Do you want extras with that fare?

SINGAPORE – When TravelMole booked a flight from Phuket to Singapore this week, for travel in 10 days’ time, we noted AirAsia’s web page boast of “No Admin Fees- Pay Fare+Airport Tax only”.

Sure, there were the usual ancillary fees and taxes added to the base fare of 1,160 Thai baht (US$35)

There was a THB 700 airport tax, THB 463 for 20kg of checked luggage, standard seat charge of THB 50 and an optional THB 90 for insurance.

There was also a charge of THB 603 for what AirAsia calls Services and Fees, and another THB 50 “Convenience” Fee for electronic payment, adding up to a total fare of THB 2513 (US$75).

There was no Admin fee mentioned, so presumably AirAsia doesn’t have one – or maybe the airline just calls it a Service and Convenience fee and hope no one notices.

Interestingly, Tiger Airways, flying the same route on the same day, has a lead-in fare of just THB 50 (US$1.50) but it doesn’t take long for extra charges to ratchet up that figure to an amount very nearly identical to that being charged by AirAsia.

In fairness to AirAsia, at least its lead-in fare bore some (slight) resemblance to the final amount charged after all the menu add-ons.

Here at TravelMole we wonder how long it will be before hotels go down this path.

Imagine the conversation at reception…

Sir, you’ve been charged $100 for your room – that’s our early bookers rate?

Would you require a shower? That’s an extra $10.

Hot water? That’s an extra five dollars?

Sheets on your bed? Our daily special rate is just $15

Towels? Merely $5 per towel.

But hold on a second….this hotel pricing strategy has already arrived.

It’s called Tune Hotels and by all accounts they’re doing very nicely, thank you.