[Newsbot]

Air travellers planning their summer vacation will have to cough up more. The state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) have hiked aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic carriers by around 20% and for international carriers close to 12% with effect from June 1 in the backdrop of spiralling global crude oil prices. Airlines are set to pass over 40% of the increased cost to the consumers as ATF comprises over 40% of their operating cost.

After the proposed hike, the cost of travelling in Rajdhani first class will be cheaper compared to travelling in a low cost airline.

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[Yogesh Sarkar]

Airline companies in India should really start basing fuel surcharges based on the distance and fuel costs in different cities. That way more and more people will start using air planes for short distances.

[anupmathur]

That way more and more people will start using air planes for short distances.

Not by a long shot! Delhi-Jaipur can be done comfortably in 5 hours.
Would you want to go by air? Keep in mind the complete chaos and unpredictability wrt air travel in India these days!
Recently, my friend's Del-Jaipur flight was delayed over 6 hours! That was apart from the horrendous state of affairs in reaching the airport and then ENTERING the airport! He regretted not having simply driven down.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Totally agree with you sir, airports have to be decongested and more organized especially with regards to providing accurate and transparent updates about delays and flight schedules.

Having said that, a person flying to Chennai on 2nd of July has to pay a minimum of Rs. 3,559 while someone heading to Jaipur on the same day has to pay Rs. 3,050! Even with the same airline (Jet Airways) the difference in ticket cost is barely Rs.2,000 even though difference in distance is quite a bit.

[Prasham]

I agree with Anup Sir as well as YS.

Planes shouldn't be used for distances less than 300 kms, If the roads are good. Generally we have to reach airport about 1hr to 45 mins in advance and then abou 30 mins are wasted waiting/collecting luggage. Again as most of the airports are quite far from city you have to travel another 15-30 mins to reach your destination. So including flight time (if its ontime) one shall require about 4 hours to 5 hours reach destination. That can be easily done in a car in around 5 hours. Moreover the cost AT Par if you are travelling single but if you are going with family, huge cost savings can be ensured.

Moreover with respect to comment of YS, the pricing policy of our airlines is terrible. Man Ahmedabad - Rajkot flight costs 2500 while Ahmedabad - Mumbai costs 2500 too. It terrible.

[anupamkansal]

Well the pricing policy is simple ... on routes with less competition or traffic price the tickets higher, and subsidies the fares on competitive routes to lure traffic.

I think the government has recently taken the right steps in regularizing the refund and fare rules. Airlines have been pricing their tickets in such an clever manner to fool the poor commuters ... e.g. the fuel surcharge goes into the pockets of the Airline and not the government (as the surcharge makes us believe) ... now many have started charging INR 100 for web bookings .... so if u purchase on the counter ur ticket is INR 100 cheaper ... this is activity based costing at its most ridiculous .... one fine day they will say Sir we will pay you Rs 50 to fly our airline, U only have to pay the taxes and surcharges fuel surcharge, congestion surcharge, metro airport use surcharge, Rs 150 is the Airhostess Service Surcharge ... Rs 250 is the pilot surcharge ... Rs. 100 for the stir u use to climb n come down surcharge ... etc. etc ...

All I would like to say ... go lalu go ... start more trains .... and we will use them ....

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Yup Lalu is doing a fantastic job, maybe he should start an Airline after his term in Railways is over.

[darth_lucifer]

Couple of weeks back American Airlines have come with a way to tackle rising fuel costs.Charging every customer 15$ per checked in bag.That way it seperates people who walk into planes with just a laptop case and another one who checks in two 50 pound bags and a big hand baggage.

I see that method being followed in most of the airlines.

[anupamkansal]

With the way the things re going, I really dont see any diff left between a full fare and a LCC ....

I dont think that the food served on Jet is worth the 2K premium they charge on many routes, though I do agree that they ahve more leg space.

So the questions is waht differentitates a Full Fare to a LCC?

looking for answers .....

[popsha]

The only difference between LCC and Full fare apart from the food served on-board is

LCC- when you travel on your own

Full fare- when the company pays for it

and a little difference in services and courtesy level in the employees.