This is how IndiGo made your flight ticket expensive; Twitter amused, asks how much for arm-rest, lights?

Indigo, which has the largest market share in India’s aviation business, faced heavy criticism from Twitterati soon after it had decided to charge extra amount for seats that are booked via web check-in. Airlines are doing very badly in terms of logging losses upon losses, but the public reacts fiercely when some of the few freebies on offer are stopped. IndiGo realised this to its cost. The way citizens have vented their anger at Indigo on Twitter that it even achieved a the status of a hashtag, #NoIndigo and #Indigo, that quickly went viral, to be honest is quite hilarious. The anger seems to quite valid as now they have to pay an extra sum on their air ticket to fly with Indigo. It was definitely not expected from Indigo, which is a low-cost carrier, and with its cheap tickets it had has swayed the market and given stiff competition to private carriers like Jet Airways and SpiceJet. Also, it comes as a blow especially to those passengers who make regular booking via Indigo flight, as the airfare now becomes that much more expensive for them. 

Both domestic and international Indigo flight tickets will have extra chunk of their seats on which these charges have been imposed. 

Advance seat reservations for passengers for picking a window seat, aisle seat or a seat with extra leg room are being charged as low as Rs 100 and has been extended up to Rs 800. 

Following this, Twitterati made sure they dragged Indigo over hot coals. Many even started wondering what next Indigo will charge on tickets. 

Anurag Saxena, on his Twitter account, said, “Pay for web check-in, then stand in a long queue along with all others for baggage drop and get looted to get lousy food (served cold) while sitting on cramped seats. Welcome to the all new cattle class travel - powered by #NoGoIndigo . Goodbye #Indigo, hello @airvistara.”

 

One citizen even posted his personal chat with Indigo services. Sunil Sagar said, “@IndiGo6E , starting at 899+300 (for web check-in). Please correct your misleading statement. #goindigo #Indigo #indigoindia #indigoairlines.”

Meanwhile, Rupesh Indian Twitter account, had this caustic comment, “#Indigo @IndiGo6E what next after charging for web check in? Arm rest on one side at rs 100 and discounted for both sides 150.  Carrying handbag-Rs 200.  Reading lights.- rs 2 per minute? Cool air vents- Rs 200.”

Hence from above it is quite clear no one is in mood to accept on Indigo’s web check-in  charges. 

Following the fierce trolling, Indigo made an announcement saying that, while preferred seat will be charged as low as Rs 100, there would be some seats which may be available for free depending upon the market dynamics and flights.

Indigo reiterated that there will be seats which will be available at a certain time period before departure (example one day before departure) or on certain aircraft. 

Simply put, if a person does not have any preference for a particular aisle or seats, then they are allowed to reserve a free seat during the time of booking via web check-in or during the time of airport check-in. 

Well this does bring some comfort, but the question still remains how many seats will Indigo keep free, one can assume that it would  be quite minimal. 

Twitterati were not alone who were shocked. Right after Indigo announced its web check-in seat charges, the Ministry of Civil Aviation took to its own Twitter account and said, “Noted that airlines are now charging for web check-in for all seats. We are reviewing these fees to see whether they fall within the unbundled pricing framework. "

Let’s understand how your airfare just got more expensive on Indigo. 

Post GST, for example if we book a one-way ticket from Mumbai to Delhi via Indigo, there are a host of charges levied. 

These charges are - Cute Charge, Fuel Charge, RCS Provision, Development Fee, Passenger Service Fee, CGST For Maharashtra and SGST For Maharashtra on economic class. 

Apart from this there are baggage charges as well, if we do not meet the criteria of Indigo’s baggage which is free up till 15 kg.  

In June month, IndiGo had hiked pre-booked excess baggage charges on its domestic flights by one-third or 33%. Now, for pre-booking 5, 10, 15 and 30 kg (beyond the free 15 kg), Indigo charges you Rs 1,900, Rs 3,800; Rs 5,700 and Rs 11,400, respectively. 

Above all these host of charges, now you will have to pay extra between Rs 100 to Rs 800 for your desired seats. 

Although, Indigo says its very common practice of charging for web check-in by other airlines globally, yet this does not takes down the frustration of air passengers who are already paying a host of charges. 

Indigo currently has a market share of nearly 43% in India. Well how does the new rule impacts Indigo’s passenger growth, market share and earnings will be keenly watched.