FLEXI- PRICING FOR AIR TRAVEL

Seat choice, check-in bags to cost extra >

NEW DELHI: Picture it like a pizza. The basic version may be cheap but the toppings will cost more. Air travelers will now have to pay airlines for a host of services they us e, with the government opening up new avenues for airlines to charge more.

The aviation ministry has decided to allow airlines to unbundle charges so that seat preference, meals, snacks, drinks (except water), the use of lounges, check-in baggage and the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments — everything may be priced separately.

The government hopes the decision will help bring down the base fare as airlines will now charge for all other services. So, a passenger with only a hand bag will have to pay less than someone who has check-in baggage.

While on the face of it base charges may fall, experts say the fine print could hurt passengers.

“The cost of flying would increase. The base fare would hardly come down and other than frequent flyers, who travel with a single hand bag, all others would have to pay for services they use,” said Rajji Rai, chairman of Swift Travel International Ltd.

The aviation ministry's decision comes in the wake of AirAsia India getting the nod from finances ministry to launch a local airline. India had in 2011 barred airlines from charging for services like preferential seating.