Passengers with only cabin baggage can get concessions in air ticket: DGCA

The Indian aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a circular, according to which, air travellers can get concession in air tickets if they fly without any baggage or only cabin baggage.

The present norm with regard to traveller’s baggage says that an air traveller can carry up to 7 Kg of cabin baggage and 15 kg of check-in baggage at the time of flying.

If a traveller carries luggage beyond the prescribed limit, he or she has to make an additional payment for it.

The change is the norm will make air operating companies to make their ticket price more affordable and attractive by offering a discount to those passengers who don’t want to carry any check-in baggage.

“These norms have been brought in keeping in mind the fact that many passengers fly on weekend for a short trip to home or business meeting etc and they carry only cabin baggage. This will make their air travel cheaper,” an official from one of the private airlines said.

DGCA says that to get the discount, the flyer has to declare at the time of booking the ticket that what type of baggage he or she will carry.

It also says that at the same time if a passenger opts for no baggage and turns up with baggage, he will be liable for payment as per the prevailing fare scheme.

"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 circular said.

It added, “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 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,” it said.