A recent poll of 340 air travellers, conducted by WhichBudget and consumer interest site Budget Airline Watch, suggests that budget airlines are appreciated by two thirds of customers for providing good value for money but only a third think they offer good customer service. Meanwhile, Ryanair was widely lambasted for providing the worst service in the airline industry.

While 62% of respondents agree that "budget airlines offer good value for money", only 32% agree that they "offer good service".

In an industry characterised by added extras and hidden charges, a mere 34% of respondents think it's easy to see the final price of a flight when making a booking, suggesting that there’s a need for greater transparency in airlines' booking carts. On the back of Easyjet's recent move to add online seat selection to its booking system, 54% of respondents say they like to pre-book seats ahead of the flight. Meanwhile, a significant 72% of respondents would like to see a free 20kg hold bag included in the price of the fare, suggesting that a savvy budget airline could use inclusive checked baggage as a marketing tactic.

In a survey of more than 3,000 air travellers conducted by global flight search engine, WhichBudget, the respondents overwhelmingly voted that they would like to see an end to checked bag fees.

Between June 2011 and June 2012, WhichBudget users were asked "what part of the flying process (outside of the fare itself) would you like to see fee-free?" Out of 3,265 responses, the overwhelming choice was "checked bags", with 65% of respondents wanting hold bag fees to disappear.

"Credit and debit card charges" – a recent focus of the European Union, which decided they must be capped – came in second place, earning 42% of votes, followed by "booking / admin fee", with 37% of votes. "Date and name changes" received 24% of votes; "choosing seats / priority boarding" received 24% and in-flight "food and drinks" attracted just 21% of votes, showing that passengers are more concerned about travel logistics than food and beverages.

On the back of these results, a new survey (www.whichbudget.com/budget_airlines_survey.php) designed to assess passengers' opinions about various elements of cheap flights and elicit the most ridiculous "tales from the baggage hall" is being launched by WhichBudget, in conjunction with Budget Airline Watch, a new consumer-interest website for air travellers.

Respondents who complete the survey before 31 August, 2012, and also register with WhichBudget and Budget Airline Watch, will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three Rufus Roo big pocket travel jackets: two adult-sized and one child-sized. The Rufus Roo enables up to 10kg of extra weight to be worn through airport check-in without being placed on the luggage scales.

Martino Matijevic, co-founder of WhichBudget, says: "The results of our survey prove that, out of all the hidden and extra charges that are now associated with cheap flights, the fees relating to checked bags are the most unpopular. With 65% of respondents wanting to see an end to these fees, there could be an opportunity for the more customer-focused budget airlines to take the lead in listening to the wishes of the travelling public and emphasise the fact that '20kg of luggage is now included in the fare', as a unique selling point."

He adds: "This comes on the heels of Ryanair's unpopular 'one bag rule' for carry-on luggage being addressed by the European Parliament, which has voted in favour of legislation against airlines insisting that duty fee purchases fit in a single bag, or charging 50 Euros to put the bag in the hold."

Jo Chipchase, short-haul air traveller and founder of Budget Airline Watch, says: "Charging passengers for checked bags, excess weight and 'borderline' cabin bags has become an overriding obsession with budget airlines, to the detriment of 'service with a smile'. Unsuspecting passengers who don't pre-book their hold bags may find themselves paying up to a whopping £150 for a 15kg bag* at the airport, making their cheap flight not so cheap. Meanwhile, those who turn up with a few sundresses or beach towels too many are forced to bin the excess weight or pay up to £20 per extra kilo to check the bag into the hold. Rather disturbingly, luggage scales in airports aren’t regularly calibrated because there’s no legal requirement to do so. No wonder passengers dislike the baggage part of the flight experience. It is time for airlines to take notice before passengers start voting – with their seats."

*Ryanair – high season – 2nd checked bag, selected flights. Price correct as of 29 May, 2012 (source: http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions#regulations-tableoffees).

Fill in our new survey HERE and be in a chance to win one of three Rufus Roo big pocket travel jackets!

Father's Day is celebrated on 19th June in most countries around the World, ever since 1910. Have you already got a present for your Dad? If you are still hesitating, here are a few ideas!

A new survey by flight destination finder WhichBudget.com has revealed that when it comes to choosing a Father's Day treat, the way to a Dad's heart is most likely to be through his stomach rather than sports. A poll of 584 men on the website found that food and drink trips came top of the Father's Day holiday wish-list, while sporting activities were rated as less appealing for a Father's Day getaway.

1. Savour Sicilian Food and Wine in Italy = 22%
2. Whisky Tour of Scotland = 17%
3. Surf the waves off the coast of Portugal = 12%
4. Racing the Nurburgring in Germany = 9%
5. Fly-fishing in Iceland = 8%
6. Chilled out Culture Day in San-Sebastian, Spain = 8%
7. Off-shore power boating in Costa Smeralda in Sardinia = 7%
8. Camel riding in Morocco = 6%
9. Down and Dirty in a mud-spa in Budapest = 6%
10. Golf & Guinness trip to Ireland = 5%

Commenting on the survey results, Martino Matijevic, CEO and Founder of WhichBudget.com, said: "Nowadays men are far more adventurous in their food and drink choices, so it is not surprising that top of the Father's Day wish-list are getaways that combine travel with food and drink. Our survey found sporting activities were less appealing, which was a surprise. Maybe this is because sport requires more energy, so may not be quite as conducive to a relaxing Father's Day off as slowly sipping whisky in a Highland distillery, or dining in a lively Sicilian piazza."

Say goodbye to tried and tested holidays and hello to curious new experiences as WhichBudget.com, leading destination finder and flight search engine, reveals those places that are leading the charge and emerging as 2011's most searched travel destinations in Europe.

Unsurprisingly, sunny locations are most desirable and like a moth to a flame, tourists are attracted to sun-drenched shores.  Based on thousands of searches from the UK [we used the UK as the test base, but the results are similar from other Northern European countries] since the start of the year, WhichBudget.com found Crete, Dubrovnik, Split, Paphos and Larnaca to be the destinations generating the most interest from Brits keen to swap grey skies for some Mediterranean flavour.

WhichBudget.com CEO and founder Martino Matijevic comments:

"What is interesting to note is that the main motivation for travellers - the sun - hasn't changed.  What is also made evident, based on searches on our site, is that places like the ancient cities of Crete, and Split and Paphos, which until recently haven't been as high on the tourism radar, are generating more interest.  This suggests that intrepid travellers are seeking cultural experiences along with their sunshine fix.

"While in previous years cities such as Athens and Barcelona have been the focus of searches on WhichBudget.com, now it appears the wonder of exploring somewhere a bit left of centre has sparked the trend toward searches to more unusual travel destinations."

Also featured on WhichBudget.com's list of emerging travel destinations are Budapest, Warsaw, Krakow and Dalaman, areas not traditionally on the well trodden path but all with histories vivid enough to entice travellers.