Arkia Accused of Charging for Unnecessary Baggage on Dubai Rescue Flights

Passengers flying back from Dubai on Arkia's rescue flights claim they were charged hundreds of dollars for baggage that was not placed on their plane, but instead transported separately at the state's expense. According to a report by N12, affected passengers are organizing to demand refunds from the airline. One passenger, Chen, stated that the option to pay for baggage was offered despite being irrelevant, as airport staff confirmed that all luggage would arrive on a separate flight regardless of payment. Vadim echoed this sentiment, alleging that Arkia exploited the uncertainty and passengers' fears that their belongings would be left behind, charging $25 for a trolley and $50 for a suitcase on their website. He described this as a "classic success method" of generating income by preying on passenger anxiety. Shachar reported paying 660 shekels for five suitcases and a trolley, only to be told by a service representative that no refund was possible after she discovered the payment was unnecessary. Roni also claimed to have paid an unnecessary $210 for baggage handling, noting the difficulty in reaching the company and the word-of-mouth communication among passengers about the payment situation.

Arkia explained that while the state funds the transportation of baggage to Israel, the airline is responsible for its unloading, sorting, handling, and delivery to customers' homes. The company stated that these logistical costs are currently covered by Arkia, and refunds would be issued if the state also assumes these delivery expenses.