Built to catch you out · 23 airlines charge more for the same bag or seat at the airport
Forget to pre-buy and it costs far more. 23 airlines
The same bag or seat costs much more at the airport or the gate than online, so a forgotten box becomes the expensive one.
- Air India
Extra kilos at the airport cost USD 37 (about A$53) a kilo between Australia and India; prepaying online at least 2 hours before departure is up to 20% cheaper. Air India: Excess baggage, checked 2026-10-22
- Air New Zealand
On a trans-Tasman seat fare, the first checked bag costs A$30 online but A$105 at the airport. Air New Zealand: Seats to Suit short haul fares, checked 2026-10-22
- AirAsia X
A standard seat costs up to AUD 88.20 at booking, AUD 117.60 after booking and AUD 127.40 at the airport counter, per flight. AirAsia: Fees and charges AirAsia X Berhad (D7) (PDF), checked 2026-10-22
- Batik Air Malaysia
A 20 kg bag from Sydney or Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur costs A$110 bought with the fare, but RM440 (about A$150) if added after booking; rates are per flight. Batik Air: Baggage, checked 2026-10-24
- British Airways
An extra 23 kg bag from Sydney costs A$153 each way if added online before check-in, but A$181-182 at the airport. British Airways: Baggage calculator (on the Australian baggage essentials page), checked 2026-10-23
- Cebu Pacific
A 20 kg bag on Australia flights costs PHP 3,000 (about A$67) online but PHP 6,000 (about A$135) at the airport or gate. Cebu Pacific Help Center: CEB Baggage Guidelines and Upgrade Options, checked 2026-10-22
- Emirates
Extra kilos at the airport cost up to USD 50 (about A$71) a kilo from Australia to Europe; Emirates says buying ahead is up to 45% cheaper but only shows that price in Manage your booking. Emirates: Buy extra baggage allowance, checked 2026-10-22
- Etihad Airways
Extra baggage from Australia costs from USD 70 to USD 200 (about A$100-285) per 5 kg; Etihad says buying online ahead saves up to 65%. Etihad: Extra baggage, checked 2026-10-22
- Fiji Airways
A prepaid extra bag to Nadi costs A$140 online, but A$230 if you buy it at the airport; to Los Angeles it's A$280 online. Fiji Airways: Prepaid extra baggage, checked 2026-10-22
- Finnair
On Economy Light from Australia, a first checked bag costs EUR 100-120 (about A$160-192) each way prepaid but EUR 140 (about A$224) at the airport. Finnair: Extra baggage fees, checked 2026-10-23
- Garuda Indonesia
An extra bag between Australia and Indonesia costs USD75 (about A$107) prepaid online by 6 hours before departure, but USD105 (about A$150) at the airport. Garuda Indonesia: Baggage Policy (Australia) - Checked Baggage, Cabin Baggage, Excess Baggage Piece Concept, checked 2026-10-23
- Jetstar Airways
Extra +7 kg carry-on costs A$60 domestic (A$85 international) at check-in but A$85 (A$110) at the gate; an unbought checked bag at the airport is A$120 domestic or A$170 international for 20 kg. Jetstar: Excess baggage charges at the airport, checked 2026-10-22
- Lufthansa
On a bagless Economy Light fare the first bag costs EUR70-85 (about A$112-136) each way online, but EUR105 (about A$168) at check-in. Lufthansa: Excess baggage, checked 2026-10-23
- Malaysia Airlines
Excess baggage at the airport counter costs 25% more than buying it online at least 24 hours before, e.g. USD30 instead of USD24 a kilo to Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines: Extra baggage (Australia), checked 2026-10-24
- Philippine Airlines
From Australia, 20 kg of extra baggage costs A$141 if you prepay online but about A$700 at the check-in counter, where PAL charges A$35 a kilo. Philippine Airlines: Excess Baggage Charge (international), checked 2026-10-22
- Qatar Airways
Extra kilos from Australia cost USD 30-45 a kilo (about A$43-64) bought online more than 6 hours before departure, but USD 50-60 a kilo (about A$71-86) at the airport, so 10 kg left to check-in costs about A$285 more. Qatar Airways: Additional baggage, checked 2026-10-24
- Rex (Regional Express)
Extra bag weight costs A$20 per 5 kg when you book, but A$5.50 a kilo at the airport, so the same 5 kg costs A$27.50. Rex: Baggage allowance, checked 2026-10-22
- Scoot
A 20 kg bag costs AUD53-55 when you book but AUD121 at the airport, and a standard seat AUD15 at booking but AUD20-22 at the airport counter. Scoot: Fees Chart (PER-SIN, SYD-SIN, MEL-SIN), checked 2026-10-22
- Singapore Airlines
Extra baggage bought within 6 hours of departure or at the airport costs USD 22 per kg to Singapore instead of USD 16.50 online more than 48 hours out, about A$157 instead of A$118 for 5kg. Singapore Airlines: Additional baggage, checked 2026-10-22
- Thai Airways
An extra 23kg bag bought at the airport costs USD 190 (about A$271) from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Bangkok, against USD 160 (about A$228) prepaid online at least 24 hours before the first flight. Thai Airways: Excess baggage (Australia), checked 2026-10-22
- VietJet Air
A 20kg bag to Australia costs about AUD 52 when booked online but about AUD 94 at the airport. VietJet: Fee and charges, checked 2026-10-22
- Vietnam Airlines
An extra 23 kg bag costs USD200 (about A$285) prepaid online but USD260 (about A$370) at the airport. Vietnam Airlines: Excess baggage fee at airport, checked 2026-10-22
- Virgin Australia
A domestic extra bag costs A$77-107 if bought online but A$120-170 at the airport. Virgin Australia: Checked baggage, checked 2026-10-22