Following a notification from the civil aviation ministry, all airlines have stopped charging an additional Rs 200 fee to issue boarding passes to passengers who arrive at the airport without having completed web check-in. On average, 10% of departing passengers or 2,500-3,000 flyers do not pre-check in and pay the boarding pass fee at the check-in desk.
Prior to the resumption of domestic flights following the lockdown on May 21, 2020, the ministry made it mandatory for passengers to do web check-in and either download or print their boarding pass. Following this, private carriers IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Go First (formerly Go Air) began charging Rs 100 to passengers who did not check in online. They raised the fee to Rs 200 in 2021.
While airlines claimed the fee was implemented to encourage web check-in and reduce crowding at check-in counters, the majority of those who did not do so had checked-in baggage that they needed to drop at the counter.
Airlines advised not to charge additional amount for issuing boarding passes
Following multiple complaints, the aviation ministry tweeted: “It has come to the notice of the ministry that airlines are charging additional amounts for issuing boarding passes from passengers. This additional amount is not in accordance with (rules). In view of the above, airlines are advised not to charge any additional amount for issuing boarding passes at the airport check-in counters.”
Airlines say that while frequent flyers have adopted the habit of web check-in, there is still a segment of the population that will queue up to check in when they travel. “People need to realise that web check-in allows them to reach the airport even 40-45 minutes prior to the flight’s estimated time of departure (ETD). Also, one can skip the queue at the check-in counter,” an airline official explained.
