Exorbitant payment processing fees for AirAsia flights

[omnipresent]

For my latest booking payment processing fee was almost 20% of the ticket costs - before payment it was around 2k THB for 2 people round trip, then payment processing fee was around 400 THB.

 

I recall it used to only be expensive like that if I chose card payment, whilst internet banking had much lower fee. But now every payment method is expensive.

 

Is there any way to pay less?

 

I think with AirAsia BIG card the payment processing fee is waived, but only Malaysian citizens are eligible for the card, right?

Edited July 22, 2023 by omnipresent

[In the jungle]

I use Air Asia frequently and I just look at the total cost for the flight.

[Sandboxer]

I fly AA almost weekly within Thailand and always pay via (local) bank app/ QR code/scan.   

 

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

 It's a well known tactic that airlines and hotels especially can advertise low price points to attract your attention... then pile on all the fees and taxes... the booking sites do it too.

[flyingtlger]

10 hours ago, omnipresent said:

For my latest booking payment processing fee was almost 20% of the ticket costs

It's a numbers game. They bait you with a dirt cheap price.

They'll get you one way or another ????.

[bignok]

Normally 180 or 200 baht i think

 

 

[bubblegum]

Book the same flight thru Kiwi.com

[bignok]

10 hours ago, In the jungle said:

I use Air Asia frequently and I just look at the total cost for the flight.

Yes but then you cant whinge. Me too. 

[bignok]

22 minutes ago, bubblegum said:

Book the same flight thru Kiwi.com

Or trip.com

[KhunBENQ]

13 hours ago, In the jungle said:

I use Air Asia frequently and I just look at the total cost for the flight.

How do you know the total before selecting payment options?

[bignok]

8 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

How do you know the total before selecting payment options?

The add on fee is the same

[bignok]

Fee is 107 baht for dmk to cm. Cant remember if pp or not.

 

 

[KannikaP]

12 minutes ago, bignok said:

Fee is 107 baht for dmk to cm. Cant remember if pp or not.

 

 

What fee is that, the arrival/departure fee or payment fee? What's pp mean please?

[bignok]

Return 2 persons 428 baht

1 way single 107 baht

 

How fees work

 

Per person per leg

[KannikaP]

34 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

How do you know the total before selecting payment options?

Does it not show total flight cost BEFORE progressing to payment options?

[bignok]

Just now, KannikaP said:

What fee is that, the arrival/departure fee or payment fee? What's pp mean please?

Pp is per person. Common travel lingo. Been around for 50 years.

 

Processing fees. Card or 7/11 is same

[bignok]

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Does it not show total flight cost BEFORE progressing to payment options?

No. It shows flight cost plus add ons. Processing fees after. 

[bignok]

Fees are higher for international. If you book 4 people on return flights with stopover in KL it costs a lot.

 

The way around it was paypal for $1. They no longer accept it.

[omnipresent]

19 minutes ago, bignok said:

Fee is 107 baht for dmk to cm

For one-way and 1 person?

 

It seems that AirAsia now charges per leg and per person, so round-trip for 2 people would make the payment processing fee around 400 THB, even though the actual payment is still done in 1 transaction. I recall in the past this was the case only with card payments. But it seems it's now done for payments via internet banking too.

Edited July 23, 2023 by omnipresent

[In the jungle]

40 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

How do you know the total before selecting payment options?

I don't.

 

I get to the total price and then I decide whether I am willing to pay it.

[bignok]

7 minutes ago, bignok said:

Return 2 persons 428 baht

1 way single 107 baht

 

How fees work

 

Per person per leg

See here ^

 

Yes rip off

[omnipresent]

3 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

They bait you with a dirt cheap price

Yes, it makes it more difficult to compare prices between many different airlines. We have to add 400 THB to payment processing fees to the AirAsia prices shown on SkyScanner.

 

Other airlines don't charge anywhere near as much for payment processing, so we didn't really have to consider it.

Edited July 23, 2023 by omnipresent

[bignok]

1 minute ago, omnipresent said:

Yes, it makes it difficult to compare prices between many different airlines. We have to add 400 THB to payment processing fees to the AirAsia prices shown on SkyScanner.

400 baht is 5 beers in a bar. Not a big deal.

[bignok]

4 minutes ago, omnipresent said:

Other airlines don't charge anywhere near as much for payment processing, so we didn't really have to consider it.

They charge 50 to 100% more for flights though

[omnipresent]

4 minutes ago, bignok said:

They charge 50 to 100% more for flights though

You can't always assume that... Nok Air (and other budget airlines like Lion Air, VietJet etc.) are often competitive, and when you factor in AirAsia's 400 THB payment processing fee, flights with those other airlines may turn out to be cheaper in total.

Edited July 23, 2023 by omnipresent

[KannikaP]

21 minutes ago, bignok said:

Pp is per person. Common travel lingo. Been around for 50 years.

And here's me thinking, in travel 'lingo', that it meant Passport.

[bignok]

Just now, KannikaP said:

And here's me thinking, in travel 'lingo', that it meant Passport.

Passport means passport. PP is often used by western hotels. Amazed a farang doesnt know this.

[bignok]

7 minutes ago, omnipresent said:

You can't always assume that... Nok Air (and other budget airlines like Lion Air, VietJet etc.) are often competitive, and when you factor in AirAsia's 400 THB payment processing fee, flights with those other airlines may turn out to be cheaper in total.

Nok is nearly always dearer.  Lion has very small carry on baggage limots, Vietjet often cancels flights.

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, bignok said:

Passport means passport. PP is often used by western hotels. Amazed a farang doesn't know this.

Amazed that YOU are amazed that ALL farangs do not know that Pp means what you say it has for 50 years. Usually '/pax' is used.

[bignok]

Momondo app looks good. Gives you cheapest days on calendar.