Our travel consumer champion Jane Hawkes, champion and founder of the Lady Janey blog, says passengers should still scrutinise the final cost of flights as ministers unveil plans to tackle extra airline charges

Holidaymakers are being urged to scrutinise airline fees and look beyond headline fares as the Government moves to crack down on extra charges faced by passengers when flying.

New proposals announced by the Department for Transport include plans to stop airlines charging parents extra to sit next to children under 14 and to ensure passengers can correct genuine spelling mistakes in names without being hit with additional fees.

The Government says the changes are designed to end unfair practices and make flying simpler and fairer for passengers, with the measures forming part of a wider package of proposed reforms to air travel.

The announcement is a welcome reminder that passengers need to understand which airline extras are genuinely optional and which charges deserve closer scrutiny.

Consumers should focus on the total amount they will actually pay rather than being drawn in by an attractive headline fare.

A flight advertised at £49 isn't necessarily cheaper than one advertised at £65 if unavoidable charges are added later in the booking process. The figure that matters is the amount that actually comes out of your bank account at the end.

The proposed changes are a positive step for passengers, particularly when it comes to families being seated together and correcting genuine mistakes. But consumers still need to keep their eyes open during the booking process and question charges that don't appear to be genuinely optional.

Here are a series of my top tips:

Look beyond the headline fare.

If you have to pay a charge to actually book and take the flight, it shouldn't be treated as a surprise extra. Always check the final price before paying and compare that figure between airlines rather than being tempted by the cheapest headline fare.

Know the difference between a want and a need.

Airlines can generally charge for optional extras such as choosing a particular seat, additional baggage, meals or priority boarding. Always ask yourself whether you genuinely have a choice. Paying for an aisle seat because you prefer it is very different from paying because you cannot complete the booking unless you do so.

Don't let an optional extra feel compulsory.

Booking systems can be designed to encourage you to add extras so don't assume you have to buy something simply because it's presented prominently during the booking process. Look carefully for the option to decline it and continue with your booking.

Check the rules around children sitting with parents.

The Government has proposed that children under 14 should be seated with a parent or accompanying adult without an additional charge. This is an important proposed change but it isn't yet a right consumers can rely on until the legislation comes into force. In the meantime, always check exactly what your airline's current policy is before booking.

Don't automatically pay to correct a simple mistake

If you've made a genuine spelling mistake when entering a passenger's name, contact the airline before paying a correction fee. A minor typo is very different from changing the passenger completely and the Government is proposing that simple name errors should be correctable without charge.

Essential accessibility isn't an optional extra.

Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility should not be charged for assistance required to make their journey possible. There are also protections around carrying medical equipment and mobility equipment. If you're being asked to pay for essential assistance, check your rights before handing over your money.

Ask what you're actually paying for.

Don't simply accept a charge because it appears during the booking process. Consider what the charge is for, if it is unavoidable and do you genuinely have a choice in order to distinguish between a legitimate optional extra and something you may need to investigate further.

Don't assume every airline charge is automatically fair.

Airlines are businesses and can charge for many additional services but that doesn't mean every charge is automatically reasonable or lawful. If a charge seems excessive, unavoidable or misleading, check your consumer rights before accepting it.

In a nutshell, optional should actually mean optional.

If you can genuinely say no and still complete your booking, it's optional. If you can't, ask why you're being charged for it. We shouldn't have to become experts in airline pricing just to work out what we really need to pay.