Impact of New Rules on Air Ticket Fare

Technologies used in the aviation industry, including ingeniously designed engines, navigation tools and in-flight amenities have been replaced with new ones. Earlier, most of the metro cities were served by various airlines, but now flights to Bhopal, Varanasi, Lucknow and many other II as well as III tier cities can be availed as well. In addition to this, management strategies have also been revised to meet the dynamic market challenges and this is the reason that some changes are needed in aviation rules also. Although, a number of new regulations have been introduced, but old ones can also be seen revised in the coming months.

In response to issues regarding licences to Malaysia-based AirAsia and soon to be launched Vistara for global operation, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) commented on the 5/20 rule. As per this rule, every airline set up in India needs to have a fleet size of at least 20 aircraft and must complete 5 years of operation, then only licence for international operation will be given to it. However, FIA, formed back in 2006 by Air India, SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo and Jet Airways, resisted this policy and said that it needs to be changed. A few months back, this law was asked to be waived off, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) kept it intact.

However, one of the DGCA ministers said that no other country follows this rule; hence, it can be removed from the list pre-requisite conditions. The relevance of this law has been lost because of increased safety standards and application of the latest technologies as well as attempt of global operators to cater niche markets of various countries. The Associate Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) also released a paper mentioning that this policy of government has no logic in the current market scenario. This policy was drawn almost a decade back, and many new carriers have entered in the industry since then, as well as the country has undergone significant changes regarding air travel demands, since then. Today, air ticket fare is almost half of what it used to be 10 years back.

Availing Cheapest Airfare in This Festive Season

Stiff competition in the Indian aviation industry has lead to fare wars between low-cost as well as full-fledged carriers. This market has also witnessed a number of twists and turns in the previous quarter. As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reports, SpiceJet gained substantial market and pushed back the flag airline of the country – Air India – in the ranking orders. Other low-cost carriers (LCCs) also managed to allure fliers by offering cheapest airfare, which in turn increased their flight occupancy. However, the Sun Group-owned company – SpiceJet – not only recorded growth in the number of fliers, but also topped the charts in terms of load factor.

As per reports, SpiceJet booking has increased because of the frequent flash sales announced by the company. Apart from this, the commencement of flights on new routes also contributed. The chief executive officer on the other hand shares a different view. Responding to these reports, he said that these discounts definitely helped in attracting new passengers, but the consistency in services provided by the carrier played an important role in retaining them. The airline operates more than 300 daily flights to over 45 national and 10 international destinations. Its fleet size of around 53 aircraft consists of the latest models launched by Boeing and Bombardier. These fuel efficient models allow these LCCs to cut down tariffs, which attracts more customers and is ultimately reflected as profits in the books of carriers. One of such offers includes SpiceJet tickets at just INR 699 to a number of domestic destinations.

This LCC recently announced Early New Year Sale followed by Early Bird offer in September. Under this deal, travellers can book flights to different cities of the country at INR 699 for travel dates falling between 16th January and 24th October, 2015. However, the bookings had to be made by 1st of October, 2014. Jet Airways and Air Asia also came up with similar offers, but to selective destinations of Southern India. The booking window for both of them was longer, till 5th of October. IndiGo, the leading airline of the country with over 32 per cent market share also announce similar offers to tackle this price-based competition.

Prepare Medical Kits after Booking Cheap Tickets for International Journeys

When planning a trip, be it long-haul or short-haul, the next important step after booking cheap tickets is packing. All airlines have a specific allowance for both, cabin and in-hold luggage. It is significant for travellers to be aware of the rules and regulations of the carrier they are flying with, before they start packing to avoid confusion and chaos at the airport. Besides, there are a number of personal items, which are essential for individuals while travelling, to avoid missing out any such item, people should make a check list, which they can refer before the final packing is done. Apart from clothes, camera, footwear, toiletries and other items, there is one more significant item – a medical kit, which tourists often forget to carry.

Carrying a medical kit on a journey is significant to avoid health ailments, which might spoil the fun of the entire tour. This becomes even more important when the destination is completely different, given the drastic change in climatic conditions and other factors in case of cross-boundary travelling. It has been rightly said that prevention is always better than cure. Keeping this in mind, experts and experienced travellers recommended that people should pack a medical kit and take it with themselves on a trip. It is advisable to include hand sanitisers, anti-bacterial wipes and other disinfectants to avoid infections.

Medication to be Included

Flying across countries for hours together gets hectic sometimes and leads to certain health issues like jet lag, fatigue and stress. Despite taking sufficient precautions, some people, especially kids and the elderly, might fall ill. Health and travel experts suggest that fliers should carry medicines for general health ailments. Common troubles, which tourists might face during a tour include nausea due to motion sickness and aches. So, it is advisable to carry analgesics and balms along. Besides, it has been observed that some people are allergic to dust and they should include relevant medication in the kit. Additionally, carrying some purgatives for constipation and tablets for diarrhoea are also advisable.

Items to be carried in Hand Luggage

Another significant aspect of packing, is carefully selecting items, which should be carried in hand luggage. Experienced fliers recommend that people should carry all valuables and travel documents, such as tickets, booking receipts, child identification cards (if travelling with children) passports and visa papers in hand baggage. Passengers should also carry sufficient cash in hand while travelling for emergency situations. Besides, for long-distance flights, it is suggested to carry earplugs, books and magazines for entertainment. However, most airlines provide basic in-flight amenities but it is good to have a favourite book and personal earplugs on-board. Some people might also like to travel with their neck rests for a comfortable journey. It is evident that packing is a significant part of a tour, and it should be done in an organised manner for a hassle-free and pleasant trip. So, after making an online air ticket booking from a travel portal, travellers are suggested to put a considerable effort for packing.

Check Baggage Restrictions before Booking Flights

Travelling by air is convenient as it is fast, comfortable and connectivity to different places across the globe is good. However, it is suggested that people need to look into a number of important of factors while making flight reservations. The aspects that fliers need to take care of include the type of carrier, aircraft in use, in-flight amenities, class of travel and restrictions regarding carrying of certain objects on-board. Out of these factors, baggage restriction is among the important factors that people should be aware prior to making bookings. Experienced fliers and travel experts suggest that travellers should check for these restrictions of a carrier before booking flights to avoid hassles at the airport. In the recent past, most airlines have become strict in regard to the size and weight limits of both types of luggage – carry-on and checked-in. They charge extra for exceeding the predefined limits. Hence, it is advisable to verify all relevant rules and restrictions of the carrier beforehand.

Some Important Facts to Remember

There are several important facts that help travellers determine the carrier and luggage size to avoid extra expenses at the time of checking-in. To begin with, those who are planning their journey with codeshare flights, should be aware that luggage allowance may not be same for all aircraft they board during the sojourn. Rules and regulations of the operating airline are applicable in such cases usually.

Sometimes, it becomes inevitable to carry extra baggage, especially for long vacations. In such cases, people can check online travel agencies to acquire information about the cheapest way of carrying their required stuff. Leading travel portals offer attractive discount options on existing flight fare that help in cutting down travel costs. This revenue can be used to pay the additional allowances. Besides, experts state that charges are considerably low when exceeding weight and size limits of objects is pre-arranged in comparison to detection of excess luggage at the airport. Besides, it is also suggested that those who have a lot of baggage should consider flying in the business class or even first class. This is because most airlines offer a greater luggage allowance for these classes.

Other Ways to Save Money on Excess Baggage

Travellers who want to save expenses and have excess baggage to carry can opt for postal services or sea freight. However, this involves slight delay of delivery of items during transit and people are suggested to check individual country listings for information on duration and reliability. This might not be an ideal option for vacationers, but in case of transfer of jobs or shifting to a new place, people could consider this. Another comparatively cheaper alternative than excessive baggage fees is the air cargo service offered by many airlines. Goods are delivered within a specific time, usually between two to five days from the date of the booking, at the address given by the customer. Airlines that offer cargo services for transportation of objects, provide proper paperwork and take care of custom procedures. However, trends reveal that most people prefer carrying their belongings in-flight to avoid chaos. They are advised to select an airline after verifying for specific rules and regulations in this regard.

For more detailed information on excess baggage procedures go through this link -  

Hand baggage and check-in baggage on domestic and International carriers.