BRAND new baggage fees are making flights more expensive for passengers ahead of the summer holidays.
Charging for luggage is one way in which airlines can increase the prices of their tickets.
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And one airline that has steeply upped its baggage prices is Air New Zealand, with its excess, overweight and pre-paid baggage fees all more costly than before.
The new fees came into force earlier this month, on May 23, but the news was only revealed through an industry update to travel agents.
The agents were told about the alterations in a newsletter called “Wingtips”.
Of those fees, overweight baggage fees have increased by the highest margin, with a 100 per cent rise.
For domestic flights, the pre-paid baggage fee has gone from $35 (£16.90) to $45 (£21.70), for short-haul trips. it’s up from $70 (£34) to $95 (£45.80), and long haul is up from $120 (£57.90) to $160 (£77.15).
The fee for overweight baggage has doubled from $20 (£9.60) to $40 (£19.30) for domestic, $40 (£19.30) to $80 (£38.60) for short-haul and $60 (£28.95) to $120 (£57.90) for long-haul.
Meanwhile, excess baggage charges have been upped from $45 (£21.70) to $60 (£28.95) for domestic, $90 (£43.40) up to $115 (£55.45) for short-haul and $150 (£72.35) to $195 (£94) for long-haul.
Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty claims that the increases are a result of the airline experiencing a “high-cost environment”.
She told Stuff Travel: “We always recommend adding extra bags at the time of booking, or before travel, to avoid any excess baggage or overweight baggage fees.
“For excess and overweight baggage, customers pay one flat fee regardless of the size or weight of the item.”
The baggage fees aren’t the only costs to have been increased either, with domestic pet carriage fees also being hiked.
Previously, it cost passengers $75 (£36.20) to travel with a pet under 25kg and $100 (£48.20) for pets over 25kg.
Now, all passengers flying with animals must pay the same cost of $120 (£57.90).
Leanne Geraghty continued: “When transporting furry friends, the cost to us to carry them is the same regardless of their size and weight, so we have decided to simplify our pet pricing and charge one flat rate of $120 for domestic travel.”
How to avoid luggage costs
These are the easiest ways for passengers to avoid luggage fees
For passengers who want to avoid baggage costs, the best way is to travel with hand luggage only.
However, even doing that, there is a risk of being charged for excess or oversized bags.
Items like luggage scales will help people avoid charges, while it’s always worth investing in a bag that will fit the hand luggage requirements of most, if not all, airlines.
For some longer-haul trips, certain carriers will offer a checked-in bag with the ticket.
But others won’t, so it’s up to passengers to ensure they check exactly what they’re entitled to and how much it will cost them if they go over their allowance.
Several other airlines have also upped their baggage fees for passengers this year.
JetBlue, American and United and Frontier Airlines are just a few of the companies who have raised the cost of luggage recently.
The airlines claim the rises are caused by higher fuel costs and increased operating costs.
At American and United, the first checked in bag now costs £31 at the airport.
JetBlue discreetly increased its baggage fees earlier in February to £35 for checking in the first bag less than a day before departure.
And Frontier Airlines charges £58 for luggage that weighs anywhere between 41 and 50 pounds.
Meanwhile, this dad revealed how to reduce costs on flights.
And these travel money saving tips could cut the cost of your holidays.
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