SOUTH Korea’s flag carrier will introduce no-show fees for international passengers who fail to provide advance notice that they no longer require a flight booking.
Korean Air said in a statement that this is being introduced in a bid to minimise seat wastage.
For tickets purchased from October 1, passengers who either do not cancel their reservation prior to the scheduled time of departure or passengers who do not board their flight after check-in has been completed, will be charged.
Passengers who fail to turn up for flights to/from the Americas, Europe and Oceania on longhaul routes will be charged US$120. Those flying to/from South-east and South-west Asia on medium-haul routes will be charged US$70.
For flights between South Korea and Japan and China or between Japan and China on shorthaul routes will be charged US$50. No-shows on domestic flights in South Korea will be charged 8,000 won (US$7).
No-show passengers booked to travel on award tickets will have either 12,000 miles, 7,000 miles or 5,000 miles deducted from their accounts, depending on the length of the flight they did not turn up for. No-show passengers booked on award tickets for domestic flights will have 500 miles deducted.
The no-show fees will be waived for infants under 2 years of age not occupying a seat.
Korean Air has been charging no-show fees for domestic flights since October 2008 and has been able to offer the cancelled seats back to waiting customers.
Other airlines that charge no-show fees include Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Japan Airlines.
