A new study has revealed that hidden airline fees could be costing Australians up to 66 per cent more than the initial ticket price on international flights.
The research, conducted by Kadi Luggage, looked into the cost of extras such as checked baggage, cabin luggage, and seat selection on international flights departing from Australia.
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It found that Malaysia Airlines had the highest additional fees, with charges for extra baggage and seat selection pushing the final price up by as much as 66 per cent of the original ticket cost.
Scoot and Jetstar were also found to significantly increase prices.
Customers were paying more than 30 per cent extra for extras like seat selection and checked luggage.
In contrast, Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways, and Air New Zealand were found to be more cost-friendly, with no additional charges for seat selection and checked baggage up to 20kg.
When it comes to baggage, most airlines allow at least seven kilograms of cabin baggage without incurring extra fees.
Scoot offers a more generous 10kg allowance but charges for checked luggage unless travellers upgrade to a higher-priced fare.
Scoot’s additional baggage fees can add around 29 per cent to the original ticket price.
Qatar Airways stands out by including a generous 35kg checked baggage allowance in its fare.
For seat selection fees, Cathay Pacific charges the highest seat selection fees, at 11.96 per cent of the original flight price, followed by Qantas with fees of 7.71 per cent.
On the other hand, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Australia offer seat selection at no extra cost.
As hidden fees continue to increase, experts advise travellers to consider all additional charges before booking international flights to avoid unexpected costs.
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