Best Budget Airlines in Europe: Fares vs. Hidden Baggage Fees

The base fare is rarely what you pay: Wizz Air's cheapest checked bag runs from just €7 online, while easyJet's hold bag can climb to £50 one-way and Ryanair charges €69.99 at the gate for an oversized cabin bag. Across the six biggest low-cost carriers, checked-baggage and cabin-bag surcharges — not the ticket price — decide which airline is actually cheapest for your trip.

1. Ryanair

Ryanair fares include only one small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20cm) under the seat. A 10kg checked bag starts around €25 online and 20kg around €30, both jumping to roughly €60–75 at the airport. The real trap is the cabin bag sizer: a bag that doesn't fit costs €69.99 to gate-check. Full pricing is on the Ryanair Help Centre's Bag Rules page.

2. Wizz Air

Wizz Air's free allowance is one small under-seat item, capped at 40 x 30 x 20cm. A 10kg checked bag can start from €7 when booked well ahead, with 20kg, 26kg and 32kg tiers above that, but prices climb fast closer to departure. Excess weight over your purchased tier costs a steep €13 per kilogram. See tiers on the official Wizz Air baggage allowance page.

3. easyJet

Every easyJet ticket includes one under-seat cabin bag (45 x 36 x 20cm, up to 15kg) free. A 23kg hold bag starts at £9.49 online but can reach £50 one-way depending on route and dates — the same £50 you'd pay at the airport instead. Extra weight sells only in 3kg increments up to £15 each, and an unbooked oversized bag risks a £55 airport penalty. Details are on easyJet's own cabin bag FAQ page.

4. Vueling

Vueling includes one free under-seat bag (40 x 30 x 20cm); anything checked costs extra, with a wide pricing spread. A 15kg bag can run €10 to €95 depending on route, season and how late you book, and waiting until the airport can push a 23kg bag to around €70 each way. Overweight beyond your purchased limit costs €12 per extra kilogram. Vueling's baggage details are on its official baggage page.

5. Eurowings

Eurowings is structured differently: its entry-level BASIC fare includes hand baggage only, with no free checked bag, while the mid-tier SMART fare bundles one in. Fliers who need a bag at the airport without pre-booking face excess charges starting around €67 per piece — booking online in advance cuts that by up to half. Fare-by-fare rules are on the Eurowings checked baggage page.

6. Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus stands out here for including a checked-bag allowance — 15kg domestic, 20kg international and North Cyprus — in most fares, plus a free under-seat bag and 8kg cabin bag. The catch: anyone who exceeds it, or books the stripped-down Light fare, pays a flat €50 per extra or oversized piece at boarding. Allowances are on the official Pegasus baggage page.

The pattern across all six: booking a bag online, days or weeks ahead, is always cheaper than adding it at the airport — sometimes by 2–3x. If your trip needs a full-size checked bag, total up fare plus bag plus seat fee before trusting the lowest sticker price.

People also ask

Which European budget airline has the cheapest baggage fees?
Wizz Air advertises the lowest entry price, from €7 for a 10kg bag booked early, per the Wizz Air baggage page. Actual cost depends heavily on route and how far ahead you book, so compare the checkout total, not the starting price.

Will European airlines be required to offer a free carry-on bag?
EU lawmakers agreed in June 2026 to guarantee one free personal item plus one free piece of hand luggage (up to 100cm/7kg). The rule isn't in force yet — it applies roughly 12 months and 20 days after publication — so carriers can still charge for cabin bags today. Details: European Commission passenger rights page.

Is it cheaper to buy checked baggage online or at the airport?
Online, always. Every airline here charges more for a bag added at the airport or gate than one bought during booking — Vueling's gap runs roughly €10 versus €70 for the same weight tier. Add bags at booking, or as soon as you know you'll need one.

Does EU261 compensation still apply if my budget flight is delayed?
Yes. Compensation of €250–€600 for qualifying delays and cancellations stays in place under the 2026 EU261 reform approved by Parliament, though the revised rules aren't expected to apply until the second half of 2027. See the Council of the EU's release.

Fees and allowances above were checked against each airline's official site and EU sources as of August 1, 2026. Baggage pricing changes by route, season and booking window, so confirm exact costs on the airline's website before you book.