Philippine Airlines Passengers Overweight Baggage Fines Check-in Staff Gives Private Account: "It's Up to You"

Philippine Airlines is currently investigating an incident that went viral on social media involving a check-in employee who was accused of trying to extort money from an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

Philippine Airlines spokesman Cielo Villaluna said the airline would take appropriate action in accordance with due process.

She said: "The check-in staff involved has now been placed on preventive suspension. We are working with the ground handling service Macro Asia to enforce the Philippine Airlines' procedures for any form of fraud or violation and to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

According to a Facebook post, a Filipino foreign worker who identified himself as Rinkashifu Miyakakishi P. Reyes shared his "unforgettable experience of airport blackmail".

On May 4, an airline worker tried to extort 11000 pesos from her on the grounds that her luggage was overweight.

In addition, the airline staff also told her that her flight had been suspended or canceled and would be transferred to the nearest flight, but the victim was surprised because neither the recruitment agency nor the airline had notified the change through official means.

With limited cash and no credit cards, she told airline staff she had only 5000 pesos on her. Later, the airline staff handed her the boarding pass and a paper towel with a bank account number written on it, and said, "It's up to you".

The victim said: "I told myself that this might be another new way of airport fraud and extortion. I just smiled and said yes to her."

When the flight began check-in, as the victim still had not transferred money to the private account on the tissue, the airline staff asked her if she had transferred the money to the bank account. The staff member claimed that her supervisor would reprimand her if she didn't.

However, the woman insisted on not paying but walked straight to the plane and shared the experience via social media after landing.