Air India revises group booking policy

Air India has revised its domestic group booking policy. 

The new policy would be applicable with effect from 1 December 2012 for a group of minimum 10 passengers with no maximum limit. Under the new policy, tour operators/travel agents/individual parties will have to send  a written request to regional group section or station manager’s office.

The fare quoted by the group desk will be applicable for the requested itinerary and will be flight, date and sector specific. The airline will consider two child tickets as one adult for the purpose of TCP. No infant discount, FOC’s and open dated segments will be permitted for group bookings. The policy will also allow 10% name change prior to ticketing, while no name change will be allowed after ticketing.

Cancellations charges:

Prior to Ticketing: Penalty of INR1,500 per passenger, per segment or subject to a maximum of the total advance deposit amount.

Post Ticketing: In case the ticketing is done at any AI office, penalty of INR1,500 per passenger per segment and applicable RAF to be forfeited from the refund amount. In case of ticketing done by an agent, penalty of INR1,500 per passenger per segment will be charged, and the refund can be claimed through BSP on applicable RAF. If the ticket is cancelled within seven days prior to departure, 100% of the gross amount will be forfeited.

IATO welcomes AI’s group booking policy

The Indian Tour Operators Association (IATO) has welcomed Air India’s new group booking policy. “We had several meetings with the Minister of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Air India to discuss our pending issues with the airline on group bookings, deposit of advance payment, air-connectivity at various sector etc. We feel happy that all our suggestions got positive consideration. We have also given a commitment that we will give Air India first preference in all our bookings for both domestic and international travel,” said Subhash Goyal, President of IATO.