EasyJet axes free luggage allowance in a blow for thousands of holidaymakers using the budget airline

Holidaymakers using easyJet are set to suffer a major blow to their travel plans as the budget airline announces plans to axe the luggage allowance from its city break packages.

Previously, customers who bought a city break package with the airline had a 23kg hold luggage – which is checked in at the airport and stored in the cargo hold of an aircraft – automatically added in to their deal.

But since yesterday, this add-on has been removed, giving passengers the choice to travel with hand luggage or pay extra for hold luggage.

The change will not impact customers who purchased a flight-only ticket and other tour combos still include the check-in luggage policy.

But for city break packages, large cabin bags – which can fit in an airplane’s overhead compartment – will be priced at £5.99 one way and £9.49 one way for a 23kg hold luggage bag.

EasyJet says the move was to ‘make our packages even better with lower pricing’. 

However, some agents said they hadn’t noticed a reduction in package prices since bags were removed. One agent said they’d seen a £12 reduction in one package price, but the cost was £100 more than when check-in bags were added.

 EasyJet says the move was to ‘make our packages even better with lower pricing’ (file image) 

Previously, customers who bought a city break package with the airline had a 23kg hold luggage - which is checked in at the airport and stored in the cargo hold of an aircraft – automatically added in to their deal (file image)

Previously, customers who bought a city break package with the airline had a 23kg hold luggage – which is checked in at the airport and stored in the cargo hold of an aircraft – automatically added in to their deal (file image) 

In a statement, easyJet Holidays said: ‘We pride ourselves on delivering brilliant holidays at unbeatable prices, so we continuously listen to our customers on what would make our packages even better.

‘Our customers have told us that 23kg for city breaks isn’t always necessary, which is why from 7 August 2024 our city break holidays will include flights and hotel accommodation as standard, and an option of adding large cabin bags and holding luggage for a fee.

‘The savings made through not attaching a bag to the booking will be applied to the overall holiday cost, and we’re confident that tailoring our packages to suit the needs of holidaymakers will continue to provide our customers with ease and flexibility throughout their experience.’

This November, easyjet is set to launch a brand new route from four major UK airports – Birmingham, London, Manchester and Liverpool – as the popular budget airline looks to rapidly expand its journeys.

 Airline bosses at easyJet announced their new route will fly weekly to a popular holiday destination, in addition to five other winter routes.

From November 13, passengers can travel from Birmingham Airport to Hurghada, a beach resort in Egypt, every Wednesday.

Other new routes include Krakow, Reykjavik Innsbruck, Prague and Marrakech.

Tom Screen, aviation director at Birmingham Airport, said: ‘easyJet and easyJet holidays have had an incredible start since launching the airline’s new base from Birmingham Airport only this March.

‘This new route to Hurghada takes the choice of destinations up to 33 for customers from their local airport, with a choice of flight only, or full package holidays, there is something for everyone.’

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