Video: airline-surcharges
CHOICE looks at some of the unexpected charges associated with airline travel in Australia.
Playing it safe
Travel insurance can be important for overseas and domestic travel.
Regardless of their questionable opting in and out policies, you should work out whether the cover provided by the airlines is right for you, or whether you should look elsewhere. It’s worth checking your options before you commit – after all, the one-size-fits-all policies that some airlines offer may not cover you for pre-existing issues, if you’re over a certain age or in other circumstances.
Always read the product disclosure statement before buying any travel insurance. And you may actually already have credit card-provided travel insurance. Check with your provider – you may be covered if you pay with your card.
Jetstar
Jetstar’s online booking system is inconsistent. Consumers must opt in to agree to:
- Terms and conditions
- Prepaid parking
- SMS itineraries
But consumers must opt out of:
- Loyalty club membership
- Seat selection
- Checked baggage
So make sure you click the right box if you’ve only got carry-on luggage.
CHOICE staff member Linda Magee recently booked a family trip with Jetstar. While the fare seemed cheap at first, she was shocked to find a number of extras she hadn’t realised she’d opted in for had been tacked on to the end of her bill. “I selected seats without realising they would cost extra,” she says.
“It doesn’t look like you have to pay something on top of the fare when you go through the steps, so I couldn’t believe it when I saw it on the bill at the end. By the time I realised what had happened, I’d wasted so much time on the booking process that I didn’t really have time to start again.”
But this was just the beginning; Linda was then stung by a $60 credit card payment fee. “I don’t have a Jetstar credit card, but I didn’t realise that it would cost me that much more to pay with my regular card. I paid up, but I won’t be flying with them again.”
A spokesperson told CHOICE: “Jetstar clearly discloses any charges and provides customers the choice to customise or remove any offering. We disclose this fee and fee-free payment options so there are no surprises.”
Qantas
Although Qantas has recently taken a blow to its reputation, the national carrier’s online booking system is the most transparent and easiest to navigate.
Consumers have to select whether they accept terms and conditions, want to purchase travel insurance or carbon offsets or receive emailed flight specials or have their flight details remembered by the website for next time.