Martin Lewis has shared a series of "tricks" that anyone planning to jet off abroad with easyJet can use to keep costs down when it comes to their next holiday.
The budget airline announced a huge sale on flights taking off between December 2023 and March 2024 on Thursday, with prices slashed by as much as £180 per ticket. As the financial expert gave his Twitter followers the heads-up about the offers, he shared advice from the MoneySavingExpert website giving holidaymakers several top tips on how they can make their money stretch further when they book with easyJet.
Flying is notoriously full of hidden extra fees, whether it's paying for extra hand luggage or forking out to choose your seat on the plane. From a luggage "loophole" to the best time to check in and what to buy in the airport, here are the steps that every easyJet customer should follow to save some serious cash according to the MSE team.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis fan's £28,000 state pension boost by following simple advice
How to make the most out of your luggage
When it comes to luggage, the expert team advise that easyJet cut its baggage allowance in 2021 - this means that if you book a standard seat you will only be able to being a small bag into the cabin, roughly the size of a rucksack. However, you can pay to bring a second larger bag on board from £5.99, which also includes "speedy boarding" meaning you will be one of the first to get on the plane.
Alternatively, it may be better value for money to opt for an extra legroom or first row seat, which permits you to take a second bag into the cabin. Prices for these seats start at £7.99 each way, a similar price to checking in an extra bag, so it may prove more cost-effective to get both an additional piece of luggage and a premium seat for the price of one.
You can also boost your hand luggage allowance with a "loophole" in easyJet's policy, which allows you to take one shopping bag from the airport on board in addition to your one bag included in a standard ticket. easyJet states that this must be "one standard bag of goods bought at the airport" - but MSE suggests that you could use this bag to stuff in any items that you can't quite fit in your hand luggage.
The experts advise taking "squishable" hand luggage such as a holdall if you're worried about adhering to size restrictions. Try to board as early as you can to make sure you can secure a spot for your luggage in the overhead cabin above your seat and avoid having to store it at the other end of the plane.
If you have to check additional luggage into the hold, always pay in advance of going to the airport, MSE urges - otherwise you could be charged as much as £100 per return flight. And finally, if you're struggling to cram all your holiday essentials into your luggage, consider wearing them instead - "think large, deep-pocketed coats and jackets", the experts advise.
Tips on buying tickets and checking in
Firstly, the MoneySavingExpert team suggests snapping up easyJet's "super-cheap" tickets as quickly as possible to make the most of the low prices. The cost of a flight can change quickly depending on demand, they explained, so generally the longer you leave it the more likely it is to go up.
However, MSE added that anyone buying tickets should always be sure to double check the final price before paying, as costs can even rise during the booking process when the website is particularly busy. The experts urged holidaymakers to "use common sense" when it comes to flight prices, and always do a comparison with other airlines to see whether you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere.
When it comes to buying your tickets, the safest way to bay for a flight costing over £100 each way is via a credit card, the money experts advise. This gives you Section 75 protection, meaning that the card company is jointly liable should anything go wrong with your journey.
When you've managed to snag your tickets, easyJet allows you to check in 30 days before you fly and allocates you a seat on the plane for free. The earlier you check in, the higher your chances of getting a good seat - so it's worth doing it as early as you can, particularly as reserving a seat of your choice instead can cost up to £39.99 according to MSE.
Save money on insurance and travel extras
Once you're on the plane, one of the easiest ways to save some cash on your holiday is to avoid buying a meal in-flight and stocking up on snacks before you board instead. An easyJet meal deal, which includes a sandwich, soft drink and snack, costs £8.50 according to MSE - even with inflated airport prices, you're sure to find alternatives in the airport for less.
If you need to book the likes of travel insurance, car hire or a hotel, it can seem like the most straightforward to book via easyJet when you purchase your plane tickets as these will often be advertised as add-ons at the checkout. But MSE urges travellers to always make sure they check prices elsewhere before booking, particularly as booking through a holiday agent tends to be far pricier than having a look on a comparison website to find a better deal.
And finally, if the worst happens and your easyJet flight is cancelled or delayed for more than three hours, you could be entitled to hundreds of pounds in compensation. How much you could get depends on a number of factors - take a look at MoneySavingExpert's flight delay compensation guide for more details.
READ NEXT:
