Passengers of Jet Airways and its newly rebranded low-cost subsidiary (see story here), JetKonnect, now have to pay an extra Rs50 (US$0.9) per copy for printing their previously purchased e-tickets at Indian airports served by the carrier.
As per Indian civil aviation authority's security requirements, passengers have to show hard copies of their confirmed flight tickets before entering airports in the country.
The move has attracted harsh criticism across the carrier’s social media platforms, with passengers accusing Jet Airways of trying to “make a quick buck,” as one Facebook user put it.
But Jet Airways defended its move in a statement, saying that since the carrier usually has offices or stalls outside Indian airports for last-minute ticket buyers, “a significant number of guests” queue up “at our counters for re-prints of e-tickets, due to which dedicated resources are being increasingly deployed.
“The last-minute pressure for e-ticket reprints is also causing great inconvenience to our guests who want to purchase tickets for immediate departures.” The carrier added that the charge will help cover the "increased cost of servicing of e-ticket reprints."
The carrier clarified that this fee does not apply to original prints of tickets bought at the counter, but only re-prints of e-tickets bought in advance. “We encourage all guests to get an e-ticket print at the time of ticket issuance,” the statement says. It added that Jet Airways is working with “various stakeholders to provide seamless travel using mobile and bar code technology which will do away with e-ticket prints.”
Platinum members of the carrier’s frequent flyer programme, Jet Privilege, are exempt from this charge.
For more information, visit www.jetairways.com
Alisha Haridasani
