The Hidden Fees of Checked Bags in Budget Airlines: What You're Not Told

Unpacking the Truth About Airline Charges and How to Outsmart Them

Low-cost airlines have revolutionised the travelling style of people. They promise ultra-low fares, together with only pay what you use rules and have opened up air travel to millions of people. However, more than a few frequent flyers know that when they get cheap tickets, they may come with some restrictions, particularly in the area of checked luggage.

What starts simply enough at AUD 15-22 can easily come up to AUD 27 and more because of the tangle of extraordinary fees, cunning pricing, and murky policies when it comes to luggage. Although low-cost carriers seem to be cheaper, they make a lot of money off one aspect in particular: checking in luggage.

In this blog, we expose the truth about these hidden costs, how they vary from airline to airline, and how smart travellers—and conscious luggage brands like Koora—are helping you navigate this travel minefield.

1. The “Low Fare” Illusion

Budget airlines often show you a seductive base fare during your booking journey. What you don’t see until later is that almost nothing is included in that price, not even basic carry-on baggage in some cases.

Once you move past seat selection and proceed to payment, the airline hits you with fees for:

• Seat selection
  

• Carry-on baggage

• Checked baggage

• Airport check-in (in some cases)
  

• Priority boarding
  

Among all of these, checked baggage is the most unpredictable—and often the most expensive.

2. The Real Cost of Checked Bags

While a standard full-service airline might charge a fixed rate (say, ₹1,500–₹2,000) for a 20 kg bag, budget carriers often use dynamic pricing. That means the cost of checking in a bag can vary depending on:

• Time of booking (earlier = cheaper)
  

• Route popularity
  

• Season or demand
  

• How many bags are already checked in on that flight
  

It's not uncommon to see baggage fees exceed the base fare, especially if added after booking or at the airport. For example:

Budget airline baggage costs:

• Pre-booking online ~AUD 15–22
  

• During online check-in, ~AUD 27+
  

• At the airport ~AUD 45+
  

• Overweight charges per kg ~AUD 5.50–11 per kg
  

So, even 2 extra kg could cost you AUD 20 or more at the airport.

3. Unclear Weight Brackets and Arbitrary Limits

Budget airlines are notorious for offering strange weight brackets, like 15 kg or 23 kg instead of the more typical 20 kg. These are intentionally set to confuse and catch travellers off guard.

Many travellers assume 20 kg is standard, pack accordingly, and show up at the airport only to discover they booked a 15 kg bag. The result? Overweight baggage fees that are charged per kilogram are much steeper at the airport.

And it gets worse: some budget airlines don’t allow pooling—meaning if one bag is 14 kg and another is 16 kg, you still pay overweight fees even though your total is under the limit.

4. Size Restrictions Are Quietly Enforced

Many assume only weight matters, but dimension restrictions are increasingly enforced on checked luggage, especially for domestic budget airlines. If your suitcase exceeds the allowed size (often 158 cm linear dimensions), you may face:

• Oversized baggage fees
  

• Denial of check-in (forcing you to repack or abandon items)
  

• Additional handling charges
  

To avoid this, travellers are turning to smartly designed luggage brands like Koora, which are built within standard airline dimension limits and are structurally optimised for volume, not just size.

Koora’s hard-shell checked luggage, for instance, balances maximum legal capacity with compact design, helping travellers avoid surprise oversized fees without compromising on space.

5. No Refunds, No Flexibility

Another hidden cost? The rigid no-refund policy for baggage. If you decide not to travel or change your flight, most budget airlines do not refund baggage fees, even if you never check in a bag.

Similarly, if you realise after booking that you need more weight, you can’t upgrade an existing baggage selection on many platforms. You must buy a second baggage allowance, which often costs more than the first.

The lesson here? Budget airlines monetise every micro-adjustment, and once you commit, you pay for your mistake.

6. Airport Baggage Fees Are a Trap

Budget carriers bank on travellers adding bags at the airport, when it’s most expensive. You may arrive thinking your bag is carry-on compliant, only to be told it’s not allowed in the cabin due to:

• Slight excess in weight (even 500g)
  

• Full overhead bins
  

• Strict enforcement on select flights
  

The result? A forced gate check-in, where you’re hit with emergency fees, often double or triple the online price.

7. Koora’s Role in Helping You Outsmart the System

At Koora, we understand these traps—and we design around them.

Our checked luggage line is:

• Within standard airline limits, avoiding oversized surprises
  

• Engineered for lightness, so you maximise usable weight
  

• Equipped with TSA-approved locks and smooth-glide wheels for quick transitions
  

• Sustainably built, so you don’t have to replace it every few trips
  

Smart travel is about preparation, not just packing. Koora helps frequent flyers dodge fees, travel lighter, and avoid last-minute stress at check-in counters.

8. Tips to Avoid Checked Baggage Rip-Offs

Here’s how savvy travellers protect themselves from hidden baggage fees:

Book Baggage Early

Always add checked luggage during the initial flight booking. It’s up to 50% cheaper than at check-in or the airport.

Know Your Airline’s Limits

Double-check weight and dimension allowances—don’t assume every airline offers 20 kg or pooling of bags.

Weigh Before You Leave

Use a digital luggage scale and keep some margin for return flight shopping. Don't rely on airport kiosks.

Avoid Paying Per Kilo

Some airlines sell excess weight in 5- or 10-kg brackets—choose those instead of per kg rates, which are costlier.

Use Lightweight, Durable Luggage

The lighter the luggage, the more actual content you can carry without crossing the limit. Koora’s polycarbonate body offers high protection with low weight, ideal for budget airline restrictions.

Final Words: Budget Isn’t Always Cheap

Low-cost carriers sell a fantasy of cheap flights, but that is because they get their profits out of their checked baggage. Due to such hidden charges, a low-cost travel to many travellers becomes a highly priced travel characterised by stress, surprises and regrets.

Yet, you can win at having your luggage confiscated by familiarising yourself with the regulations, packing smart and investing in luggage, such as Koora, which has many security features, but where inexpensive tampering is noticeable.

You should not pay for your baggage errors. Travel wiser, pack lighter, move with confidence--no matter what the fine print says.