- AirAsia has been called out for overcharging thousands of Australian children
- The budget airline reportedly made kids pay a $60 Passenger Movement Charge
- The booking fee is compulsory for international flights but children are exempt
AirAsia has been called out for charging thousands of Australian children an extra $60 booking fee – even though they are exempt from the fare.
Passengers leaving Australia must pay a compulsory Passenger Movement Charge of $60, which children under the age of 12 are exempt from.
But the budget airline’s Indonesian branch, which has international flights departing from Darwin and Perth, has reportedly been slugging children with the fee anyway.
AirAsia has been called out for charging thousands of Australian children an extra $60 booking fee – even though they are exempt from the fare
A breakdown of fares, taxes and fees shows no difference in price between an adult and a child with the AirAsia website, while rival airline Jetstar is $60 cheaper for kids.
Darwin resident Thomas Sawyer told the NT News he had noticed the difference in price when trying to book flights for a holiday to Bali.
‘I travel frequently so I’m used to paying the charge, but then I went to buy my son’s ticket and realised it cost the same as mine,’ he told the publication.
‘Families are not normally frequent travellers and they could easily buy these tickets without realising they’re paying for a charge they don’t have to pay.’
Rival airline Jetstar shows a detailed breakdown of fares, taxes and fees – clearly revealing that adult tickets cost $60 more than children due to the inclusion of the Passenger Movement
Meanwhile, AirAsia’s breakdown of fares, taxes and fees for a similar flight appears to show no difference in price between adult and children tickets
Mr Sawyer claimed he approached AirAsia for an explanation, but was simply told to send in the details of his purchase.
A spokesperson for the airline told NT News they were ‘currently investigating the matter in question’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted AirAsia for comment.
Passengers leaving Australia must pay a compulsory Passenger Movement Charge of $60, which children under the age of 12 are exempt from (stock image)