No such thing as a free lunch on no frills airlines

Food and drink onboard no-frills flights can cost almost half as much as the actual flight*, warns Which? Holiday. A sandwich, small tub of Pringles, bottle of sparkling water, cup of coffee and a small bottle of red wine can add as much as £16.05 to the price of a single ticket**.

Which? Holiday found Ryanair to be the most expensive, charging passengers £16.05 for the five items. Its sandwiches are priced at £4.20, while a bottle of sparkling water cost £2.50 and passengers can expect to pay £2.50 for a coffee.

Flybe was the second most expensive, charging a total of £11.95 for the five items.

bmibaby was found to be the cheapest at £10.50 for the items, charging only 80 pence for a bottle of sparkling water and £1.80 for a coffee.

Lorna Cowan, editor of Which? Holiday, says:

“It’s hard to believe that some airlines charge so much for food and drink, especially when the cost of their flights are often so low.

“If you think you will want something to eat on a flight, buy it before you board from the departure lounge. Although you can’t take more than 100ml of liquids in your hand luggage, anything you buy in the departure lounge can be taken on your flight, and is normally cheaper than on the plane.”

* Based on a Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Girona departing on 14 November 2008 and returning 16 November 2008.

**Prices correct as of 19 December 2008.

Which? Holiday is a subscription-only holiday magazine published 4 times a year by Which? For details on how to receive two issues of Which? Holiday for £3, log on to which.co.uk.