely to also want a bag in the cabin, so you don't want to be paying for that within the price. I can't see the problem as you are allowed to take a backpack or small holdall on board. It's not like they're saying you can't take anything at all without paying.

[novak7]

Turns out that the Spanish government is investigating whether charging for cabin luggage and seat allocation contravenes consumer laws. I´m not sure if this will be a benefit for those who don't like to pay for the extras as the price will very likely increase to compensate

https://murciatoday.com/spain_investiga ... 536-a.html machance-casino-en-ligne.com

If the government finds that these charges are unfair, they could force airlines to stop charging for them. This would be a benefit for those who don't like to pay for the extras, but it is also possible that the price of tickets would increase to compensate.
It is too early to say what the outcome of the investigation will be, but it is certainly an issue that is being debated.

[ashtondav]

Don’t think there’s a case to answer. They’re selling a seat on a plane. You want to choose which one, take on a bag and eat a sarnie you pay for it. Personally just get on with a plastic bag after everyone’s boarded, stuff it under the seat and nod off - if there’s not a kid behind kicking my spine. Now I would pay extra to avoid them!

[Pamela1]

It's a number of years since i travelled with my family when their children were babies. Back then there wasn't a charge for under 2's sitting on a parents lap. Pushchair/buggy,was also free.. My daughter and baby are travelling with us next month and i guess in this day and age of rip offs i shouldn't have been surprised to see that Ryanair are charging £25 each way for a baby to sit on an adults lap. They also charge for a buggy in the hold...It will cost £100 for her 4month old daughter. Jet 2 also charge for a baby on an adults lap, £20 each way, they allow a buggy in the hold for free and an allowance of 10kg for an on board bag. Easyjet comes out top..No charge for babies on parents lap and 2 items allowed in the hold free of charge. Pity they pulled out of our local airport during covid.

[markwilding]

Don’t think there’s a case to answer. They’re selling a seat on a plane. You want to choose which one, take on a bag and eat a sarnie you pay for it. Personally just get on with a plastic bag after everyone’s boarded, stuff it under the seat and nod off - if there’s not a kid behind kicking my spine. Now I would pay extra to avoid them!

Problem is, it's possible to pay extra and still have a kid kicking the seat from behind.

[Manchesteral]

Were we to win a big lottery prize the one luxury I would go for is private jet flights from the nearest airport to same at our destination!

Totally agree POR and they are not really that overly expensive these days.

A norwegian aquaintence of mine (stinking rich) told me that he once paid for a private 12 seater jet from Oslo to Las Palmas at a cost of 60,000 euros !

[Manchesteral]

As we all know these days, the airlines will find a way to gouge you in one way or another, it's a domino effect, they need the revenue in order to pay themselves big dividends and salaries so you can rest assured that whatever you do you will pay for it, be thankful we're not in America where basically the airlines treat you like ****, I know of one guy who paid for a first class seat and was kicked off at the last moment because "Rihanna" wanted the seat ! I never pay for the extras, the only thing I can't get away with is the luggage charges because I travel to the Canary islands for 2-3 months in the winter and I need enough clothes to last me, the charge for a 23 kilo suitcase from Helsinki to Las Palmas is 59 euros !