When you buy an airline ticket in the Economy Class, what is that you are really paying for? One middle row seat. Because everything else has to be paid for.
Many Indian airlines have made 70 per cent of their seats chargeable if pre-booked. Which is why if you look at the aircraft seating, while web checking-in, you will only find a list of middle seats available in all the rows – no front rows, nor Emergency Exit ones. In some airlines, the front two rows have been re-designed to include a little extra leg space and conveniently re-designated as Business Class seats, which come with a welcome drink and free meal. Economy Class passengers regularly receive frantic messages on their phones urging them to upgrade to Business Class by paying anything between 25-75% of the fare. On an average an aisle and window seat costs Rs 200 more and an Emergency Exit seat costs Rs 500 extra.
This is only the seating, what about khaana-peena? Even a bottle of water has to be paid for these days, leave alone the cold Spinach and Corn sandwiches which come at a steep Rs 170 or the hot dal-chaval which is available for a cool Rs 300. Or the tasteless Biryani, Bhel and Oats which come in a ready-to-eat avatar.
Airlines have got stricter with baggage too these days. The new rule is that hand baggage over 7 kilos not to be allowed with the passenger. If you want to carry more than that, pay for it.
As many rules, so many ways to get around them. If you still want your favourite seat, web check-in which ever seat available, go to the counters a little early and request for a seat you want. If you are polite, the airline officials oblige without any problems. Same goes for the seats next the Exit – prove to the counter officials how desperately you are in need of them – good chance your request will be adhered to.
As for the food, nothing to beat ghar ka khana. Save your money and pack something tasty from home to munch away in the aircraft. Thankfully, there is no “Outside Eatables not Allowed” sign as yet and as long as there are no messy chutney or pickles as accompaniment, a good home meal is the cheapest and healthiest way out. The other day a Gujarati family of four on a flight to Delhi, had packed in Theplas and were seen munching away while the airhostess came by trying to sell her sandwiches.
There was news some months ago that the Civil Aviation Ministry was considering curtailing chargeable seats to 25% only but no progress on that as of now.
And by the way, much of the above information on ‘how to avoid paying the airlines anything extra’ was shared by airlines’ staff to PaGaLGuY.
Air-India – how we miss your hot meals!