Air India has revised the baggage allowance limit for passengers in the lowest economy fare segment during domestic flights.
New Delhi: Here is a bad news for passengers who use Air India plane service regularly. In a major setback for the lowest economy fare segment, Air India, the loss-making national carrier, has reduced its free cabin baggage allowance from 20 kilograms to 15 kilograms on domestic flights.
The Tata Group-owned Air India has taken the decision in accordance with the menu-based pricing model for fare families, which was introduced last year.
Revised Cabin Baggage Allowance Limit
“On domestic routes in Economy Class, both ‘Comfort’ and ‘Comfort Plus’ fare families now provide 15 kg baggage allowance, while ‘Flex’ provides 25 kg allowance….The Business Class baggage allowance on domestic routes ranges from 25 kg to 35 kg. The free baggage allowance on international flights varies from market to market,” the spokesperson was quoted saying in a report by the Financial Express.
There are three fare families — Comfort, Comfort Plus and Flex — that offer different levels of benefits and fare restrictions at various price points, an airline spokesperson said on Saturday.
Changes Come Into Effect From This Date
With effect from May 2, the free cabin baggage allowance for the ‘Comfort’ and ‘Comfort Plus’ categories has been reduced to 15 kg from 20 kg and 25 kg, respectively.
Prior to the introduction of the fare family concept, passengers on Air India’s domestic flights were allowed to carry 25 kilograms of cabin baggage free of any additional charge.
“On domestic routes in Economy Class, both ‘Comfort’ and ‘Comfort Plus’ fare families now provide a 15 kg baggage allowance, while ‘Flex’ provides a 25 kg allowance.
“The Business Class baggage allowance on domestic routes ranges from 25 kg to 35 kg. The free baggage allowance on international flights varies from market to market,” the spokesperson said. On other domestic airlines, passengers are also allowed to carry 15 kg of cabin baggage without additional charge.
The Air India spokesperson said the fare families are designed to let passengers choose the kind of fare and services that best suit their requirements, given that travellers today have varied preferences and a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer ideal.
Price Difference Between ‘Comfort Plus’ And ‘Flex’
Elaborating on the proposition, the spokesperson said that for example, the price difference between ‘Comfort Plus’ and ‘Flex’ fares would typically be around Rs 1,000 in a domestic sector like Delhi-Mumbai, with the ‘Flex’ fare providing the value of nearly Rs 9,000, including 10 kilograms of extra baggage and zero change or cancellation fees.
The introduction of fare families is in response to customer feedback and Air India’s own comprehensive study. It is also benchmarked against the offerings of relevant competition in each of the markets we have introduced it in, the spokesperson added. Tata Group has embarked on an ambitious plan to revive the fortunes of the loss-making Air India, which it acquired from the government in 2022.
(With inputs from agencies)