Airlines to give fare discount to passengers with no baggage

Hyderabad: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday allowed Airlines to give a discount on fares to passengers with no baggage.

"As part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as "Zero baggage/no-check-in fares," said the DGCA.

This will be subject to the condition that the passenger booking ticket under such fare scheme is made aware of the charges that shall be applicable if the passenger turns up with the baggage for check-in at the airline counter.

The DGCA also directed that these applicable charges shall be reasonable, prominently displayed to the passenger at the time of booking of the ticket and also to be printed on the ticket. It also said that the airfares so established by the airlines also include charges for some of the services rendered by them. "On the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many times these services provided by the airlines may not be required by the passengers while traveling.

The governing body added that the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto have the potential to make basic fare more affordable provides consumers with an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail.

The DGCA has also decided that some of the services provided inside the airlines should be unbundled and charged separately on the opt-in-basis. These services are preferential seating, charges for using airline lounges, sports equipment charges, musical instrument carriage, and fee for special declaration of valuable baggage.