AirAsia, the world’s largest budget carrier, recently launched a new route connecting Incheon and Narita, offering a special price for a one-way ticket at 30,000 won (less than $28) with all taxes included.

The 4,000 prepared tickets sold out immediately via the company’s website between Oct. 11-17. But intense competition aside, some complaints surfaced even among the lucky customers who purchased the tickets.

They didn’t know that they could be charged to use additional services like a meal on the plane and checking luggage. Under the company’s no-refund policy, customers also are required to pay fees to change their travel schedule.

Unlike Korean low-cost airlines that offer some in-flight services free of charge, leading foreign budget carriers ― equipped with cheaper ticket prices based on their global operational network ― demand payment for any additional services, sometimes even for a cup of water.

Amid a proliferation of Korean and foreign low-budget carriers here, most Koreans have no idea about the different policies for each company.

In the first eight months of this year, 269 reports related to ticketing were made through the Korea Consumer Agency. Most of them were complaints over foreign carriers, said the consumer advocacy group.

Companies, however, denied any disadvantages are given specifically to Korean customers, saying they carry out the same policy globally.

“The limited in-flight service is common for foreign low-budget carriers. Korean passengers may have been too accustomed to using their local airlines’ free-of-charge services,” said an industry source on condition of anonymity.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)