"Booked a Cheap Flight, Only to Get Blindsided"... Travelers' Complaints "Explode" Over Extra Fees

Separate charges for baggage and pool access: "junk fees"
Ancillary fees increase consumers' actual costs

Travelers may be delighted to find a cheap airline ticket and try to pay for it, only to encounter unexpected costs at the final step or at the airport: “junk fees,” or unnecessary or opaque extra charges. These may include fees for seat selection, baggage, or in-flight meals.

Recently, the U.S. business publication MarketWatch reported that fees for airline add-on services are fueling travelers’ dissatisfaction. Citing industry data, MarketWatch said airlines’ annual revenue from add-on services had exceeded $100 billion (about KRW 133 trillion). More services that were once included in the base fare, such as seat selection, baggage, and food and drinks, are increasingly being charged for separately.

Of course, travelers without luggage have the advantage of being able to choose a cheaper ticket. The problem, however, is that it can be difficult to tell at a glance what is included in the base fare and how much one will ultimately have to pay. In April, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) pointed out that various add-on fees excluded from ticket prices increase consumers’ actual costs.

Fees for airline add-on services are fueling travelers' dissatisfaction.

In a 2026 report on competition in the airline industry, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that checked baggage, seat selection, in-flight food and drinks, and Wi-Fi, which were once included in base fares, had been separated out as additional fees. As a result, comparing base fares alone makes it difficult to accurately determine what travelers will actually pay.

In May, business publication Barron’s reported that Delta Air Lines had scaled back its in-flight drink and snack service on some short-haul routes as airlines raised add-on fees for baggage and seat selection. While consumers are paying more, the quality of service is gradually declining.

This problem is not limited to airline tickets. At accommodations, too, facilities such as pools and spas may be promoted while their actual usage fees are not clearly disclosed, or customers may learn about extra costs only after completing a reservation. This is an issue both in South Korea and abroad.

A 2023 Korea Consumer Agency review of the Korean-language websites and booking processes of five global accommodation booking platforms found that four of them displayed only prices excluding taxes and fees on the initial booking screen. They chose to disclose additional charges or the final payment amount in small print. The agency said this was a “dark pattern” — a deceptive design that makes it difficult for consumers to make informed choices — that makes it hard for consumers to determine the final price they actually have to pay.

In January, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would step up enforcement to ensure residents do not have to pay unnecessary fees. Mayor Mamdani also formed a task force to address the issue. New York City has the authority to crack down on illegal subscription practices and also investigates matters related to subscription tricks and traps.

In South Korea, in July this year, the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission fined Agoda KRW 2.42 billion for failing to clearly disclose refund conditions, change fees, and additional charges on its booking platform.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.