After Air India, it is now the turn of private airlines to start charging for some services. While Jet and Jet Konnect will start charging for additional weight in check-in bags, IndiGo is going to charge for preferred seats.

From May 15, Jet Airways and Jet Konnect free baggage allowance on domestic flights will be revised to 15 kg from the existing 20 kg. Jet and Jet Konnect are following in the footsteps of Air India which has decided to reduce the free check-in baggage allowance to 15 kg from May 13. Both the airlines will charge a flat rate of Rs 250 a kg as excess baggage rate for every kilo of a checked-in bag that weighs over 15 kg.

IndiGo, the Delhi-based low-cost airline, has introduced IndiGo Seat Plus, in which a passenger will be charged a premium of Rs 500 for sitting in rows 1, 2, 12 and 13 on a domestic flight and Rs 800 for an international flight.

IndiGo said for all other window and aisle seats that are pre-booked, a passenger will be charged Rs 200 for a domestic and Rs 300 for an international flight.

In a circular to travel agents, IndiGo said those pre-booking all other middle seats will be charged Rs 100 on a domestic and Rs 200 on international flights. IndiGo has not indicated from when it will start charging the new rates.

The decision to charge for these services comes days after the Ministry of Civil Aviation allowed domestic airlines to charge passengers for services, including checked-in bags and preferential seating.

ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in