Andy Donovan, a 23-year-old marketing executive from Exeter, Devon, faced a hefty charge of £1,103.72 for an extra suitcase on his Qatar Airways flight to Melbourne. Donovan, who planned to travel to Kingsbury, Melbourne, for a cricket stint, initially booked a Cathay Pacific flight but switched to Qatar Airways due to an impending typhoon in Hong Kong.
The unexpected charge, which was significantly higher than the cost of his ticket, left Donovan in shock. He needed the extra baggage for his cricket gear, which was personalized and essential for his matches. Despite attempting to purchase the extra bag online, technical difficulties led him to pay the excess fee at the airport.
The airline’s pricing policy, charging per kilo over the limit, resulted in the substantial fee for Donovan’s additional 25kg bag. His father, Barry Donovan, a retired pilot, had facilitated the flight change to avoid potential disruptions due to the typhoon. Barry, comparing the charge to “extortion,” expressed disbelief at the exorbitant fee and emphasized the lack of prior notification regarding luggage restrictions on the tickets.
Both Barry and Andy attempted to contact Qatar Airways regarding the issue but have not received a response. Barry criticized the airline’s actions, questioning the fairness of such charges and urging for accountability. Qatar Airways has been approached for comment on the matter.