KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 -- That low airfare flashing on your screen might not be the full story.

A growing list of "unbundled" airline charges - from seat selection to check-in and even phone bookings - is catching South-east Asian travellers off guard as base fares increasingly exclude services once considered standard.

AirAdvisor, a passenger rights platform, has highlighted 10 lesser-known or unexpected airline fees that travellers in the region may encounter in 2026, reflecting a wider shift in global aviation pricing models.

"With short-haul flights between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila increasingly common, travellers are often paying more than the base fare as airlines continue to unbundle services," the rep...