Unexpected Extra Hand Luggage Addition Cost

funkyhev

Hi Martin & MSE Team,

I purchased a 3 day holiday to Portugal back in December 2022 through onthebeach.com. I fly September 2023. At the time of my purchase a standard hand luggage size bag was included only in my booking. This was because I didn’t want hold luggage included as the cost was not worth it for my short trip away.

A few weeks later, I realised that the size of the standard hand luggage bag was just a small ruck sack that was to fit under the seat in front of me during the flight. I haven’t flown for a long time so I raised a discrepancy query with onthebeach.com to only be told the flight company had now changed there rules at the beginning of February and it’s going to cost me an additional £111.96 to be able to take the next size hand luggage as well on board my flight.

I have made a complaint to onthebeach.com however they are not answering any of my questions raised in my complaint email to them. I could have purchased hold  luggage for cheaper when I first purchased the holiday. Plus I wasn’t given the option to add additional hand luggage to my booking when I first made the purchase because the new process didn’t exist. Any changes made to my booking now will include a £30 admin fee.  

Can you offer any advice on any rights I may have? Or other options available to me? I feel like I’m being penalised with extra charges when processes have changed. It just seams unfair! 

ellenvan

Which airline is the flight with ?

daveyjp

I'd spend time looking at how to pack effectively as OTB probably won't care.

Caz3121

funkyhev said:

the flight company had now changed there rules at the beginning of February

which airline?
EasyJet made changes to hand luggage to one underseat bag unless pay more in February 2021
Ryanair did it in November 18 and Wizz October 18

elsien

Wear lots of layers to travel. Or learn to roll clothes up very small.  Or wear a coat with a lot of pockets. Take clean underwear in your rucksack.  Buy toiletries when you get there. Sorted.
Seriously. how much do you need for 3 days?

baser999

Would OTB have had any control on the baggage allowance? Is that not down to OP to check on?

Pollycat

I'd have thought (maybe naively) that airlines would honour the rules applicable at the time of booking, not retrospectively change them for booking made before the change came into effect.

jon81uk

Have you checked all the communication you got from OnTheBeach in regards to what is included?

I've just has a quick look and for an EasyJet flight on a booking to Portugal with them the OnTheBeach page does state
"Your booking includes a small bag per person with a maximum size of 36x45x20cm which must fit under the seat in front of you."

Have you got anything from On The Beach that states you have the larger hand luggage allowance to go in the overhead locker?

Most of the budget airlines have made changes over the last few years to make everything an extra charge.

But if you have it in writing from on the beach that when you booked standard size 10kg hand luggage was included then I think on the beach should pay that for you.

sheramber

I purchased a 3 day holiday to Portugal back in December 2022 

At the time of my purchase a standard hand luggage size bag was included only in my booking.

A few weeks later, I realised that the size of the standard hand luggage bag was just a small ruck sack that was to fit under the seat in front of me during the flight. 

Was the standard size in place at time of booking but you  had assumed it was a bigger size?

heatherw_01

I read this like you assumed it was bigger until you checked and found out it was smaller?

Sorry if I am reading it wrong, just reads like you assumed it was bigger so didn't bother to get checked bags as you wouldn't need it, but then realised the bag size is small so contacted them?

If it was just an assumption about size, they are not to blame.

As I said, this is just how it read to me, so sorry if this is wrong.

Neil49

For 3 days you would be better off sticking with the small case and buying any extras when you get out there. Just throw them away when you leave. 

 Not the Green option but this is a money saving site.