Good news for air travellers! In its new guidelines for airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to provide passengers with the option to opt-out or opt-in certain services, which impact the base fare. This means that flyers in India can now pick and choose services offered by operators and save money on those they do not require.

Unbundling of services

The civil aviation watchdog has observed that passengers are sometimes required to pay for services that they do not need. In such cases, unbundling these services will allow passengers to select only the services that are relevant to them. This will reduce their base fare and make air travel more affordable for them.

“The airfares so established by the airlines also include charges for some of the services rendered by them. Based on 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 provides consumers an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail. The unbundled services must be provided on ‘opt-in’ basis,” the DGCA said in a circular issued on April 23.

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DGCA identifies these services for unbundling to make airfare more affordable

The regulator mentioned these services to be unbundled: Preferential seating; mean/snack/drink charges (except drinking water); check-in baggage charges; sports equipment charges; musical instrument charges; and fee for special declaration of valuable baggage.

The circular said, “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 ticket and also to be printed on the ticket.”

Unbundled services should be mentioned with a clear description

In its detailed instructions for operators, the DGCA categorically said that services unbundling shall be distinct with a clear description and without any ambiguity.

“Customers should have clear information of these services and their charges so that he/she opts-in only for the services they would like to avail thereby reducing potential confusion and chances of selecting the services he/she would not like to avail/purchase at the time of booking,” the circular said.

The unbundled services must be provided on opt-in basis and not on opt-out basis, it stressed.

Unbundled services must quote a fixed amount if opted for by a passenger

The DGCA further said that the charges for unbundled services shall be a fixed amount and shall not vary with the base fare for a particular sector/flight.

With these guidelines in place now, airlines will have to display the unbundled services and charges thereto on their respective websites transparently and conspicuously.

In the opt-in process, you have to pick the various services with your air tickets and in the opt-out process, all these are bundled unless you actively opt out of a service.