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From this month, Flybe will allow valid student card holders to carry up to 40kg (or two bags at the maximum weight allowed) on flights to and from a number of ‘off-shore’ destinations. The offer essentially affords young people twice the usual baggage allowance, at no additional cost.

People who choose to go to university in 2011 may find that the experience steals more money from their pockets than they had anticipated. While George Osborne’s tripling of tuition fees won’t come into play until 2012/13, the cost of higher education can still tear the hind legs from your piggy bank, reaching £3,375 for the 2011/12 academic year.

“We recognise that students are facing escalating costs”, explained Mike Rutter, commercial chief at Flybe. “(We) also appreciate the additional travel costs incurred by those living off the UK mainland.” Mr. Rutter says that students travelling from the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, and Northern Ireland, are eligible for the ‘buy one, get one free’ baggage deal.

Students who wish to participate in the promotion should purchase allowance for a single bag when booking their flight, then, simply turn up at their chosen airport with a student card and the additional luggage item. The bonus allowance will be granted at the check-in desk. Flybe does not indicate which student cards are accepted, but the offer (presumably) extends to holders of NUS or standard university membership cards.

Flybe, compared to Ryanair and easyJet, at least, has a rather eccentric route list, which favours British territories over ‘sun and sea’ spots on the continent.

Routes to the Channel Islands, the Shetlands, the Hebrides, and to smaller mainland airports, such as Norwich, make up many of the 40 domestic routes on Flybe’s schedules. It should come as no surprise then that Mike Rutter referred to Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland as “key” destinations for the airline. Flybe is ostensibly trying to bolster the appeal of the four routes, by reducing the overall cost of air travel.