Every second Swede finds paying extra to choose their seat when booking a trip the most annoying thing, according to a new survey from travel agency Ticket. Dissatisfaction with hand luggage fees is also high – at the same time, a new EU proposal could be about to change the playing field.

A new Sifo survey commissioned by the travel agency Ticket shows that half of Swedes are most bothered by the fee for selecting seats, something many experience as a natural part of the ticket. Hand luggage comes close behind – 42 percent react strongly to the fact that more and more airlines now also charge for a cabin bag.

– It is obvious that the extra costs are annoying. Especially when it comes to things that many people think should be included, says Tiyoneh Jah, PR & Communications Manager at Ticket.

At the same time, a political discussion is underway about hand luggage. The EU's transport committee has voted to force airlines to allow travelers to bring a small cabin bag at no extra cost. The proposal has received a lot of attention - but has not yet been hammered out. The decision is in negotiations and the airlines are warning that the lack of fees could drive up ticket prices instead.

– Of course, the idea of free hand luggage sounds good, and travelers who travel with cabin bags can definitely benefit from this if the proposal goes through. But at the same time, there is a risk that those who prefer to travel without hand luggage may instead have to pay a higher price for the flight ticket than they otherwise would have done, says Tiyoneh Jah.

About the survey:
The survey is based on a nationally representative sample of the Swedish population aged 18–79 and was conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of Ticket.