A young man named Andy Donovan was shocked to find himself charged over a thousand pounds for an extra suitcase on his Qatar Airways flight. Andy, 23, had planned a six-month trip to Kingsbury, Melbourne, to participate in a cricket event during the Australian summer.
Originally booked on a Cathay Pacific flight with a layover in Hong Kong, Andy made a last-minute decision to switch to a Qatar Airways flight to Melbourne via Doha due to the approaching ‘super typhoon Ragasa’ threatening Hong Kong.
The flight on September 22 cost Andy £312.28, but his baggage allowance was reduced to one checked bag from two. Needing an additional suitcase for his cricket gear, Andy tried to purchase it online but faced technical issues on the Qatar Airways website.
Upon arrival at the airport, Andy was shocked to be charged £1,103.72 for the extra 25kg bag. Despite the exorbitant fee, Andy, a marketing executive from Exeter, Devon, had no choice but to pay as his cricket equipment was essential and personalized to his needs.
The luggage charge calculation was not clearly explained to Andy, but he paid it to ensure he could proceed with his journey. Qatar Airways’ policy states a $60 charge per additional kilogram of luggage within six hours of departure, equivalent to approximately £44.60.
Andy, who plays for the Philippines national cricket team, revealed that his sister had taken the same flight a week earlier with two bags without facing any issues. His father, Barry Donovan, a retired pilot, prompted the flight change to avoid the typhoon-related disruptions in Hong Kong.
Barry, expressing outrage at the excessive charge, likened it to “extortion” and believes someone should be held accountable. He highlighted the lack of clarity on luggage restrictions on the tickets and criticized the airline’s handling of the situation.
Despite multiple attempts to contact Qatar Airways, both Andy and Barry have not received a response, raising concerns about the fairness of the airline’s practices. Qatar Airways has been approached for comment on the matter.