EasyJet is allowing passengers to pay excess luggage 'fines' before arriving at the airport, claiming it will save their customers money.

The advance-purchase excess luggage charge is £15 per 3kgs, which easyJet says is a saving of £3 on check-in charges.

At the airport, the airline charges £6 per kg - but these charges can be paid in increments of 1kg, so it is still cheaper for a passenger whose bag is 2kg overweight to pay £12 at the airport instead of £15 in advance.

The new charges are listed alongside other extras, such as priority boarding and travel insurance, at the time of booking.

Passengers will have the option to pay the charges online or over the phone up to two hours before their flight (for the next month though it must be done at the time of booking if it is paid online).

The current hold baggage allowance for easyJet passengers is 20kg per bag, which compare's to Ryanair's 15kg and British Airways' 23kg. Passengers can pay up to £60 in advance in excess charges to carry bags up to a maximum weight of 32kg.

EasyJet currently allows passengers to carry one item of checked luggage of up to 20kg at no extra charge. Any other baggage, up to eight pieces, is charged at £5 per bag (or between £8-12 per bag if paid at the airport).

Far from being another channel of ancilliary revenue, easyJet claims it will save passengers money.

In a statement easyJet Product Development Manager Peter Gerstle said: "Extra weight pre-payment is the latest facility easyJet has introduced to save its passengers time and money."

Times recommends

• The French version of a boot camp
• Britain's best posh pubs with rooms
• Away from the beach in Cape Verde