Carrying over 15 kg luggage gets expensive as IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir hike excess baggage charges

Carrying more than 15 kg luggage on Indian airlines has become an expensive matter now for passengers as private carriers like Interglobe Aviation (IndiGo), GoAir and SpiceJet have hiked prepaid excess baggage charges with immediate effect. The current aviation regulation only allows a passenger to have a baggage weight of 15kg, however, there are facilities to let them carry extra, but with an extra charge. While these three airlines have raised excess baggage charges, another airline Jet Airways has revised entire baggage policy where it is only following a single check-in policy, which simply means not more than one bag will be allowed. The reason behind hike in excess baggage charges was not revealed by the airlines. Not only prepaid excess baggage, but also pre-booked charges for more than 15 kg baggage have been raised. 

Indigo

A customer's luggage, if it goes excess by up to 5 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg and 30 kg, will now require a payment of Rs 1,900, Rs 3,800, Rs 5,700 and Rs 11,400. Earlier in the month of August last year, hiked charges to Rs 1425, Rs 2850, Rs 4,275 and Rs 8550 for prepaid excess luggage of  5, 10, 15 and 30 Kg. 

The new Indigo  rules also say, “If Customers who are booked on Lite Fare report at the airport with baggage to be checked-in, then they will have to pay Rs 200 to avail 15 kg baggage allowance.”

It further said, “Customer carrying more than the allowed baggage limits will be charged a rate of Rs 400 per kg (inclusive of GST, if applicable) for domestic travel only, a flat rate of Rs 525 per kg will be charged (or it will be charged as per base currency of reservation) for International travel at the time of check-in.”

SpiceJet 

The airliner says on its website that, passenger(s) carrying more than the baggage allowance i.e 15 kgs. will be charged at rate of Rs 400/ Kg for domestic travel only.

SpiceJet allows free checked baggage allowance of 15 kgs per passenger for all domestic bookings, from Ex-IXJ, SXR & IXL free checked in baggage allowance is 22kgs per passenger per flight. 

Due to airport security regulations, no cabin baggage is allowed on any flights originating from Jammu, Srinagar & Leh airports.

For hand baggage only fare no free check-in baggage allowance shall be permissible. Passengers who purchase this fare but have check-in baggage will be charged fare type change fee of Rs 400.

For flights originating from Jammu, Srinagar & Leh, hand-baggage is not permitted on board. Passengers are allowed to check-in seven (07) kg. of check-in baggage, free of cost; beyond which, for such weight, the above-mentioned Fare Type Change Fee of Rs 400 shall be chargeable to the passenger.

Both IndiGo and SpiceJet's new charges came into effect from June 22. 

GoAir 

This airline has raised charges for both pre-booked and prepaid excess baggage starting today. 

Charges levied by GoAir are similar to those by Indigo, the only difference is that they are levied on pre-purchase in the same increments of 5 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg & 30 kg. 

At Airport, Excess baggage from 16 kgs onwards would be charged at Rs 400 per kg effective 23rd June 2018.

Pre-paid excess baggage slabs and pricing are given below:

Starting from July 15, Jet Airways introduced a new facility for its passengers, one that will change their packing habits for sure. The airline will allow only one check-in bag.