Airlines to cut fee for extra baggage

In a major relief to passengers, airlines will be mandated to steeply reduce fees for carrying five-kg extra baggage on flights.

The Civil Aviation Ministry will ask the airlines to charge Rs.100 on each additional kg baggage against an average of Rs. 300 a kg charged at present, a senior official of the Ministry said. However, the reduced fares will be applicable for five-kg extra luggage.

At present, domestic airlines, except national carrier Air India, allow passengers to carry 15 kg luggage free of cost. Air India allows passengers to check in with 25-kg bags without any cost.

IndiGo, GoAir, AirAsia India and Air India charge passengers Rs. 250 for carrying each kg extra baggage. SpiceJet charges Rs. 300 a kg for additional luggage, Jet Airways Rs. 350 a kg and Vistara Rs. 320 a kg for economy class and Rs.330 for premium economy.

With the latest move, a passenger may carry five-kg additional luggage by paying Rs. 500 to the airlines instead of shelling out Rs.1,250-Rs.1,750.

“It’s an excellent move. There are many instances when passengers are unable to weigh the luggage when he or she is in a hurry and the free baggage limit may exceed marginally. So, passengers can arrive at the airport with a few additional kg of luggage and pay a reasonable amount,” said D. Sudhakara Reddy, national president of the Air Passengers Association of India.