Hidden charges top air passenger frustration list

Thursday, 19th March 2009

These frustrating charges include fees for checking-in baggage, fuel surcharges and charges for booking by credit card, and received 24 per cent of the total votes.

Not far behind in the list of annoyances was queuing for security checks and boarding, receiving 23 per cent of the votes cast.

Other issues that made the list include: lack of seat space, which was found to be annoying by 15 per cent of the respondents; fellow passengers, by 11 per cent; having to check in so early, by eight per cent; bad staff attitude and poor customer service, by six per cent; sitting on the runway waiting to take-off or disembark, four per cent; having to bus to and from the plane, by four per cent; and waiting for your luggage at the other end, also four per cent.

Rob Innes, the head of marketing at Skyscanner, said: “It’s incredibly annoying when you see a great flight deal, only to find the actual price is considerably higher once you’ve added all the extras.”

He added: “A transparent pricing system would win more favour with air travellers and avoid them feeling ripped off when they arrive at the checkout page. The good news is that if you study the small print and learn how to avoid the extras, you can still get great deals on flights”.

← Cathay says low fares cannot be maintained
→ Consumers benefit from exceptionally low airfares
↑ March 2009 news index

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