Airlines finding new way to cheat

Unbundling returns: Where will low-fare airlines stop? By Anjuli Bhargava "The low-fare revolution is now com ing to bite the airline market. Let me elaborate. A report titled The Sky's the Limit, by a United States (US) Senate sub-committee on the airline indus try's practice of "unbundling" as many charges as possible in a way that these ancillary fees have become a critical revenue stream-criticises carriers for levying new charges besides ticket price. Be it seat preference, food, water, or check-in baggage, extra charges are being levied for vir tually anything. This strategy, known as unbundling, bas spread to almost every airline. The so-called ancillary fees have become a vital revenue stream. According to the report, unbundling has "Insidiously raised the cost of flying" for consumers, forcing them to pay to be seated next to their minor children or have carry-on luggage. The report argues that US-based airlines like United, Delta, Spirit, Frontier and American Airlines have generated billions of dollars in revenue from ancillary fees. while travellers confront increasingly com plex fees, with fewer options for avoiding them, obscuring the total cost of travel. The report says that the five airlines collectively earned $12.4 billion in revenue from seat charges between 2018 and 2023 and that, in 2023, United earned $1.3 billion, more than the $1.2 billion it earned from carry-on baggage fees." .."The question that arises is where the line is to be drawn on such practices. Although not yet a practice in India, many low-fare airlines around the world charge for checked-in baggage and every extra kilo is chargeable. If the airlines charge for every extra kilo carried on board, why shouldn't a passenger's body weight be taken into account? I can argue that the passenger sit- ting on the seat next to me weighs at least 25 kilograms more than me and should pay accordingly. Let me end by reminding readers of the storm Ryanair chief executive officer Michael O'Leary kicked up some years ago, in his characteristically flamboyant style. Leary had said that he was considering charging passengers for the use of lavatories on his planes (pay-for-pee, as it was crassly termed) and and elaborated in some detail on why he thinks it would be justified. Faced with loud protests, this did not come to pass then, but industry observers argue that the way things are going. Leary might have been prescient. With airlines in India and glo- bally looking to squeeze any revenue they can out of a growing yet voiceless and hapless cohort, this ridiculous-sounding day may be closer than we think.. Be it seat preference, food, water, or check- in baggage, extra charges are being levied for virtually anything." Anjuli Bhargava writes about governance, infrastructure and the social sector. The views expressed are personal

The system of securing seats of choice in a flight in advance by paying extra bucks was existing even during pre-covid era. Hence there is no point in accusing the airline operators for profiteering now. Running of an Airline is a very costly affair and all the airliners have passed a very hard time of more than 18 months and suffered heavy financial losses. Even now they are not permitted for 100% capacity utilisation. We should be thankful to them that despite facing such a long period of turmoil, they are present to offer us services, rather than accusing them. Either one should wait and get the seats allotted on the counters as per availability or purchase them of choice in advance by spending some extra prices. I personally believe that complaining for everything seeking government's intervention, that too, during a period when the nation is reeling under the grip of a pandemic, is not a healthy trend.

Dear all, please for God sake understand that there is a virus transmitted as of 17/11/2019 but that will not kill as many as is reported . It's only common cold but those with other pre-existing debilitated phisique, they suffer. The fear transmitted by drug and Pharma mafia outlives our lives. Nothing short of that. Don't panic. Don't fear. Common cold is transmitted on the fourth day. Our sinus pockets are filled with fluid which if taken at that time is positive for the present trend. Travel by train.

Now it is a question of survival during this financial crisis. Thee airlines are adopting all sorts of roots to increase their revenue, by adopting all adverse features.

Boycott the airlines,. Travel by train through out India. Leave one day earlier than wanting to go by flight as a prestigious issue or saying like to save time, urgent meeting etc. If you plan nothing's impossible. While in train you meet a lot of people, see panoramic view of the country. Relax.etc. complaining will not help us. Govt action will be limited because their travel is not from their pocket, but common man money.