It wasn’t that long ago when an airline ticket got you a whole lot. You were able to fly from point A to point B, of course. But buying a ticket also meant you had the ability to check a bag, choose your seat, bring a personal bag onto the plane, and sometimes even get a whole meal, if not at least a snack. They were all included in the price of the ticket!

That all changed in the early 2000s, when airlines began playing with charging for things that used to be included. “You want to choose your seat? That will be an extra $35.” “You have a carry-on bag? That’s gonna cost ya!” “Want a snack? Pay up, Chuck.” “Oh, and sorry not sorry, but we’re not just going give you water; you’ll have to pay $3 for a bottle of it.”  And sure, their advertising may say they have flights for price ABC, but by the time you’re done paying for all the extra fees, your final cost is going to be a whole more than that.

Know how many of the world’s airlines charge extra fees? About 89% of them, according to NetVoucherCodes, an online platform that touts itself as the UK’s leading independent source for voucher codes and deals.

In fact, NetVoucherCodes recently analyzed about 80 of the largest airlines in the world, with concentration on:

• The United States (as well as a couple from Canada and Mexico, as well)
• Europe, and
• International areas outside those two markets

They wanted to see which airlines charged the most for all these so-called “extras” that used to be free. Here’s their methodology:

Their Methodology

To find out the airlines with the most hidden fees, NetVoucherCodes first created a seed list of the largest airlines in the world that operate in Europe, the USA and internationally. We then found a sample flight which was all roughly for the same number of miles and due to depart on the same day on a weekday in August and noted down the total flight cost.

Using this information, we then looked at the hidden fees for each airline by inputting the same route onto each airline’s website and finding the costs for any additional charges including seat selection, carry-on baggage, 20kg check-in baggage, priority check-in, fast track, insurance and on-board wifi. We didn’t include any costs associated with changing your flight details.

We then added together the total hidden costs and calculated the % difference between the hidden cost and airline fare for each airline. These were then ranked overall, USA, Europe and internationally.

*Included within the data table refers to when a service might be included in the flight cost or with another purchased option – for example Fast track is included by some airlines if carry-on baggage is purchased.

We also noted down the number of times that airlines try to upsell you throughout the buying process, from searching for the route all the way through to payment.

Data was collected at the beginning of August 2023 for a single fare in August. Prices may have changed since or vary depending on the chosen route. Any airlines operated by Ukraine or Russia were omitted from the results.

The hidden fees they specifically included in the study were:

• Seat selection
• Checking a bag
• Insurance
• Onboard Wi-Fi
• Fast track (read: being able to load onto the plane earlier [they didn’t include status or credit card affiliation])
• Bringing a carry-on bag into the cabin

Here are the airlines they studied:

International Airlines

They studied 31 airlines from around the world (excluding Europe and the Americas):

• AirAsia
• Air Astana
• Air China
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Azul Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Cebu Pacific Air
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Emirates Airline
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Etihad
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hainan Airlines
• IndiGo
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar
• Korean Air
• Lion Air
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Scoot
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Australia

The 10 international airlines with the most hidden fees were:
(Key: Seat Selection: SS / Checked Bag: CB / Insurance: I / Wi-Fi: WF / Fast Track: FT / Carry-On Bag: COB

• Etihad – 401% of flight cost
  SS: 9% / CB: 348% / I: 33% / WF: 11% / FT: 15% / COB: 0%
• IndiGo – 85% of cost
  SS: 0% / CB: 56% / I: 15% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Jetstar – 65%
  SS: 8% / CB: 29% / I: 29% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• AirAsia – 65%
  SS: 7% / CB:52 % / I: 0% / WF: 6% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Scoot – 40%
  SS: 7% / CB: 18% / I: 11% / WF: 0% / FT: 15% / COB: 0%
• Malaysia Airlines – 36%
  SS: 0% / CB: 0% / I: 27% / WF: 9% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Cebu Pacific Air – 36%
  SS: 0% / CB: 14% / I: 10% / WF: 11% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Qantas – 21%
  SS: 0% / CB: 0% / I: 21% / WF: 3% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Air New Zealand – 18%
  SS: 2% / CB: 13% / I: 3% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Qatar Airways – 18%
  SS: 0% / CB: 0% / I: 15% / WF: 3% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%

Note: There were some airlines that charged more for certain options (i.e. Garuda India charged 12% of flight cost for Wi-Fi, which is more than any of the airlines listed above), but we used the 10 that charged the most for all 6 combined.

European Airlines

They studies 34 European airlines:

• Aegean Airlines
• AirBaltic
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Air Malta
• Air Serbia
• Azerbaijan Airlines
• Belavia
• British Airways
• Bulgaria Air
• Croatia Airlines
• EasyJet
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Icelandair
• Jet2.com
• KLM
• Loganair
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthanasa
• Luxair
• Norwegian
• Pegasus Airlines
• Ryanair
• SAS
• Sky Express
• Smartwings
• TAP Air Portugal
• TAROM
• TUI Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• Volotea
• Vueling
• Wizz Air

The 10 European airlines with the most hidden fees were:
(Key: Seat Selection: SS / Checked Bag: CB / Insurance: I / Wi-Fi: WF / Fast Track: FT / Carry-On Bag: COB

• Ryanair – 344% of flight cost
  SS: 44% / CB: 122% / I: 99% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 100%
• Wizz Air – 273% of cost
  SS: 33% / CB: 125% / I: 16% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 79%
• EasyJet – 170%
  SS: 16% / CB: 70% / I: 23% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 61%
• Air Europa – 160%
  SS: 15% / CB: 95% / I: 0% / WF: 18% / FT: 33% / COB: 0%
• Vueling – 101%
  SS: 10% / CB: 43% / I: 0% / WF: 8% / FT: 0% / COB: 40%
• Jet2.com – 97%
  SS: 15% / CB: 44% / I: 31% / WF: 0% / FT: 7% / COB: 0%
• Finnair – 91%
  SS: 14% / CB: 37% / I: 31% / WF: 9% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Norwegian – 86%
  SS: 14% / CB: 23% / I: 18% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 14%
• British Airways – 73%
  SS: 16% / CB: 45% / I: 0% / WF: 11% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Lufthansa – 64%
  SS: 19% / CB: 41% / I: 0% / WF: 4% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%

There were some airlines that charged more for certain options (i.e. Air Baltic charged 32% of their flight cost for insurance), but we used the 10 that charged the most for all 6 combined.

United States/Canada/Mexico

They also studied 15 airlines from select areas of North America:

• Aeroméxico
• Air Canada
• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Frontier
• Hawaiian Airlines
• jetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• United Airlines
• WestJet
• Volaris

The 10 “American” airlines with the most hidden fees were:
(Key: Seat Selection: SS / Checked Bag: CB / Insurance: I / Wi-Fi: WF / Fast Track: FT / Carry-On Bag: COB

• Spirit Airlines – 736% of flight cost
  SS: 14% / CB: 247% / I: 133% / WF: 37% / FT: 46% / COB: 260%
• Volaris – 626% of cost
  SS: 62% / CB: 356% / I: 45% / WF: 0% / FT:0 % / COB: 164%
• Frontier – 376%
  SS: 52% / CB: 224% / I: 0% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 100%
• Sun Country Airlines – 201%
  SS: 18% / CB: 65% / I: 36% / WF: 0% / FT: 24% / COB: 57%
• Delta Airlines – 158%
  SS: 55% / CB: 55% / I: 49% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• JetBlue Airways – 147%
  SS: 11% / CB: 55% / I: 0% / WF: 0% / FT: 27% / COB: 55%
• United Airlines – 122%
  SS: 18% / CB: 64% / I: 25% / WF: 15% / FT:0 % / COB: 0%
• Allegiant Air – 107%
  SS: 1% / CB: 55% / I: 0% / WF: 0% / FT: 15% / COB: 36%
• Alaska Airlines – 105%
  SS: 36% / CB: 55% / I: 0% / WF: 15% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%
• Aeroméxico – 78%
  SS: 10% / CB: 67% / I: 0% / WF: 0% / FT: 0% / COB: 0%

There were some airlines that charged more for certain options (i.e. Southwest Airlines charged 27% of their flight cost for Fast Track), but we used the 10 that charged the most for all 6 combined.

The Top 5 Airlines in the World for Charging Fees

1. Spirit Airlines, from the U.S., charges THE highest percentage of hidden fees, at 736% when compared with the original airfare. The original cost of the fare in their study was just $21.89, but the hidden costs added up to $161.12, which was more than 7 times the base fare.
2. Volaris, based in Mexico, came out as #2 for hidden fees. The flight cost for their study was just $13.13. But once they were finished with fees, it was an extra 626%
3. Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, came in at #3. Their ticket price was $89.03. But they charged 401% in hidden fees. But hey, a carry-on bag was included for free!
4. Frontier, also from the U.S., charges 376% of its ticket price in fees. The flight cost they found was $29, but they charged $138 in hidden fees.
5. Rounding out our Top 5 was Ireland’s Ryanair. The airline only charged $23.26 for the air ticket, but the total hidden costs you could include was 344% of the fee, at an additional $80.02.

Some Observations

• Some of the airlines simply didn’t offer some of the options (for example, many airlines, especially in the U.S., don’t offer any sort of paid fast track. And although more airlines offer Wi-Fi nowadays, not all them offer it, either paid or free). I have no doubt that if, say, Allegiant or Frontier offered Wi-Fi, they’d charge for it.
• Needless to say, the percentage of fees are based on what base fare NetVoucherCode used for each airline. Ulta Low Cost Carriers start with ultra low cost ticket fares. So even if, say, Spirit and Delta flew the exact same route, in NetVoucherCode’s sample, Spirit’s flight cost was $21.89 and Delta’s was $55. Even though they charged roughly the same amount for an option ( say, insurance. Spirit charges $29.15 and Delta charges $27), it will be a different percentage of their respective ticket price (Spirit’s insurance costs almost 150% of their ticket price, while Delta’s is roughly 50%)
• None of the “international” airlines in their sample charged for carry-on bags.
• Nine airlines (AirChina, ANA, Belavia, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Lion Air, Shenzhen Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines) had NO hidden charges.

You can see how all 80 of the airlines fared (you see what I did there? I’ll be here all week. Eat the veal!) on this page of NetVoucherCode’s website.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary