New data shows that one in four WA air travellers are being stung by unexpected travel fees.
The data from Send My Bag’s Australian Travel Index, which surveyed 2,000 Australians between February and March this year, revealed the increasing hidden costs.
23.4 per cent of WA respondents said they were caught out unexpected baggage fees, equating to an additional $95 on average.
WA air travellers were also spending around $30 on food and drinks before take-off.
Expensive airport parking fees were also puncturing holiday joy for many, averaging $92.36 per trip.
Only 26.6 per cent of West Aussies took domestic trips this year, fewer than people in other States.
Send My Bag founder and CEO Adam Ewart said hidden travel costs were no longer the exception.
“They’ve become the business model,” he said.
“Airlines have spent years unbundling fares and charging increasingly high prices for extras like baggage and seat selection, because it allows them to keep headline ticket prices low while generating billions in additional revenue” he said
Mr Ewart said travellers should expect ancillary fees to keep rising as airlines look for new revenue streams.
“Over the medium to long term, it’s likely the hidden extras piggy bank will continue to be raided,” he said.
He warned Australians to pay close attention to baggage fees and fluctuating add-on pricing when booking flights.
“Travellers are becoming far more selective about what they’re willing to pay for. The rise of ‘naked flying’ shows people still want to travel, they’re just stripping back the extras.”
The survey findings come as households across WA continue to battle mounting cost-of-living pressures, with soaring rents, rising grocery prices and higher power bills leaving many families with less disposable income for holidays and travel.
Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the US and Israel began their conflict in Iran on February 28, placing additional financial pressure on airlines already grappling with high operating costs.
Virgin Australia estimates fuel costs could rise by as much as $40 million above forecasts, with it accounting for about 21 per cent of the airline’s total expenses.
