Low cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have announced they will charge fees for their online check-in service, looking for ways to make up for higher costs but drawing protests from flyers.
Latest News : Low cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have announced they will charge fees for their online check-in service, looking for ways to make up for higher costs but drawing protests from flyers.
Check-ins at airports will be free. IndiGo’s lowest seat fee is Rs 100 and SpiceJet’s Rs 99. Passengers earlier paid exra fees only for select seats, like along the aisle, window-facing or with additional legroom, if they checked in online.
Mumbai-based low cost carrier Go Air is still offering some seats for free. Full service airlines like Jet Airways, Vistara said they don’t charge for seat selection. IndiGo and SpiceJet’s decision comes at a time when airlines are struggling with rising costs but can’t afford to raise ticket fares due to competition.|Indigo-Spicejet Tweet Protest
Such charges will help to boost ancillary revenue of the airlines. Ancillary revenue consists of charges like baggage fees, seat selection fees, cancellation charges.”Based on our customer preference we have made some changes in pricing for advance selection of seats. This is a usual practice followed by airlines globally and across India,” IndiGo said in a statement.
Experts said that airlines were free to charge for the online check-in service as aviation regulator DGCA has allowed unbundling of services. “Airlines are not in violation of law. According to rules, they can charge of such services,” said Lalita Bhasin, partner at law firm Bhasin & Co.
No comments:
Post a Comment