(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The airlines say this will dissuade passengers from carrying too much of excess baggage on board after the hand baggage are already weighed at check-in counters.
Dubai - Several Indians in the UAE have come down hard on their country’s national carrier and its low-cost airline for deciding to implement stricter carry-on baggage rules.
From tomorrow Air India (AI) and Air India Express (AIE) are slated to strictly restrict the free allowance for hand baggage inclusive of duty free items to 8kg and 7kg on flights respectively.
Cabin baggage will be weighed at the gates before passengers board the flights and they will have to pay Dh60 for every kilo in excess. The airlines say this will dissuade passengers from carrying too much of excess baggage on board after the hand baggage are already weighed at check-in counters.
Responding to a Khaleej Times report on this several people criticized the airlines for implementing the new rule especially during the peak summer travel time.
Yasser bin Ali posted on our Facebook page: “That’s not fair...people often go home after two years and they won’t be able to carry too much luggage…”
Thangamani wrote on KT website: “This is not (fair) for the passengers. Cabin baggage empty weight itself is 3-4 kg and then what can (we) keep inside for another 3kg. So nothing can be carried as hand baggage.” (sic)
Many passengers like Mohammed Imtiyaz regretted that they had booked tickets in July.
Very few people like Edwin Thomas supported the move. He wrote: “This is a pretty welcome move. I have seen passengers carrying milk powder soaps Tang powder etc. Superior quality of such items (is) available in India. All other airlines such as Air Arabia Emirates Etihad Airways Fly Dubai and more are already following these rules strictly.”
However several others lambasted the airlines saying they should fix the issues of poor services and flight delays before adding to the financial woes of the passengers.
They also questioned the justification of the airline that the move is aimed at reducing the load on the planes and thereby improving aircraft safety.
Shankar Ram wrote: “Funny comment on Air Safety!! So which means I can pay Dh6000 and carry 100kgs as excess baggage in air craft and no issues on safety??” (sic)
“Suppose if all the passengers are willing to pay extra and take the same amount of baggage won’t that affect the aircraft safety? Please advise” commented Ranjith M.R.
Asked if there will be a limit on the excess baggage that passengers can carry by paying the fee Prem Sagar manager of Air India and Air India Express in Dubai and Sharjah replied in negative.
“The idea of charging the passengers is to prevent them from carrying too heavy hand baggage after buying too much of duty free items…The concern about overweight becomes when the baggage is not weighed after their purchase. Once it is weighed it is accounted for.
The captain can work out the fuel requirement the payload etc.”
He said the budget airline AIE has already increased free allowance for checked baggage from 20kgs to 30kgs throughout the year. “That itself is a big free allowance and passengers have the option of purchasing additional 10kg allowance for a lower rate.”
Sagar said the fee for excess baggage that passengers check in is less than what they will have to pay at the gate.
“Our check-in agents will advise passengers carrying heavy hand baggage to check them in and pay less so that they can buy duty free items and avoid paying a higher fee at the gate.”