EasyJet holidays has removed its check-in baggage allowance from city break packages, instead including just a small cabin bag in the price.

The change came into effect from yesterday (7 August) and 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.

Previously passengers were given a 23kg luggage allowance, which still remains for all other package holidays.

EasyJet holidays said a three-night trip to the Urban Garden Hotel in Rome this September starts at £274 per person with no hold luggage, saving £63pp when removing a 23kg bag. On its website, large cabin bags start from £5.99 one way and a 23kg bag from £9.49 one way.

Agents were made aware of the change on email and via the operator’s trade Facebook page, which pointed out large cabin bags and check-in bags added to bookings will be commissionable.

Writing on Travel Gossip’s Facebook group, one agent said it would have been better if easyJet had reduced the allowance to 15kg, pointing out it’s hard to fit enough stuff into a small cabin bag for a  three- or four-night break.

Another agent suggested easyJet holidays should have continued to include check-in bags for trade bookings to go ‘a little way to justify our price difference and is a great selling point as an agent with very little outlay from EJH’.

In a statement, easyJet holidays said: “We pride ourselves on delivering brilliant holidays at unbeatable prices, so we continuously listen to our customers and travel agent partners 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 hold luggage for a fee. 

“The savings made through not attaching a bag to the booking will be applied to the overall holiday cost, and the optional large cabin bags and hold luggage extras are an opportunity for our travel agent partners to earn more commission on their booking.”