Air India To Reduce Free Baggage Allowance

May 7, 2013
Government recently allowed airlines to charge fees for 'unbundled services' like check-in baggage, preferential seats, meals, snacks or drinks.

Air India will lower the free baggage allowance from 20 to 15 kgs on the domestic sector and start charging a flat rate of about Rs 200-250 per kilo on excess baggage from next week, airline sources told PTI on Monday.

This follows a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) circular last week allowing airlines to charge fees for 'unbundled services' like check-in baggage, preferential seats, meals, snacks or drink (barring drinking water) and sports and musical instruments on their domestic flights. Air India passengers would, from next week, be allowed to carry only 15 kgs of free check-in baggage and pay a flat rate of about Rs 200-250 per kg on excess weight, the sources said. The excess baggage charges currently vary between Rs 150-400 per kg depending upon the sector. There would be no charge for hand baggage up to seven kgs, they said, adding that registered frequent flyers would be allowed to carry up to 20 kgs of checked in baggage as is prevalent now. The national carrier is also contemplating levying charges for preferred seats but no decision has been arrived at as yet, they said, adding, there would be no charge on this count for business class passengers. Business class passenger is in any case allowed to carry 30 kgs of baggage free. Air India would also shortly take a decision on whether and how much to charge for meals on board, which is offered free currently as part of the fullservice carrier's services. While no-frill carriers Indi- Go and SpiceJet charge for preferential seating and food on board, Jet Airways was also considering going in for the same. But no formal decision has been announced so far.

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