Air Asia's Unacceptable Processing Fees

[jko]

I was recently obliged to pay 360 Baht for Air Asia's 'processing fee' in order to pay by credit card for two return flight tickets.

The ethics of 'having to pay just so you can pay' are questionable enough, but their explanation below makes it even more unpalatable:

Why was the fee introduced?

"It’s to ensure that our guests are provided with a comfortable and safe booking environment. AirAsia has invested substantially to expand, implement and maintain our online payment systems and especially, to upgrade, enhance and improve the security features for direct debit, online credit, debit and charge cards payments"

Let's look again at the waffle:

'to ensure a comfortable and safe booking environment'

'to expand, implement and maintain our online payment systems'

'especially, to upgrade, enhance and improve the security features for direct debit, online credit, debit and charge cards payments'

These responsibilities obviously apply to any reliable company processing credit card payments. It is an insult therefore to impose these charges on customers at the very last stage of booking, and offer such ludicrous explanations as above.

It was obviously introduced to make more money, and on top of that, to hide the real cost of travelling until the last page, when the passenger either has to pay, or cancel the transaction.

Arline regulators should ban this kind of unethical business practice. Air Asia would also do well to consider the effect of this on their image and public relations. As a result, I for one will never book an Air Asia flight if alternative carriers are available.

I suspect there are many others who feel this way.

[stoneyboy]

Here help yourself to a few of these me old mucker.

There all better now.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I suspect there are many others who feel this way.

No. Why? Because it's cheap.

[bubba1]

What forms of payment don't have this fee?

[KhunBENQ]

A typical trick of LCCs to pretend low prices.

From that starting price add this and that until you get to the final balance.

So the "690" easy becomes a 1000.

Pay to pay

Makes comparing prices more and more difficult.

[johnatong]

The card companies levy a charge against businesses which facilitate the use of cards. Many businesses re-charge that levy to their customers.

You of course have a choice. If you do not like the charge then take your business elsewhere but make sure the card cost is not 'hidden' !

Edited May 17, 2016 by johnatong

[searcher22]

Yes, totally agree, it's unethical to say the least. It allows Air Asia to display lower fares in their ads, which few people will actually pay. Security costs should be built into the price of a ticket. What's next? A car company that adds a $200 surcharge for air bags at the very end because they've invested a lot in safety?

[inzman]

And what about fuel surcharges, oil is

Less half price from a year ago. Fuel surcharge ripoff.

[ubonjoe]

There are other ways to pay for the tickets than using a credit/debit card. Info is here: http://www.airasia.com/ot/en/book-with-us/payment-channels.page

Looking at that page before booking your flight would let you know you had to pay a processing fee and clinking a link or two would inform you of the amount.

[Kopitiam]

I have stopped using credit card payment for AirAsia tickets. Counter payment at 7/11 is the way to go to avoid the hefty processing fees charged by AA.

[thai3]

It's the way you have to pay for check in baggage on the web site that I don't like. does not seem a way around it. They are not really much cheaper than anyone else when you add up all the extras

[MJCM]

A typical trick of LCCs to pretend low prices.

From that starting price add this and that until you get to the final balance.

So the "690" easy becomes a 1000.

Pay to pay

Makes comparing prices more and more difficult.

Spot on.

To find the real price a LCC ticket price is, you have to click next, next, next until you get to enter your cc info, which then shows the total price incl all charges (if you are lucky)

[phuketrichard]

i use my scb atm card

look, nobody is forcing you fly with them, you dont like the hoops they make you jump thru, ( unchecking everything) don't fly them

[Pib]

It all part of the airlines' game to apply and/or increase fees anywhere they can...and they will always say it's to improve the customer experience, keep fares low, etc.

Summary: BS!!..it's purely to increase profits.

[OMGImInPattaya]

So why did you accept them? You could have paid in cash at a Air Asia office or 7-11. If you pay with a Thai debit card the charge is only 40 baht.

Edited May 18, 2016 by OMGImInPattaya

[kkerry]

It's nice to know there are still some places in Thailand where Seven-Eleven has yet to establish itself

For the rest of us booking with Air Asia, we have the option of counter pay. Air Asia give you 24 hours to pay for your ticket at Seven-Eleven, with only a small add-on fee, very handy.

I suspect there are many others who feel this way.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Paying for anything with a credit card is a convenience feature and not a right. The merchant is within its right to charge a fee for this convenience...or else the fares would be higher to cover this expense. Why should those not paying with credit cards subsidize your fare?

[keeniau96]

I just flew Nok Air (my favorite for local trips) and paid at Family Store (same as the 7-11 payments). Cost 20 baht.

[mrmicbkktxl]

Paying for anything with a credit card is a convenience feature and not a right. The merchant is within its right to charge a fee for this convenience...or else the fares would be higher to cover this expense. Why should those not paying with credit cards subsidize your fare?

The fares are already expensive compared with European LCC's.

[Saastrajaa]

Paying for anything with a credit card is a convenience feature and not a right. The merchant is within its right to charge a fee for this convenience...or else the fares would be higher to cover this expense. Why should those not paying with credit cards subsidize your fare?

The fares are already expensive compared with European LCC's.

Good. Stay in Europe then.

[mrmicbkktxl]

Paying for anything with a credit card is a convenience feature and not a right. The merchant is within its right to charge a fee for this convenience...or else the fares would be higher to cover this expense. Why should those not paying with credit cards subsidize your fare?

The fares are already expensive compared with European LCC's.

Good. Stay in Europe then.

Typical Thai answer

[1FinickyOne]

Sometimes it seems airlines are just trying to get people pi$$ed off...

I think if they just added all the extra fees into the price, then there would be less annoyance - I guess asking everyone to pay the same price would be too much to ask...

[pgrahmm]

There are other ways to pay for the tickets than using a credit/debit card. Info is here: http://www.airasia.com/ot/en/book-with-us/payment-channels.page

Looking at that page before booking your flight would let you know you had to pay a processing fee and clinking a link or two would inform you of the amount.

Just booked our family for a 4 day trip to Krabi in August - usually pay in an alternate way , Tesco, 7/11, etc....The "button" did not work....

No choices other than CC payment for the trip - after all the other info had been entered......964B to process the card = rip off scheme....

[Expattaff1308]

Air Asia isnt ripping you off the credit card company is, they levy a charge onto Air Asia who pass the fee onto their customer normal business practice everywhere

[kkerry]

There are other ways to pay for the tickets than using a credit/debit card. Info is here: http://www.airasia.com/ot/en/book-with-us/payment-channels.page

Looking at that page before booking your flight would let you know you had to pay a processing fee and clinking a link or two would inform you of the amount.

Just booked our family for a 4 day trip to Krabi in August - usually pay in an alternate way , Tesco, 7/11, etc....The "button" did not work....

No choices other than CC payment for the trip - after all the other info had been entered......964B to process the card = rip off scheme....

If the "button" did not work, is it possible you have an ad-blocker preventing it from working? I've paid for plenty of Air Asia flights at 7/11 including last week and never had a problem. Another suggestion when a website doesn't work as it should for you is to use Internet Explorer.

[siam2007]

AirAsia is still very tame compared to what US or European budget Airlines are doing.

But indeed AA is in many cases the most expensive option to fly, both domestically as well as internationally, as fees add up.

That is why I still like NOK AIR. sadly they offer very few international routes

[pgrahmm]

There are other ways to pay for the tickets than using a credit/debit card. Info is here: http://www.airasia.com/ot/en/book-with-us/payment-channels.page

Looking at that page before booking your flight would let you know you had to pay a processing fee and clinking a link or two would inform you of the amount.

Just booked our family for a 4 day trip to Krabi in August - usually pay in an alternate way , Tesco, 7/11, etc....The "button" did not work....

No choices other than CC payment for the trip - after all the other info had been entered......964B to process the card = rip off scheme....

If the "button" did not work, is it possible you have an ad-blocker preventing it from working? I've paid for plenty of Air Asia flights at 7/11 including last week and never had a problem. Another suggestion when a website doesn't work as it should for you is to use Internet Explorer.

No - I've used it before too....This was a "package deal" - might have had something to do with it.....

Only time the button wouldn't work....

[Lancashirelad]

I agree that with many budget airlines no matter where in the world, by the time you add up ticket price + taxes + hold luggage + seat booking fee + meal + c.card payment charge it can be as much as a full service airline.

[BEVUP]

Just dealt with Singapore airlines through the BKK branch as i could not ring the 131011 number out of Thailand on a local or roaming number

Needed to change ticket as have done previously in auss for $60 aud on the 131011 number, but (since the above occured ) i had to pay an extra $25 (10 min work Due to poor engl) or was told otherwise to ring Singapore in Singapore

Now need to check email to see if ok

[wooloomooloo]

I only pay 40 baht booking fee for online Thai AirAsia flights and I live in the Uk. It all came about the first time I tried to book some apparently cheap flights and discovered the card fee was more than the flight.

I don't give up easily, particularly as AirAsia are my favourite domestic airline in LOS.