Britons told to use Ryanair 'add-ons trick' - prompting angry statement from airline

You might be spending more money than you need to on your Ryanair flight, according to research by Which?.

The consumer champion has set out nine rules for travellers to follow when booking a ticket with the budget airline after looking for ways to save on what it calls the "notoriously complicated website". Read all the latest Money tips and deals here Which? found it was sometimes cheaper to buy the most basic fare and add any extras, instead of purchasing a fare bundle that comes with them included.

We should say here that Ryanair has branded the Which? findings "fake news" and has rebutted most of the rules. But first...

How Ryanair pricing works Before we get into the rules, here are the six different levels of fare bundles offered by the low-cost airline: Basic Fare: The cheapest fare, includes one small cabin bag (40x20x30cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you, with no additional baggage allowance and randomly assigned seats.Regular Fare: This fare includes a standard seat and priority boarding, one small cabin bag, one 10kg cabin bag (55x40x20cm) to be stored in the overhead locker.Plus: This fare includes a standard seat and gives you a baggage allowance of one small cabin bag and one 20kg check-in bagFamily Plus: This is the family bundle and includes one small cabin bag (40x20x30cm), one 10kg check-in bag for each group member, free seats for children under 12 and one 20kg check-in family bag.Flexi Plus: This includes Priority Boarding & two cabin bags (one small cabin bag and one 10kg cabin bag), reserved seating in any of our seating options, and Airport Security Fast Track (where available). You can change your booked flight to a different date, time or route without paying the flight change fee, but you must pay the fare difference.Time Saver: This includes Priority Boarding & two cabin bags (one small cabin bag and one 10kg cabin bag), front row reserved seating (in rows 1-5.

Once these rows are sold out, remaining seats on the plane will become available) and Airport Security Fast Track (where available).But Which? found that by booking the "basic" fare and adding luggage and seat selection, passengers could save money - even in cases when Ryanair suggested options that were "ideal" for their trip. For example...

Which? went to book a flight from London to Alicante for a family of four for August this year. A banner popped up saying that "Regular is ideal for your trip".

But choosing this option would have cost £59 more than if they chose "Basic.