Jet Airways new fee on credit card booking transaction in India generates protests.
DELHI – Indian carrier Jet Airways is getting under fire by the IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) following the introduction facilitation charges imposed as a new charge on travel agents transaction when booking tickets via credit cards. According to the association, the new charge contravenes with a note from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate Heneral of Civil Aviation which deem such a transaction as illegal. Jet Airways announced in a November 14, 2013 note that it would introduce the charge. IAAI President Biji Eapen has asked Jet Airways to withdraw the new charge with immediate effect.
In a letter to Jet Airways management and reported by Indian travel trade publication TravelBiz Monitor, Biji Eapen indicated that “Any charge over and above the fare, whether called facilitation charge or service charge or transaction fee or convenience fee, is illegal as per aircraft rule I35 read with clause 54 A. Everything is to be included in the fare itself. Neither the airline nor the agent can lawfully collect any charge other than the applicable fare from a passenger for making a booking and issuing a ticket.”
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
