- Luggage, transfers, and booking seats top the list of most expensive holiday extras paid by holidaymakers
- Meanwhile, time in the airport costs Brits £36 on average per trip, and they spend an additional £15 on average during the flight
- More than 4 in 10 (44%) Brits find holiday prices misleading due to hidden additional costs not included in initial prices
- With luggage costing Brits up to £68 per trip on average, Confused.com has created a baggage calculator to help holidaymakers avoid extra fees
Hidden holiday costs, such as luggage, transfers, and seats hike up prices by 25%, according to UK holidaymakers.
That’s according to new research from Confused.com travel insurance which reveals the most expensive holiday extras. On average, holiday goers spend £214 on optional extras like luggage, speedy boarding and seats. This accounts for a significant amount of the overall holiday cost, with the average holiday costing just over £1,500 in total.
But which extras are costing people the most?
Paying for both cabin (£30) and hold luggage (£38) sets travellers back £68 per trip on average, making it the most expensive combined additional cost if Brits decide to pay for both. It’s also an essential booking for 3 in 5 (55-60%) passengers.
That’s followed by arranging a transfer from the airport to hotel and vice versa costs travellers £42 per trip on average and is an essential booking for almost 6 in 10 (59%) holidaymakers.
| Item | Average Cost | Percentage of travellers who usually purchase this extra |
|---|---|---|
|
Transfers
|
£42
|
59%
|
|
Hold Luggage
|
£38
|
66%
|
|
Seats
|
£35
|
69%
|
|
Speedy Boarding
|
£35
|
23%
|
|
Fast Track Security
|
£34
|
22%
|
|
Cabin Luggage
|
£30
|
56%
|
If opting for all these extras, Brits could be forking out more than £200 on top of their holiday costs before they’ve even left. But the spending doesn’t stop there. Time in the airport can be just as costly, with Brits spending an average of £36 before their flight in shops, bars, and restaurants.
In addition to this, travellers also typically spend around £15 on average during the flight - that’s a total of £50 spent before the holiday has begun!
Booking seats, luggage or other extras aren’t always included in the displayed holiday price, depending on the provider. This means many holidaymakers end up paying more than they expected compared to the price first advertised. In fact, more than 2 in 5 (44%) British travellers admit they find holiday prices misleading due to these additional costs.
A further 2 in 4 (41%) also say they avoid adding too many extras to keep the price of their holiday down. That’s as nearly a third (32%) find that additional extras significantly increase the price of their trip abroad. This has resulted in nearly 1 in 10 (7%) of Brits not being able to afford a holiday due to extra costs.
With over half (54%) of Brits travelling between once or twice a year, extra costs can quickly build up and put pressure on both holiday budgets and everyday finances.
One way travellers are managing these expenses is by booking package holidays. Research shows that more than 3 in 4 (77%) holidaymakers have booked a package deal, which often includes hold luggage (76%), transfers (72%), and cabin luggage (65%). While a package holiday doesn’t always work out cheaper overall, it does give travellers a clearer upfront cost, helping them avoid unexpected add-ons later.
Some holiday costs are unavoidable, but being prepared for them means you are less likely to be caught out. With many holiday extras, the price you see is what you pay. But in some circumstances, things like luggage could end up being more expensive if you exceed the limit - adding even more hidden costs to the final bill.
To help holidaymakers avoid paying out even more, Confused.com has released a baggage calculator to help them understand their limits and how much they can expect to pay if they’re over. While no doubt many would prefer to keep within budget, knowing how much you could be paying will help you prepare, just in case!
Alvaro Inturmendi, travel insurance expert at Confused.com shares his tips for keeping the cost of holiday extras down, “Holidays are the perfect opportunity to unwind, switch off from everyday life and enjoy quality time with the people who matter most, or simply by yourself.
“However, extra costs could have a financial strain on holidaygoers, especially for those who are travelling as a family. Planning ahead of your trip and working out what budget you need is a good way to help avoid financial surprises.
“There are also plenty of ways to keep the cost of your holidays down. By selecting ‘basic seats', you can save money, and shopping around online for transfers can help you find the cheapest and most convenient provider for your journey.
“Luggage is often one of the most expensive add-ons, but knowing your baggage limits is key to avoiding extra charges. Our baggage calculator allows you to see how much allowance each airline offers and what the fees are if you go over. Knowing these costs while researching holidays could help you better budget and save money before you even get there”.
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