Dr Edmond Fernandes, Consultant Physician and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader has called on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and select airlines like Indigo to implement aa 24 hour rule recognizing international baggage allowance for onward domestic flights as India continues to enhance its sectoral and regional connectivity.

A passenger rights issue affecting thousands of Indians returning from international travel, this has been a concern for many years and airlines have been making profits from the limitations of this rule.
 

A passenger arriving in India from an international destination may have to take a domestic connecting flight to reach their final destination. In many cases, this domestic journey takes place within a few hours of international arrival and is clearly part of the same journey.However, passengers can face a substantially lower baggage entitlement on the domestic sector and may consequently be required to pay excess-baggage charges merely because their journey involves a domestic connecting flight.This is particularly burdensome for returning students, professionals, families, tourists, senior citizens and Indians carrying essential personal belongings after an international journey.
 

Dr Fernandes has urged IndiGo Airlines, DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to introduce a clear and uniform passenger-friendly rule:
 

Where a passenger arrives in India on an international flight and undertakes an onward domestic flight within 24 hours of international arrival, the baggage allowance applicable to the international journey should be honoured on the domestic connecting sector.
 

The passenger could simply be required to produce:
 

1.       The international ticket/boarding pass;

2.       Proof of international arrival;

3.       The onward domestic ticket; and

4.       Evidence that the domestic flight is within 24 hours of international arrival.
 

This would not require airlines to permit unlimited baggage. It would merely recognise the original international baggage entitlement for a short domestic continuation of the same journey.
 

Why these matters
 

A passenger who has legitimately purchased an international journey with a specified baggage allowance should not face a sudden and disproportionate baggage penalty merely because the final destination requires a domestic connection irrespective of any PNR. Often so small towns do not have a steady PNR.
 

A transparent 24-hour rule would:

·       Protect passengers from unexpected excess-baggage costs;

·       Improve transparency in airline pricing;

·       Reduce disputes at check-in counters;

·       Promote consistency among Indian airlines;

·       Improve India’s passenger-friendly aviation standards; and protect passenger rights

·       Strengthen consumer confidence in domestic air travel.

Dr Fernandes has urged DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to examine this matter and prescribe a uniform passenger rights frameworks applicable to all domestic carriers in India, connecting the nation. He has also asked Indigo Airlines to voluntarily adopt this 24-hour policy as a passenger-friendly measure, even before any regulatory mandate is issued which can demonstrate leadership and foresight.
 

This is a small policy change that could make a significant difference to millions of Indians travelling home from abroad. 
 

Let everything not be about making money, but make a difference too.