Indigo joins the fare choices bandwagon
Now seems to be the time to actively market differential pricing (read: differential benefits) on airfares (and we're not talking just travel classes). The trend is catching on globally, and closer home, Etihad and Jet Airways have done it already, with some success it seems. That success is probably what has triggered Indigo to follow suit, with Fare Types, their own version of fare choices! Read on...
Lite Fare
This is a new category for them and basically is aimed at the day trippers. For folks who have no checked in luggage and only hand luggage, this is your fare type. Cancellation and flight changes all entail fees and this seems to be on offer only on the domestic flights of 6E. Specific seat selection entails additional costs. However, there is a 15 day advance booking period, so this won't work for last-minute trips.
Regular Fare
The only difference between this and the previous category being, here your allowed to check-in 1 piece of luggage up to 15 kgs (international - 20kgs, Dubai & Muscat - 30 kgs), which in really what one would normally pay and get with Indigo. In this category too, cancellation and flight changes all entail fees. Specific seat selection entails additional costs. However, there's no minimum advance booking period.
Flexible Fare
This is a new fare category, which aside of the benefits of the regular fare, also allows unlimited changes to your tickets, and free seating on-board including the extra leg room seats. Cancellations still entail a cost though.
Here's a Chennai-Mumbai sample itinerary.
And here's a Delhi-Mumbai sample itinerary.
In effect, the difference in fares between the Lite and Regular options is around Rs 100 per sector, which if you ask me, isn't much. However, there are two main differences in benefits, that makes paying the additional Rs 100 worth it:
I often travel to conferences and meetings, when I return with either gifts or some sort of materials that we've used at the conference. In those situations, I tend to check-in my bags on the return trip, and so the regular fares are rather useful.
On the other hand, the difference between the regular and flexible fares is much higher - upwards of Rs 2200 per sector - which correlates almost exactly to the change fee. However, flexible fares permit unlimited changes, so this may be useful if you're someone with extremely flexible plans. And of course, you get free seating (normally costs Rs 300 or more).
Fare types
As with all things Indigo, the folks at Interglobe have kept the offerings relatively simple, with only 3 basic fare types - Lite, Regular and Flexible. Each fare type seems to be aimed at specific traveler types. Here's a summary:
Lite Fare
This is a new category for them and basically is aimed at the day trippers. For folks who have no checked in luggage and only hand luggage, this is your fare type. Cancellation and flight changes all entail fees and this seems to be on offer only on the domestic flights of 6E. Specific seat selection entails additional costs. However, there is a 15 day advance booking period, so this won't work for last-minute trips.
Regular Fare
The only difference between this and the previous category being, here your allowed to check-in 1 piece of luggage up to 15 kgs (international - 20kgs, Dubai & Muscat - 30 kgs), which in really what one would normally pay and get with Indigo. In this category too, cancellation and flight changes all entail fees. Specific seat selection entails additional costs. However, there's no minimum advance booking period.
Flexible Fare
This is a new fare category, which aside of the benefits of the regular fare, also allows unlimited changes to your tickets, and free seating on-board including the extra leg room seats. Cancellations still entail a cost though.
Exploring the fare types
We tried out a few quick options, just to get an indication of prices. Because of various other promotional fares (sales, return-only fares, etc), or a particular fare type not being available, it is very difficult to compare prices generally, so we've considered only those fares that are highlighted in red.Here's a Chennai-Mumbai sample itinerary.
And here's a Delhi-Mumbai sample itinerary.
In effect, the difference in fares between the Lite and Regular options is around Rs 100 per sector, which if you ask me, isn't much. However, there are two main differences in benefits, that makes paying the additional Rs 100 worth it:
- you don't need to book 15 days out (though you'll be taking a risk with the actual fare, in that case).
- you get free check-in baggage allowance.
I often travel to conferences and meetings, when I return with either gifts or some sort of materials that we've used at the conference. In those situations, I tend to check-in my bags on the return trip, and so the regular fares are rather useful.
On the other hand, the difference between the regular and flexible fares is much higher - upwards of Rs 2200 per sector - which correlates almost exactly to the change fee. However, flexible fares permit unlimited changes, so this may be useful if you're someone with extremely flexible plans. And of course, you get free seating (normally costs Rs 300 or more).
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