Have you ever been tricked by budget airlines charging for luggage ?

[jippytum]

mods please redirect if necessary.

I booked a flight with Vietjet air Chaing Mai To Bangkok .I usually fly Thai smile sadly now defunct and the Thia airlines departure time for my journey did not meet my requirements.

The ticket price was a reasonable 2,107.07 including extra baggage and seat selection.I was careful not to include any other extras and declined insurance cover.

The payment page showed the correct premium of 2107.07 a OTP was accepted and i paid by visa . An SMS message from the bank advised 2206.07 had been debited. Immediately after i received a message from MSIG thanking me for taking out their insurance at 99 baht. Now i know its only a small amount but i was careful not to include insurance and the flight confirmation  from Vietjet Air shows premium for MSIG insurance as 00.0 baht and a total amount due 2107.07 .How come i was overcharged for insurance .?

I have contacted Vietjet air customer care by email without response and today contacted the insurance company.

Edited December 1, 2023 by jippytum
addition

[richard_smith237]

Yes - very badly - In Europe (EasyJet).

 

Travelling to France... 4 of us... 

Parents travelling return (UK - France - UK).

Wife and I travelling one-way (as were were flying onward to BKK after France).

 

Purchased tickets for my Parents - return - Baggage 20kg each (paid extra for 20 kgs baggage per ticket).

Purchased tickets for Wife and I - one way - Baggage 20kgs each.

All passengers have the same surname, tickets paid for with the same credit card, two separate transactions.

 

We were all checking in together, upon check-in EasyJet staff asked who's bags were who's.

Wife and I had 60 kgs (between us) / Parents had 20 kgs (between them) 

 

EasyJet staff told me I had to pay for 20kgs excess baggage because we couldn't pool baggage with my parents as they were on a separate ticket - they said it was a security issue...  (rubbish of course)... 

Supervisor wouldn't budge and they were pushing every button they could to try and wind me up... 

(saying things like - booking a flight is a simple process, you should know you have to book excess baggage etc)... 

 

This is the angriest I've ever been at an airport - inwardly boiling, outwardly calm and arguing my point that I'd paid extra for 80 kgs of baggage between us all. 

 

We went away... pretended to repack luggage...  checked in again. 

Airline staff asked who's bag was who's... One 20 kg bag Each...  They refused to believe us. 

Again, attempting to push buttons...   I was incredulous. 

This time security came and stood by... it was starting to look like one of those 'tv series where the passengers loose it'.... 

 

I was forced to pay about £150 for excess 20 kgs baggage while my parents flew 20 kgs light. 

 

No response at all from a complain to Easy-Jet.

 

I've never flown a budget carrier in Europe since.

I've only flown a budget carrier in Asia 3 times.

 

I avoid budge airlines where ever possible - I don't trust any of them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

23 minutes ago, jippytum said:

How come i was overcharged for insurance .?

I have contacted Vietjet air customer care by email without response .

 

They're all at it - Deliberately misleading booking pages... add ons automatically added and you have to 'uncheck' boxes.

 

Very often, if you are taking baggage the flight is as expensive as a normal carrier (often more).

 

I see budget airlines only useful of flying without checked bagged and booking months in advance for a cheap fare.

 

 

 

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Title about luggage/baggage.

Post about insurance?

I am confused.

Edited December 1, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[mikebike]

No. I read and make sure I understand the terms BEFORE I book. 

[KhunBENQ]

46 minutes ago, jippytum said:

usually fly Thai smile sadly now defunct and the Thia airlines departure time for my journey did not meet my requirements.

And Thai Air hasn't taken over the flights with same time?

[still kicking]

I have been tricked by Malaysian air a few weeks back the ticket clearly stated 20 kg at the check in we been told this is for 2 people 

[KhunBENQ]

Thai smile air booking is still fully operational until Dec 16 and for my route BKK <>KKC it shows the usual four flights e.g. for Dec 20.

Thai Airways showed no flights found for some dates!!!

There is no word of any flights been taken down.

Defunct is not the word. It's reintegrated.

Edited December 1, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[Polar Bear]

I had exactly the same thing with Vietjet for a flight to Vietnam. I think it ended up being 200 THB for the insurance, and as far as I recall, it didn't even cover me because it was only for Thai citizens. I did go back through the booking process to see where it happened, and they added the insurance charge back on the final page, where you put your card details, even though you already removed it 2 pages previously. 

I also got stung recently with Thai Lion Air. I booked a promo fare that included a 15 kg free checked bag and an extra legroom seat. Once the paperwork came through, it just said promo fare and not what was included.

At check-in, the extra legroom seat was there, but not the bag. TLA claimed they had no record of any such promo, and the extra fee only included the seat fee. I would never have booked that because I'm a short arse, so I don't need extra legroom. I ended up paying for an additional 10 kg of luggage. When they sent the receipt through it said 15 kg (promo) + 10 kg (paid). I tried to argue about it, but they insisted baggage fees were non-refundable.  

 

[Liverpool Lou]

19 hours ago, jippytum said:

Immediately after i received a message from MSIG thanking me for taking out their insurance at 99 baht. Now i know its only a small amount but i was careful not to include insurance and the flight confirmation  from Vietjet Air shows premium for MSIG insurance as 00.0 baht and a total amount due 2107.07 .How come i was overcharged for insurance .?

What's insurance got to do with being "tricked" by luggage charges?

[Liverpool Lou]

19 hours ago, jippytum said:

I have contacted Vietjet air customer care by email without response and today contacted the insurance company.

Why are you slagging off the airline and insurance company (that was not involved in your booking arrangements) in the media while only giving them a few hours to investigate your complaint and condemning them for "not responding" to your email? Perhaps they may be very happy to correct the error...if they made one...if you gave them a reasonable chance to do so?

Edited December 2, 2023 by Liverpool Lou

[jippytum]

Since posting the topic the insurance company have agreed to refund the overpaid amount by refund to my credit card within 40 working days. 

[jippytum]

20 hours ago, mikebike said:

No. I read and make sure I understand the terms BEFORE I book. 

So do i. If you read thr post the charge was added after by the ins company

[mikebike]

5 minutes ago, jippytum said:

So do i. If you read thr post the charge was added after by the ins company

I did read it. And the insurance co offered zero info on their policies? 

[LukKrueng]

22 hours ago, jippytum said:

Thai smile sadly now defunct

??

Flew with them last Sunday CNX to BKK. About 3600 THB, 30 kg baggage, preferred seat, priority boarding, lounge access - all included

[Bangkok Barry]

21 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

22 hours ago, jippytum said:

usually fly Thai smile sadly now defunct and the Thia airlines departure time for my journey did not meet my requirements.

And Thai Air hasn't taken over the flights with same time?

 

Correct. Or at least there are several flights a day (I tried to check the exact number with a pretend booking and got a blank screen. Well done, THAI. But the airport website says five). The OP seems to be easily confused. Hence his post I suppose. Even the title has nothing to do with his gripe, which is about a charge for insurance and not luggage.

[CMBob]

23 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

....Purchased tickets for Wife and I - one way - Baggage 20kgs each.......Wife and I had 60 kgs (between us) 

 

Can't see the issue.....you paid for 20kg per ticket and you were 20kg over.  End of story.  You think because you bought 4 tickets on the same credit card that you could get away with 3 people having no checked-in luggage and one person 80kg?

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, CMBob said:

23 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

....Purchased tickets for Wife and I - one way - Baggage 20kgs each.......Wife and I had 60 kgs (between us) 

 

Can't see the issue.....you paid for 20kg per ticket and you were 20kg over.  End of story.  You think because you bought 4 tickets on the same credit card that you could get away with 3 people having no checked-in luggage and one person 80kg?

 

Pooling luggage  - its something we've done numerous times on airlines.

2 of us had 60 kgs / 2 of us had 20 kgs - we were checking in together... (same family / same passenger surnames / same purchaser / same credit card / but two separate tickets).

 

.... You imply we were 'trying to game the system'... we had 80 kgs between 4 travellers and had paid extra for 20 kgs luggage each.

 

In this case most certainly the check-in staff were being incredibly difficult...   I've done the same since on British Airways and Swiss Air (UK to Europe) without any issue whatsoever - Pooling luggage is a very normal thing across airlines - this 'budget Airline' (EasyJet) were ripping us off.

 

The mistake I made was naivety in answering honestly - If I'd have just said each of the 4 bags belonged to each individual, there would have been no issue. 

After the initial 'cannot' pool - I said, OK, that 'bag is my fathers'...  the check-in staff then told me she cannot accept the bag as its now a security risk..  

 

 

Most normal people would recognise this as wildly unfair behavior of the airline. But, it does strike me as strange how sometimes people such as yourself will side with what is quite clearly morally questionable business practices of a larger corporation that clearly contravene normal decency.

 

 

 

Its the same as the budget Airlines such as Ryan Air charging passengers extortionate amounts for printing of boarding pass - News recently (elderly couple charged £110 to print their boarding passes).

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66500479

 

These companies are morally bankrupt - something is wrong with the world when ombudsman fail to protect the public from such Machiavellian business practices which are widely considered immoral and unethical. 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by richard_smith237

[Lemsta69]

2 hours ago, jippytum said:

Since posting the topic the insurance company have agreed to refund the overpaid amount by refund to my credit card within 40 working days. 

 

The title still says luggage, are you not going to edit it?

[cracker1]

On 12/1/2023 at 2:34 PM, jippytum said:

mods please redirect if necessary.

I booked a flight with Vietjet air Chaing Mai To Bangkok .I usually fly Thai smile sadly now defunct and the Thia airlines departure time for my journey did not meet my requirements.

The ticket price was a reasonable 2,107.07 including extra baggage and seat selection.I was careful not to include any other extras and declined insurance cover.

The payment page showed the correct premium of 2107.07 a OTP was accepted and i paid by visa . An SMS message from the bank advised 2206.07 had been debited. Immediately after i received a message from MSIG thanking me for taking out their insurance at 99 baht. Now i know its only a small amount but i was careful not to include insurance and the flight confirmation  from Vietjet Air shows premium for MSIG insurance as 00.0 baht and a total amount due 2107.07 .How come i was overcharged for insurance .?

I have contacted Vietjet air customer care by email without response and today contacted the insurance company.

Did you book a return journey and was the insurance for that return sector ?

[bignok]

On 12/1/2023 at 6:21 PM, mikebike said:

No. I read and make sure I understand the terms BEFORE I book. 

Me too. I check the price. Takes 3 seconds to check.

[bignok]

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

Since posting the topic the insurance company have agreed to refund the overpaid amount by refund to my credit card within 40 working days. 

99 baht back

Rich guy

[Expat68]

By far the worse experience I have had is booking flights from Bangkok to Philippines, you have to be very, very, vigilant.

[geisha]

On 12/1/2023 at 9:00 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

They're all at it - Deliberately misleading booking pages... add ons automatically added and you have to 'uncheck' boxes.

 

Very often, if you are taking baggage the flight is as expensive as a normal carrier (often more).

 

I see budget airlines only useful of flying without checked bagged and booking months in advance for a cheap fare.

 

 

 

 

 

Easyjet is only ok if you are flying without baggage. Even a second small  carry on is payable now. My last flight to see family , British airways was cheaper than easyjet , and much better “ human” flight times. ( easyjet often flying very early morning or late night).  Also ,  their prices have risen a lot in the last two years. I won’t use easyjet unless no other option. 
ive often used Air Asia in the past and never had a problem. In Thailand I would also use Bangkok Airlines. Never Thai. 

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, geisha said:

Easyjet is only ok if you are flying without baggage. Even a second small  carry on is payable now. My last flight to see family , British airways was cheaper than easyjet , and much better “ human” flight times. (easyjet often flying very early morning or late night).  Also ,  their prices have risen a lot in the last two years. I won’t use easyjet unless no other option. 
ive often used Air Asia in the past and never had a problem. In Thailand I would also use Bangkok Airlines. Never Thai. 

 

On a UK Christmas visit this year, we're following up again with another Winter France trip... 

I checked EasyJet prices along with loads of other airlines looking for the best options..

... EasyJet were more expensive than them all... 

... they wanted somewhere in the region of £850 for 3 of us (and 80 kgs baggage)....   BA were half that....

 

EasyJet perhaps have their niche for those travelling without baggage who want to get up at 4am or arrive at 10pm etc...

 

The problem with the budget Airlines in Thailand is that they are so frequently delayed. 

Last trip I took (last month), I was meeting a load of ppl in Phuket - most took Budget Airlines, many of them were delayed going and on return.

My last min arrangements meant I could only fly Bangkok Airways... so probably spent double on flights.

 

Its swings and roundabouts - at least the check-in staff in Asia are human. The check-in staff of budget Airlines in the UK seem like utter jobsworths who exercise every inch of power to make life difficult for you (yes I'm bias and have a chip on my shoulder about these characters).

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by richard_smith237

[khunjeff]

On 12/1/2023 at 2:57 PM, richard_smith237 said:

EasyJet staff told me I had to pay for 20kgs excess baggage because we couldn't pool baggage with my parents as they were on a separate ticket - they said it was a security issue... 

 

Obviously the "security" claim is totally absurd, but the official policy of almost every airline is indeed that you can only pool luggage for passengers on the same reservation number.

 

Full service carriers may not bother enforcing that rule when it's obvious that a bunch of family members are traveling together, but the business model of budget carriers is different - they want to give you a low basic fare, but with as many ancillary fees as possible.

 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The mistake I made was naivety in answering honestly - If I'd have just said each of the 4 bags belonged to each individual, there would have been no issue. 

 

Exactly 💯

[Scouse123]

If you are on a short trip in Asia and travelling to say, Vietnam or Cambodia, on a budget carrier such as Air Asia or Vietjet, you are better off packing 7Kgs because outside laundries to get your clothes cleaned are way cheaper than the add-ons charged by the airlines for luggage.

 

The insurance add-on is nonsense. I am willing to pay for seat selection to sit where I want to be.

[MangoKorat]

Its time that the Thai government stepped in and sorted this out.  Its not perfect in the UK yet but some regulation has been introduced and things are better.

 

One of the UK's budget airlines, I think it was Jet 2 used to charge extra for checking in!  Several methods were on their website, including online check in but all of them carried a charge. Clearly a rip off additional charge - there was no option to not check in and clearly can't be.

 

The airlines claim that the 'add on's' are about giving customers choice - its quite clear that in a lot of cases, its more about allowing them to advertise a cheap price - a cheap price that is not in fact, realistic.

 

A similar thing still goes on in the UK regarding luggage on long haul flights.  Many of the so called cheaper prices that are seen on price comparison sites do not include luggage - not even a carry on bag. There may be one or two people that don't carry luggage on a flight from the UK to Thailand but the vast majority do.  Add your luggage and the price goes up by £100-£150.  Worse still, the poor folks that didn't spot that luggage was not included and have to pay megabucks when they check in for their flight. Inexperienced flyers might not notice this - purely through expectation.

Edited December 3, 2023 by MangoKorat

[MangoKorat]

On 12/2/2023 at 10:49 AM, richard_smith237 said:

EasyJet perhaps have their niche for those travelling without baggage who want to get up at 4am or arrive at 10pm etc...

Don't foget the airports that many budget carriers use which can be many miles away from the main airport for the area.

Edited December 3, 2023 by MangoKorat

[Polar Bear]

39 minutes ago, MangoKorat said:

A similar thing still goes on in the UK regarding luggage on long haul flights.  Many of the so called cheaper prices that are seen on price comparison sites do not include luggage - not even a carry on bag.

 I used to fly with KLM relatively frequently. Their long-haul economy tickets don't include a checked bag anymore, and the ticket prices have increased. They weren't usually the cheapest option, but they were reasonably good value. Now, adding a bag makes them one of the most expensive options, and they've got ultra-cramped aircraft by cramming extra seats in. I guess most people don't find out how bad they are until they take the flight, but they would be one of my last choices now.