The airlines charging up to 66% extra in hidden fees

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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That ‘cheap’ airfare might not be so cheap after all. A new study exposes the airlines charging sky-high fees for baggage and seat selection.

Australian travellers are being hit with steep hidden airline fees, with some carriers charging up to 66 per cent more than the original ticket price for basic add-ons like baggage and seat selection, a new study has revealed.

The research, conducted by Australian-based luggage brand Kadi Luggage, found that Malaysia Airlines topped the list for the highest additional charges, significantly inflating the cost of flights for unsuspecting travellers. In contrast, Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand emerged as the most transparent.

Airlines with the biggest extra charges

A Jetstar Airbus A321-251NX plane, registration VH-OYP, taxiing at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport for departure as flight JQ37 to Denpasar. She is passing a Scoot Boeing B787-9 plane, registration 9V-OJC
Scoot and Jetstar ranked high on the list of fee-heavy airlines. (Image: Getty Images/SCM Jeans)

The study examined flight prices for round trips on similar routes between 6000 and 8000 kilometres by Australia’s 10 most popular airlines, assessing how much passengers were charged for a standard 20-kilogram checked bag, a seven-kilogram cabin bag and seat selection. The research revealed that Malaysia Airlines charged up to 66 per cent more than the initial flight price once these extras were added, making it the most expensive airline for additional fees.

Low-cost carriers Scoot and Jetstar also ranked high on the list of fee-heavy airlines, with extra baggage and seat selection pushing total costs more than 30 per cent higher than the advertised ticket price.

Checked baggage or checked wallet?

Malaysian Airlines A330-200 rolling out at runway 25R, Soekarno Hatta International Airport
Malaysia Airlines baggage fees are the highest by far. (Image: Getty Images/Rizky Aditya Ramadhan)

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Emirates all have checked luggage included in the standard fare. By comparison, Malaysia Airlines checked baggage allowance was 10 kilograms, but to receive a standard 20-kilogram checked baggage allowance, travellers would need to fork out a whopping 60 per cent of the flight cost for the extra 10 kilograms.

Scoot includes no checked baggage in its economy tickets unless passengers pay extra or upgrade to the premium ScootPlus fare, and for a 20-kilogram checked bag on Jetstar, you’ll need to add 25 per cent onto the ticket price.

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The price of picking your perch

A Qantas Airbus A330-303 plane, registration VH-QPB, coming into land from the south on the main runway of Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport as flight QF128 from Hong Kong. In the foreground is a Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8FE plane, registration VH-YFZ, taxiing before departure as flight VA1528 to Hobart.
Qantas seat selection was the second most expensive. (Image: Getty Images/SCM Jeans)

The study also found significant variations in seat selection charges across airlines. Cathay Pacific had the highest fees for choosing a seat, with an additional cost of nearly 12 per cent of the original ticket price. Qantas was the second highest, charging just under eight per cent of the fare for seat selection.

On the other end of the spectrum, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia did not charge extra for seat selection, offering a more budget-friendly experience for travellers.

Travellers are warned to watch for hidden costs

Airline Fees Table
Australia’s 10 most popular airlines ranked by the cost of add-ons.

Kadi Luggage co-founder Harry Saunders cautioned travellers to be aware of these additional fees when booking flights, as the true cost of travel can rise substantially once add-ons are factored in.

“This data highlights that whilst airlines may present an initially great deal, once you factor in the additional charges for services like extra luggage allowance and seat selection, the cost of your ticket can substantially increase," Saunders said.

Travellers looking to avoid bill shock at checkout should consider airlines with minimal extra costs, such as Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand, which keep their pricing structures more straightforward. Meanwhile, those flying with Malaysia Airlines, Scoot or Jetstar should be prepared for a significantly higher total cost than the original fare suggests.

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Mornington Peninsula’s storied past: war, shipwrecks and a runaway convict 

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

    The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

    This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

    a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park
    Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

    Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

    Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

    a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay
    A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

    And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento
    Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

    Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento.

    Playing there

    an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse
    Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

    Eating there

    Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.