Air India scraps transaction fee on tickets bought directly

By IANS,

New Delhi : From Wednesday, state-owned carrier Air India will not charge any transaction fee on tickets booked directly through its website or registered offices, an airline official said.


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However, the transaction fee – a minimum of Rs.350 for domestic economy ticket and a maximum of Rs.10,000 for international passengers – would continue to be charged if passengers buy tickets through travel agents.

Other airlines are likely to make a similar announcement soon.

Travel agents associations Nov 20 asked air operators to withdraw the transaction fee system that was introduced Nov 1, and demanded that the earlier five percent travel agents’ commission be reinstated.

Airline operators are likely to meet representatives of travel agents associations to sort out the issue. About 85 percent of airline bookings in India are done through travel agents, including online agencies.

Two major travel agencies, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), have made it clear that its member-agents would not accept the new system and continue to demand commission from the airlines.

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