Pre-booking IndiGo, SpiceJet extra-space seats to cost more

Fliers of two no-frill carriers, IndiGo and SpiceJet, will have to shell out more if they pre- booking a seat of their choice or wants to collect early their baggage from conveyor belt at the airport as the airlines have decided to tag a cost to these services, if availed. The move comes after the civil aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allowed the airlines to charge for all such services.

According to IndiGo website, a passenger can book <g data-gr-id="22">a premium seats in rows 1,12</g> and 13, which offers extra leg room, by paying an additional Rs 600 per person. Similarly, a customer opting for a window seat to have view, or an aisle seat for easy access will have to shell out Rs 300 per person extra for seats which fall in rows 2-11 and Rs 200 for seats on rows 14-29.

Charges for international flights have been pegged at Rs 800 per person for premium seats, Rs 400 per person for window or aisle seats on rows 2-11 and Rs 300 per person for window or aisle seats on rows 14-29, according to the airline. The airline, however, left the option open for passengers as in case he or she does not wish to avail of such a service, the seat would be assigned at the time of check-in without any charge.  

Budget carrier SpiceJet too had on Tuesday rolled out four new services for travellers, albeit for a price. Of the four, SpiceJet Assist is a service that provides assistance to passengers at the airport for both departure and arrival and comes at an introductory fee of Rs 500 per passenger per sector, the airline said in a statement.

Similarly, priority check-in, for which a customer would have to shell out an additional Rs 200 other than the ticket price, allows passengers to beat the queue by checking-in at specially designated priority check-in counters. The DGCA had on April 14 allowed the carriers to charge more for availing facilities such as preferred seats and use of lounges among others.