March 02: Giving domestic passengers an edge, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier on Friday issued a circular claimed to provide concessions to the travellers without any check-in baggage.
As of the current allowance, a passenger is able to carry as much as 7 kgs of the cabin baggage and 15 kgs of the check-in baggage. Any baggage extra than the allowed limit is chargeable.
The DGCA said that “as part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as “zero baggage/no check-in baggage fares”.
The DGCA also further quoted, “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 travelling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provide the consumer with an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail, it has been decided by the government to allow these services to be unbundled and charged separately on an opt-in basis.”
The circular also added, “As part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as “zero baggage/no check-in baggage fares”. 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. 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.“
