A couple have revealed how they had to rustle up an extra $405 in expenses before they even boarded their flight to Bali as the cost-of-living hits the travel sector.

Melbourne couple Eoin Kelly and Rachel had already paid $1,200 each for a return airfare to and from Bali last Christmas.

The pair spent $80 on an Uber to Melbourne Airport, paid a $175 on-the-spot fee for failing to check in one of their bags, and then another $150 on food and drinks, bringing their extra expenses to $405 before they had left the country.

The New Australian Travel Index report, run by travel company Send My Bag, found the average Aussie is being slapped with an extra $172 in expenses prior to boarding a flight.

The data, taken from 2,000 Australians who were surveyed at the start of the Iran war, found $142.95 is spent on transport to the airport and parking, and $29.80 on food and drinks. 

Mr Kelly told The Daily Telegraph that travel had become 'unsustainable for the average person' as Aussies were buried under higher costs in every aspect of their lives, including fuel, rent and weekly shopping. 

'I'm edging towards 30 now and have to start thinking about things like buying a house in this market, which is near impossible,' he said. 

Ms Kelly's suitcase also came out of the baggage carousel with a broken wheel when they landed, meaning she had to buy a new one for about $100, meaning they were left $505 out of pocket by the end of their trip. 

Sydney woman Oksana Koriakova said she'd spent $690 on a return flight to Melbourne, plus another $165 before she'd even boarded after paying for an Uber to the airport, food and drinks and an 'unfair' $75 baggage fee at the gate.

She said an Uber to the airport cost her $70, along with $20 on food and drinks, before a $75 baggage fee at the gate, which she described as 'unfair'.

'The issue wasn't that my suitcase was over 7kg. On its own, it was within the limit. What I didn't realise is that Jetstar combines everything you carry, including your handbag and laptop, into that same 7kg allowance,' Ms Koriakova said.

'The fees, the gate-side scrutiny, and the added costs before even boarding completely overshadowed what should have been a simple one-night business trip.'

Send My Bag founder Adam Ewart warned that rising fuel costs could see airlines tighten baggage allowances even further or increase their fees.

'Airfares are rising, baggage rules are becoming more complex, and travellers are trying to save money upfront by booking cheaper tickets that often come with stricter limits,' he said.

'When margins are tight, airlines look for other ways to recover costs, and that often means stricter baggage enforcement or reduced allowances. The 'cheap flight' is where people are getting caught out the most.'

The report also revealed almost half (48 per cent) of cash-strapped Aussies are opting to travel overseas less often this year, with 34 per cent planning to book domestic trips instead.

The news came just days after Qantas and Virgin Australia confirmed cuts to domestic flights following major hikes in fuel prices. 

Virgin Australia will reduce its capacity by one per cent over the next four months and Qantas will temporarily suspend five per cent of its domestic flights.

Virgin Australia claims fuel costs make up around 21 per cent of total costs, as they use about 3.4million barrels of oil in the first half of 2026.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran war started on February 28, and Virgin Australia has predicted that the increase in fuel costs will be as high as $40million above previous estimates.