NEW DELHI: If an airline involuntarily downgrades a passenger who purchased a industry, first or top rate financial system price tag, to a decrease cabin magnificence on the time of check-in, they might be required to refund all the top rate fare paid and fly the individual loose. value. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday stated it’s quickly going to factor laws to give protection to client rights on this example after retaining stakeholder session. These upcoming laws will follow to all airways that perform to and from India, stated dgca Chief Arun Kumar.
“In view of rapid expansion of air services within India and on international routes to/from India and with the increase in the volume of passenger traffic, it has been noticed that sometimes airlines downgrade passengers. For example a passenger who has booked his/her ticket on first class, business class or premium economy but is downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unserviceable seats, change of aircraft, or overbooking,” Kumar said.
For such situations, the DGCA is in the process of amending its Civil Aviation Requirement (rules) regarding facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights “to protect the rights of air travelers affected by downgrading their ticket.
“The amendment will allow the passenger, who is downgraded involuntarily from booked class of ticket, to receive the full value of ticket including taxes as refund from the airline and the airline will carry the passenger free of cost in the next available class. However, this proposal will go through stakeholder consultation and the final regulation shall be published and made applicable afterwards,” Kumar said.
The DGCA had this June asked a leading full service carrier to avoid selling unserviceable business class seats after finding that a significant number of people who had bought tickets for that cabin were downgraded to economy at the time of check-in. The problem, on this airline, arose due to an old fleet with poorly maintained seats. The regulator had conducted a probe into the issue after receiving complaints from passengers.
“In the recent past, a number of business class passengers were downgraded to economy on account of unserviceable seats. DGCA took note of this and conducted an inquiry. We have warned (the airline) from booking more business class passengers than serviceable seats available. Any violation will invite enforcement action,” DGCA resources had stated in June. With the proposed upcoming laws, the DGCA appears to be taking that motion promised in June.
“In view of rapid expansion of air services within India and on international routes to/from India and with the increase in the volume of passenger traffic, it has been noticed that sometimes airlines downgrade passengers. For example a passenger who has booked his/her ticket on first class, business class or premium economy but is downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unserviceable seats, change of aircraft, or overbooking,” Kumar said.
For such situations, the DGCA is in the process of amending its Civil Aviation Requirement (rules) regarding facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights “to protect the rights of air travelers affected by downgrading their ticket.
“The amendment will allow the passenger, who is downgraded involuntarily from booked class of ticket, to receive the full value of ticket including taxes as refund from the airline and the airline will carry the passenger free of cost in the next available class. However, this proposal will go through stakeholder consultation and the final regulation shall be published and made applicable afterwards,” Kumar said.
The DGCA had this June asked a leading full service carrier to avoid selling unserviceable business class seats after finding that a significant number of people who had bought tickets for that cabin were downgraded to economy at the time of check-in. The problem, on this airline, arose due to an old fleet with poorly maintained seats. The regulator had conducted a probe into the issue after receiving complaints from passengers.
“In the recent past, a number of business class passengers were downgraded to economy on account of unserviceable seats. DGCA took note of this and conducted an inquiry. We have warned (the airline) from booking more business class passengers than serviceable seats available. Any violation will invite enforcement action,” DGCA resources had stated in June. With the proposed upcoming laws, the DGCA appears to be taking that motion promised in June.