Domestic airlines not charging any fee for web check-in, only optional charges allowed: VK Singh

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been receiving complaints regarding airlines charging extra for completing the web check-in formalities. Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh (retired) gave a written reply to a question stating that scheduled domestic airlines are not charging any fee for completing web check-in formalities. He was asked whether most of the airline companies in the country are assigning most of the seats to the passengers on a payment basis in the name of online check-in before travelling.

Singh replied that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2021 titled, "Unbundle of Services and fees by scheduled airlines" as per which, some services like preferential seating have been allowed to be unbundled and charged separately from the travellers. 

Such unbundled services are provided on an "opt-in" basis by airlines and are not mandatory in nature. The question was raised by S Selvaganabathy, BJP MP from Pudducherry. He further asked whether any guidelines have been issued by the Government to the airline companies to regulate the sale and allotment of seats. 

Also read: DGCA inspects over 300 aircrafts to ensure flight safety; 62 belongs to SpiceJet

Singh replied that there is also a provision for auto seat assignment to the passengers who have not selected any seat for web check-in before scheduled departure. 

Scheduled domestic airlines are not charging any fee for completing web check-in formalities. As far as check-in at Airports is concerned, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised all the scheduled airlines not to charge any additional amount for issuing boarding passes at the airport check-in counters as the same cannot be considered within `tariff` as provided under Rule 135 of The Aircraft Rules, 1937. 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation or Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been receiving grievances related to air transport. They are redressed as per the established mechanism or extant guidelines in the matter, Singh added. Earlier, DGCA had made it clear that airlines charging for preferred seats is as per the unbundling of fare and is left to airlines and we have no role in that. 

(With inputs from ANI)