Don't get caught out by smaller Flybe baggage allowance
I love a weekend city break, whether it is hopping in the car and going on a British adventure, or making a short flight to Europe on a budget carrier.
We're lucky in Britain – we have numerous airlines willing to cart us around to the different cultural experiences of Europe, most of which are within a few hours' reach, usually for a reasonable price.
I have flown with Easyjet and Ryanair more times than I can remember, and on the whole, have found the pair to be efficient and good value for money.
I just treat them as a bus in a sky - no bells, whistles, or red carpet treatment expected.
Baggage wheeze: Flybe allow hand luggage on board - but with smaller dimensions than Easyjet or Ryanair
Recently, there was exciting news as Flybe announced it was to launch a number of new destinations from (London!) Southend Airport – which is just a 10 minute ride away by train from home for me and a far less painful experience than the juggernauts some airports have morphed into.
It has opened the door to a number of interesting destinations including Budapest, the city spot I chose to visit to celebrate my 30th birthday with my partner.
Ahead of the trip, flying out on a Saturday in late May and returning on Tuesday, we were contacted twice by Flybe.
First of all, we were informed that the time of the return flight was changing to far later in the day on Tuesday, meaning we had to amend plans.
Secondly, we were told that the return aircraft wouldn't be operated by Flybe, but instead by Jota Aviation. Both of these points made us worry that a third e-mail would be sent saying the flight was pulled.
When the morning arrived and waiting to jet off to the Hungarian capital, we were hovering around duty free at Southend when the dreaded red letters flashed up on the screen saying that it was our 'final call' for the Budapest flight.
This despite a few moments earlier saying 'waiting for information'.
We raced over to the gate (it's only a small airport) along with others to find the staff had accidentally put that sign up – and that actually, the flight was running late.
Southend Airport: The small hub is great for the local area - but don't be caught out by the Flybe baggage sizes
Eventually, the queue formed and that's when I saw it – the dreaded metal measuring device they use for checking luggage you take on board.
Frankly, it looked like you couldn't get a briefcase, or even a ferret, inside let alone a travel bag for a long weekend.
I rarely pay extra to put luggage in the hold on short-haul as I hate waiting at the other end for it - and it takes vital time out of your trip.
My bag is one of those that is meant to fit on board the budget airlines and I have taken it as hand luggage on many trips via Easyjet and Ryanair.
SIZE MATTERS Flybe changed its bag dimensions in April last year. These subtle changes have no doubt caught many out. Prior to April 2016, you were permitted to bring a single cabin bag measuring no more than 55x40x23cm - this changed to 55x35x20cm (including wheels and handles). This is compared to 56x45x25cm on Easyjet and 55x40x20cm on Ryanair (which also allows an additional smaller bag on). Easyjet are less generous on this front (top tip - if you do have a handbag, make sure you buy a 5p duty free carrier bag from duty free and put it inside). Flybe: 55x35x20cm Easyjet: 56x45x25cm (16cm more generous) Ryanair: 55x40x20cm (5cm more generous)
Thousands of others are likely to have bought a similar-sized bag in recent years precisely for this purpose.
I had been rushing around the night before and hadn't checked the dimensions for Flybe hand luggage, which I soon discovered, is less generous than its rivals.
I accept that I should have checked - after all, I spend my life trawling terms and conditions here at This is Money – but it's what happened next that irked me.
Worried travellers were comically trying to stuff their bags into the device and many couldn't get them in.
I tried mine and it wasn't going to fit without a hacksaw. I explained, but Flybe staff were having none of it.
I, along with a handful of others, seem to have been picked on and charged for oversized luggage.
Others, whose bags also didn't appear to fit, weren't charged.
My argument was you either charge everyone - or nobody at all.
I also explained that the bag fits on other rivals airlines, that it was an honest mistake and I would pay its normal price for hold luggage - but staff weren't having any of it.
Eventually, I stumped up the cash - £40 – despite the unjust attitude of the staff who I just couldn't reason with.
By that point I wanted to board and enjoy my birthday celebrations rather than continue to get annoyed by a stealth charge over a few centimetres of bag.
They didn't tell me that the £40 didn't cover the return flight – or any details as to how I could avoid the problem a few days later.
When we did board, not only was our return flight via Jota, but the outbound was too - and there was plenty of space on the aircraft.
Space: Both legs of the Budapest flight were far from sold out
We had a marvellous weekend in Budapest; it's a real mix of ruin bars, beautiful architecture, hot baths and history. But on the last day, I had that sense of dread about my bag.
I tried to check-in online via its app on my Android smartphone to see if I needed to book my bag on – but annoyingly, the app just wouldn't work.
Not wanting to ruin our final day of the trip, I gave up. At the airport, I tried to explain, but to no avail.
I had to run across Budapest airport, find the baggage counter, part with another £40 (with currency charges more like £50) and queue once again at the check-in desk.
An extremely frustrating experience.
Recent research from Columbus Direct shows that we stump up an estimated £395million a year at airports for overweight and excess baggage.
One in five have paid a charge in the last two years, on average, at £135 a pop - so I am not alone.
The insurer said: 'The variation and complexity of luggage allowances between different carriers based on the permitted number of bags, weight and dimensions helps explain why so many Britons are caught out by excess charges.'
I never thought I'd get stung this way – and the attitude of staff have left me questioning whether I can be bothered to give Flybe another go.
For short-haul, I'm inclined to stick with Easyjet and Ryanair.
Exeter-based Flybe lost £20million in the year to the end of March. It flew 8.8million passengers in the year to the end of March, despite growing its capacity to accommodate 12.7million.
Brilliant Budapest: The Hungarian capital makes a top weekend break
I asked Flybe:
- Why was I picked to have my bag charged, when it appeared other passengers with bags that didn't fit weren't charged? Is it company policy to pick and choose random bags that are too big?
- Does your app work for Android customers? And would I have been able to add a bag for the return leg if it did work properly?
- Are staff incentivised to charge extra for baggage?
- How many passengers end up having to pay for extra luggage with Flybe? How much does it make the firm each year?
The Flybe press office deflected my query. It said: 'With regard to your enquiry regarding the flight operated by Jota Aviation on behalf of Stobart Air, can I ask that you direct your enquiries to the Stobart team at Southend Airport'.
It means I've paid Flybe to go with Stobart Air who use Jota Aviation planes. A complicated three-way partnership.
A spokesman for Jota Aviation, or Stobart Air, or Southend Airport – I'm not sure which – disputes my claim that many with oversized bags were allowed on.
They said: 'The new sized gauges were introduced recently by the airline and we are obliged to follow their guidance on the sizing and charging of bags.
'Having spoken to the staff at the gate they are adamant that they charged for the bags that were oversized, this is supported by the fact that there were a number of bags charged for on this specific flight.
'There may be some confusion where some bags are observed to not be checked at the gate, this is because any passengers that go to check-in will have their hand luggage checked there and it is tagged at that point, that ensures that we are not checking the same bag twice.
BEEN CAUGHT OUT? Have you had to pay for excess luggage on a recent flight? Let us know your experience in the comments below...
'The issue of the booked load does not come in to this as the passenger has a contract with the airline specific to themselves and their hand luggage.
'If handlers were asked to make decisions on the amount of hand luggage allowed defined by the booked load there would be few flights departing on time.
'In relation to the charge being one way only the passenger's point has been taken on board and the staff have been asked to ensure this is advised.'
My advice is this: if you are someone that flies from Southend Airport regularly and are used to the hand luggage sizes of Easyjet, get your ruler out if you're going with Flybe - or just accept that you need to pay to put your luggage in the hold.