House panel quizzes airlines over excess luggage charge

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has questioned the top managements of all major private airlines in the country over an "exorbitant rise" in excess luggage charge and asked them to submit a report comparing their fees with those of their foreign counterparts. At a recent meeting, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, suggested the government draft a policy on baggage charges and that the airlines should not be allowed to set the free-of-cost luggage carry limit.

All private airlines allow only up to 15 kg of luggage on domestic flights free of cost, while the state-owned Air India allows up to 25 kg. The panel called the top managements of all major private airlines — Indigo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Air Asia and Vistara — to brief the members over their recent decision to hike baggage charges and also dynamic pricing of air tickets.

Some private airlines recently increased the excess baggage charges by 33 per cent, a member of the panel said.