Images, which have been circulating on social media, created the impression that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) had waived an RM17,000 charge for 535kg of excess luggage when former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his family travelled to Langkawi recently.

MAS has since clarified that it did not give a waiver to Najib's entourage, which Malaysiakini later learned comprised 24 people.

The screenshots of MAS' ticketing system that Najib was the head of the pool of seven passengers including himself.

Others on the MH1437 flight were his wife Rosmah Mansor, son Norashman, daughter Noooryana Najwa and her husband Daniyar Kessikbayev as well as the couple's 10-month -old son Adam Razak.

Also on the flight was Najib's stepson Riza Aziz, who was implicated in the 1MDB scandal.

Najib and his family were on a holiday at the popular tourist island. They have since returned to Kuala Lumpur.

It is understood that the other 17 members of the entourage flew in economy class.

A source told Malaysiakini the entourage included a nanny, police escorts as well as Norashman's friends.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an aviation industry veteran told Malaysiakini that based on the screenshots, Najib and his family had flown in business class and two of them were platinum members.

Based on figures made available on MAS' website, platinum members are given an additional 100 percent free baggage allowance based on class of travel - business class' 40kg allowance would be increased to 80kg - infants 10kg, and economy passengers 30kg.

Najib's entourage of six business class passengers of which two are platinum members, one infant, and 17 economy class passengers would add up to a total baggage allowance of 840kg.