All: I came across this article and it is a good buyer beware type of thing...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18700377/

I'm rather amazed that this so-called "seasoned traveler" hasn't figured out that reading the fine print (as he calls it) has long been a travel "excellent idea."

I'm surprised he didn't mention the recent Ryanair issue with the poorly-calibrated baggage scales.

The author is the travel correspondent for The Today Show and is definitely a "seasoned traveler". $500 for an extra bag is outrageous. Easy Jet should be ashamed. I won't be using them.

If he couldn't be bothered to read the buyer's contract, the Seasoned Traveler could have checked Fodors Europe Board for info on luggage overages, then he wouldn't have had to write "I was trapped!". And why would he pay the same high fee two days later?

FYI - There's also a discussion on this article in the "airlines" forum.

Here is a related question:

At check-in recently with KoreanAir, I chcked one bag and was told the bag was 4 kilos overweight. When I inquired about the fee for extra weight, the agent told me it would cost about 500 USD. I was able to repack and put some of the weight from my checked bag into my carry on (not sure what difference it makes; they are both going on the plane)

Is it possible that a 4 kilo overweight charge would be 500 USD?? Or was the agent wrong?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...18&start=0

<<< $500 for an extra bag is outrageous. Easy Jet should be ashamed. >>>

No it was $500 because he was 20kg overweight.

How do you think low costs airlines are able to offer such low fares - idiots like him are why people can travel Europe for a few cents (yes cents).

And to point out that Easyjet's checked luggage allowance is comparable with most airlines - full or low cost - outside North America and for cabin luggage it's far higher

Experienced, Travel, Journalist - just 3 words that CAN'T be used to describe this guy

While "seasoned" travelers may not get caught, it sure sounds like a trap for the unwary to me, particularly for people whose flying experience is primarily in the US. $500 for an extra suitcase is simply outrageous. If they are going to charge that much, they ought to come right out and say it on their web site and not hide it in the terms and conditions, which I am sure many people do not even read.

<<< they ought to come right out and say it on their web site >>>

They do - it's 2 clicks from the home page which is a lot easier than for many airlines. It's also NOT in the T&C's

http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Planning/baggage.html

<<< small print >>>

At the point in the booking process where you select the number of bags it says

"One piece of checked-in hold baggage per person, up to 20 Kg, free of charge. All additional pieces of baggage and excess baggage (over 20 Kg) will be charged for. Additional pieces of checked-in hold baggage are subject to a charge of £5.00 if you pay online, or £10.00 if you pay at the airport. The total weight allowance for all pieces of checked-in hold baggage is 20 Kg. Excess baggage fees are charged for each Kg exceeding 20 Kg."

Which bit of "The total weight allowance for ALL pieces of checked-in hold baggage is 20 Kg." can people not understand?

The guy's a bigger idiot than even I thought

Pack light and only bring carryons and you shouldn't have that problem

I don't mean to be obtuse, but this is critical for me - we planned to use ryan air for a short haul this year. We do not plan to have any checked baggage - trying to put all of our things into carry on bags - as I read this I am still restricted to 20Kgs - is that correct? Or is there no limit to the weight for a carry on - 20" or so...

Ryanair? Are you kidding, of course they have a baggage limitation for carryon bags, it's very strict. It's on their website, but I think it is only 10 kg for cabin baggage. The people above are talking about Easyjet.

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=bag

Thanks Alanrow - I missed that on first pass - appropriately, am feeling a bit of an idiot right now...

The whiner masquerading as the Seasoned Traveler counts on being backed up by weak positions: just because someone is a US traveler should not mean they are incompetent; and someone who signs off on something by refusing to read the terms, or more importantly to us, who WHINES about the consequences of the terms, deserves a robust flaming on this forum.

Yikes, this over weight baggages discussion has got me scared, I am going to check Condor's (who I am flying from Berlin-Chania) website right now.

It's amazing how easy it is to find baggage allowance - just google <airline name> baggage allowance and it works - most of the time