Families paying up to £260 in airport extras before their holiday begins
Families travelling to Europe this summer could pay up to £260 in additional travel costs on top of their airfare, according to new analysis comparing the full cost of flying with driving.
Research conducted by travel specialists Together Travel found that baggage charges, airport parking and destination transfers can add between £235 and £260 to the flight price for a family of four.
Once those costs were included, driving was estimated to be cheaper than flying to all eight European destinations analysed, with potential savings ranging from 30.9% to 44.9%.
Amsterdam produced the largest cash difference. Flying was estimated to cost a family of four £495, compared with £280 for driving, leaving the family potentially £215 better off.
Paris followed with a potential cash saving of £204, while Lille topped the percentage ranking.
The road journey to Lille was estimated at £237, compared with a total flying cost of £430, a difference of £193 or 44.9%.
The findings echo separate evidence that the costs surrounding a flight are becoming increasingly difficult for travellers to ignore.
Analysis published by the RAC on 23 July 2026 found that 16 of the UK’s 20 busiest airports had increased the cost of dropping passengers near the terminal since the previous summer. The average charge rose by £1.70 to £7, an increase of around one-third, while Gatwick and Stansted were charging £10 for their nearest-terminal drop-off zones.
The Civil Aviation Authority also advises passengers that an airfare may not include hold luggage and that the cost of baggage might not appear in the initial price displayed during booking. It recommends considering add-on costs when comparing flights because a fare that initially appears cheapest may not remain the cheapest once luggage is included.
Together Travel’s analysis compared the estimated cost of return flights for four passengers, two 20kg checked bags, one week of airport parking and return transfers with the estimated cost of return fuel, a Channel crossing and road tolls.
The European destinations where families could save the most
1. Lille, France: 44.9% cheaper by road
Lille offered the largest percentage saving in the analysis.
Return flights for a family of four were estimated at £190, but two checked bags, airport parking and transfers took the total flying cost to £430.
Driving was estimated at £237, including £64 for return fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £25 for tolls. That creates a potential saving of £193, equivalent to 44.9% of the total flying cost.
Its proximity to the Channel crossing also makes Lille the least expensive driving journey included in the ranking.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands: £215 potential saving
Amsterdam produced the biggest cash saving of the eight destinations analysed.
The airfare was estimated at £240 for four passengers. After adding £160 for checked baggage, £55 for airport parking and £40 for transfers, the total flying cost reached £495.
The equivalent driving cost was estimated at £280, comprising £92 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £40 for tolls.
That is a potential saving of £215, or 43.4%.
3. Brussels, Belgium: 43.1% cheaper by road
A family of four travelling to Brussels was estimated to spend £450 by air once baggage, parking and transfers were included.
Driving was calculated at £256, including £73 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and an estimated £35 in tolls.
The resulting difference is £194, equivalent to a potential saving of 43.1%.
4. Paris, France: families could save £204
The total flying cost for a family of four travelling to Paris was estimated at £475, including £220 for flights and £255 in baggage, parking and transfer costs.
The road journey was estimated at £271, including £83 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £40 for tolls.
Families choosing to drive could therefore save an estimated £204, or 42.9%.
5. Bruges, Belgium: 42.8% cheaper by road
Flying to Bruges was estimated to cost a family of four £435 after the airfare and related airport costs were combined.
The equivalent driving cost was £249, made up of £71 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £30 in estimated tolls.
That leaves a potential saving of £186, or 42.8%.
6. Luxembourg: families could save £182
The total cost of flying to Luxembourg was estimated at £475, including £230 for flights, £160 for luggage, £55 for parking and £30 for transfers.
Driving was estimated at £293, including £100 in fuel, a £148 Channel crossing and £45 in tolls.
The road journey was therefore £182 cheaper, representing a saving of 38.3%.
7. Geneva, Switzerland: £200 potential saving
Geneva had one of the more expensive journeys in the analysis, but driving still produced a substantial estimated saving.
Flying was calculated at £615 for a family of four, while driving was estimated at £415. The difference of £200 represents a potential saving of 32.5%.
Although Geneva had the third-largest cash saving, its higher road costs meant it ranked seventh when the saving was calculated as a percentage of the flying total.
8. Zurich, Switzerland: £198 potential saving
Zurich had the highest estimated flying and driving costs in the ranking.
The total cost by air was calculated at £640, including £380 for flights, £160 for baggage, £55 for parking and £45 for transfers.
Driving was estimated at £442, including £204 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £90 in tolls.
That creates a potential saving of £198, equivalent to 30.9%.
Travellers may be overlooking the full price of flying
Across the eight destinations, baggage added £160 to each flying total, while a week of airport parking added £55. Estimated return transfer costs ranged from £20 to £45.
Combined, those categories added between £235 and £260 to the airfare for a family of four.
Laura Dubois, holiday specialist at Together Travel, said:
“Most travellers compare flight prices and assume they’re seeing the full cost of a holiday journey, but that’s rarely the reality.
“Once you include baggage charges, airport parking, transfers and other unavoidable travel costs, many families are spending hundreds more than they need to on short-haul European breaks.
“At a time when travellers are already worried about rising holiday costs, potential airfare increases linked to fuel market uncertainty and the possibility of travel disruption during one of the busiest summers on record, people are becoming far more conscious of where their money is going.
“Our research shows that for some of Europe’s most popular destinations; families can reduce travel costs by almost half simply by swapping the airport queue for a road trip.
“But we’re also seeing growing interest in UK holidays from travellers looking to avoid the cost, uncertainty and stress that can come with overseas travel.
“When you remove flights altogether, families gain more flexibility, avoid the risk of airport delays or cancellations, and can often start their holiday the moment they leave home.
“For many households, the decision is no longer just about where they want to go, it’s about getting the best value for money while making the journey itself as simple and stress-free as possible.”
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Families paying up to £260 in airport extras before their holiday begins
Families paying up to £260 in airport extras before their holiday begins
Families travelling to Europe this summer could pay up to £260 in additional travel costs on top of their airfare, according to new analysis comparing the full cost of flying with driving.
Research conducted by travel specialists Together Travel found that baggage charges, airport parking and destination transfers can add between £235 and £260 to the flight price for a family of four.
Once those costs were included, driving was estimated to be cheaper than flying to all eight European destinations analysed, with potential savings ranging from 30.9% to 44.9%.
Amsterdam produced the largest cash difference. Flying was estimated to cost a family of four £495, compared with £280 for driving, leaving the family potentially £215 better off.
Paris followed with a potential cash saving of £204, while Lille topped the percentage ranking.
The road journey to Lille was estimated at £237, compared with a total flying cost of £430, a difference of £193 or 44.9%.
The findings echo separate evidence that the costs surrounding a flight are becoming increasingly difficult for travellers to ignore.
Analysis published by the RAC on 23 July 2026 found that 16 of the UK’s 20 busiest airports had increased the cost of dropping passengers near the terminal since the previous summer. The average charge rose by £1.70 to £7, an increase of around one-third, while Gatwick and Stansted were charging £10 for their nearest-terminal drop-off zones.
The Civil Aviation Authority also advises passengers that an airfare may not include hold luggage and that the cost of baggage might not appear in the initial price displayed during booking. It recommends considering add-on costs when comparing flights because a fare that initially appears cheapest may not remain the cheapest once luggage is included.
Together Travel’s analysis compared the estimated cost of return flights for four passengers, two 20kg checked bags, one week of airport parking and return transfers with the estimated cost of return fuel, a Channel crossing and road tolls.
The European destinations where families could save the most
1. Lille, France: 44.9% cheaper by road
Lille offered the largest percentage saving in the analysis.
Return flights for a family of four were estimated at £190, but two checked bags, airport parking and transfers took the total flying cost to £430.
Driving was estimated at £237, including £64 for return fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £25 for tolls. That creates a potential saving of £193, equivalent to 44.9% of the total flying cost.
Its proximity to the Channel crossing also makes Lille the least expensive driving journey included in the ranking.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands: £215 potential saving
Amsterdam produced the biggest cash saving of the eight destinations analysed.
The airfare was estimated at £240 for four passengers. After adding £160 for checked baggage, £55 for airport parking and £40 for transfers, the total flying cost reached £495.
The equivalent driving cost was estimated at £280, comprising £92 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £40 for tolls.
That is a potential saving of £215, or 43.4%.
3. Brussels, Belgium: 43.1% cheaper by road
A family of four travelling to Brussels was estimated to spend £450 by air once baggage, parking and transfers were included.
Driving was calculated at £256, including £73 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and an estimated £35 in tolls.
The resulting difference is £194, equivalent to a potential saving of 43.1%.
4. Paris, France: families could save £204
The total flying cost for a family of four travelling to Paris was estimated at £475, including £220 for flights and £255 in baggage, parking and transfer costs.
The road journey was estimated at £271, including £83 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £40 for tolls.
Families choosing to drive could therefore save an estimated £204, or 42.9%.
5. Bruges, Belgium: 42.8% cheaper by road
Flying to Bruges was estimated to cost a family of four £435 after the airfare and related airport costs were combined.
The equivalent driving cost was £249, made up of £71 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £30 in estimated tolls.
That leaves a potential saving of £186, or 42.8%.
6. Luxembourg: families could save £182
The total cost of flying to Luxembourg was estimated at £475, including £230 for flights, £160 for luggage, £55 for parking and £30 for transfers.
Driving was estimated at £293, including £100 in fuel, a £148 Channel crossing and £45 in tolls.
The road journey was therefore £182 cheaper, representing a saving of 38.3%.
7. Geneva, Switzerland: £200 potential saving
Geneva had one of the more expensive journeys in the analysis, but driving still produced a substantial estimated saving.
Flying was calculated at £615 for a family of four, while driving was estimated at £415. The difference of £200 represents a potential saving of 32.5%.
Although Geneva had the third-largest cash saving, its higher road costs meant it ranked seventh when the saving was calculated as a percentage of the flying total.
8. Zurich, Switzerland: £198 potential saving
Zurich had the highest estimated flying and driving costs in the ranking.
The total cost by air was calculated at £640, including £380 for flights, £160 for baggage, £55 for parking and £45 for transfers.
Driving was estimated at £442, including £204 for fuel, £148 for the Channel crossing and £90 in tolls.
That creates a potential saving of £198, equivalent to 30.9%.
Travellers may be overlooking the full price of flying
Across the eight destinations, baggage added £160 to each flying total, while a week of airport parking added £55. Estimated return transfer costs ranged from £20 to £45.
Combined, those categories added between £235 and £260 to the airfare for a family of four.
Laura Dubois, holiday specialist at Together Travel, said:
“Most travellers compare flight prices and assume they’re seeing the full cost of a holiday journey, but that’s rarely the reality.
“Once you include baggage charges, airport parking, transfers and other unavoidable travel costs, many families are spending hundreds more than they need to on short-haul European breaks.
“At a time when travellers are already worried about rising holiday costs, potential airfare increases linked to fuel market uncertainty and the possibility of travel disruption during one of the busiest summers on record, people are becoming far more conscious of where their money is going.
“Our research shows that for some of Europe’s most popular destinations; families can reduce travel costs by almost half simply by swapping the airport queue for a road trip.
“But we’re also seeing growing interest in UK holidays from travellers looking to avoid the cost, uncertainty and stress that can come with overseas travel.
“When you remove flights altogether, families gain more flexibility, avoid the risk of airport delays or cancellations, and can often start their holiday the moment they leave home.
“For many households, the decision is no longer just about where they want to go, it’s about getting the best value for money while making the journey itself as simple and stress-free as possible.”
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