To cut cost of their holiday many people in the UK are spending a great deal of time researching when is the cheapest time to travel, taking into account the time of the year, the day of the week and the hour of departure to secure the cheapest possible flights, airport parking and accommodation.
Using these parameters they are then looking at flights going out of not just their local airport but airports further away balancing any savings on flights against the cost of travelling and parking.
The same energy is then put into finding cheaper accommodation abroad such as avoiding that countries school holidays as well as our own, local festivals etc which could all increase demand and put up prices.
Having done all this research to find cheaper flights and accommodation within your budget only to see it all go to waste in front of your eyes with virtually no opportunity to put matters right can be soul destroying.
I am talking about having safely driven to the airport, parked up the car and been transported to the terminal and you are now standing at the front of the queue waiting to check in.
Unless you have followed all the specifications and allowances to the letter you can be in for quite a nasty shock, especially if travelling with one of the low cost airlines who specialise in detailing an array of different charges for all sorts of items.
For instance, there are different charges for the first bag compared to the second bag and these charges can escalate depending on whether you paid online or at the airport.
Given you are now at the airport you will pay the higher fee which can be as much as £70 or the equivalent to 2 weeks parking if you need to take a second bag which you have not previously paid for online..
This draining of the pocket does not stop here; next on their agenda will be whether the weight of your bag or bags is within their ridiculously low guidelines? If not the charge at the airport can be around £20 per kilo which is the same as a bag of sugar.
The list goes on 1.
Lost your online airport boarding card? Cost for re-issue about GBP40 2.
Infant lap fee less than 2 years old GBP40 return 3.
Infant booster seat or cot fee GBP40 return 4.
Sports or Musical fee charged at GBP100 return with a charge if it exceeds the weight maximum or takes you over your total allowable baggage weight.
The problem with these airlines is they advertise headline rates like "Fly to Malaga for GPB100 return" but unless you go online and check in detail exactly what you need to take as a minimum and apply it to their charges what you thought you were going to have to pay can turn out considerably more.
Also the charges applied at the airport when it is too late to do anything about it are nearly double the charge you would have if purchased online before hand.
These charges are akin to a stealth tax for the unwary and unfortunately more and more airlines are taking this route with excesses vigorously applied.
Using these parameters they are then looking at flights going out of not just their local airport but airports further away balancing any savings on flights against the cost of travelling and parking.
The same energy is then put into finding cheaper accommodation abroad such as avoiding that countries school holidays as well as our own, local festivals etc which could all increase demand and put up prices.
Having done all this research to find cheaper flights and accommodation within your budget only to see it all go to waste in front of your eyes with virtually no opportunity to put matters right can be soul destroying.
I am talking about having safely driven to the airport, parked up the car and been transported to the terminal and you are now standing at the front of the queue waiting to check in.
Unless you have followed all the specifications and allowances to the letter you can be in for quite a nasty shock, especially if travelling with one of the low cost airlines who specialise in detailing an array of different charges for all sorts of items.
For instance, there are different charges for the first bag compared to the second bag and these charges can escalate depending on whether you paid online or at the airport.
Given you are now at the airport you will pay the higher fee which can be as much as £70 or the equivalent to 2 weeks parking if you need to take a second bag which you have not previously paid for online..
This draining of the pocket does not stop here; next on their agenda will be whether the weight of your bag or bags is within their ridiculously low guidelines? If not the charge at the airport can be around £20 per kilo which is the same as a bag of sugar.
The list goes on 1.
Lost your online airport boarding card? Cost for re-issue about GBP40 2.
Infant lap fee less than 2 years old GBP40 return 3.
Infant booster seat or cot fee GBP40 return 4.
Sports or Musical fee charged at GBP100 return with a charge if it exceeds the weight maximum or takes you over your total allowable baggage weight.
The problem with these airlines is they advertise headline rates like "Fly to Malaga for GPB100 return" but unless you go online and check in detail exactly what you need to take as a minimum and apply it to their charges what you thought you were going to have to pay can turn out considerably more.
Also the charges applied at the airport when it is too late to do anything about it are nearly double the charge you would have if purchased online before hand.
These charges are akin to a stealth tax for the unwary and unfortunately more and more airlines are taking this route with excesses vigorously applied.