No discounted fares for Trichy flyers

Frequent flyers have reason to be happy in the pre-summer lean season as airlines normally slash fares. But except for a handful of lucky early birds, or for those who plan their travel meticulously well in advance, the so-called reduction in fares seems to be only a mirage, say people from the airline industry.

Each airline's discounted fare tariff structure is a complicated thing that naive flyers won't understand.

Air Asia's cargo manager Hari Murthy told TOI that slashing fares is not realistic, though the lean period of February and March reports only 50 to 60% occupancy. Trichy airport has at 111 services including four domestic services, with Air Asia alone accounting for 21 services a week to Kuala Lumpur.

It was initially rumoured that the domestic sector discounts were first announced by SpiceJet, followed by IndiGo, and Air India Express was forced to follow suit. On the contrary, the SpiceJet has announced that their daily service on Trichy-Chennai sector stands cancelled until further notice, at least until March this year.

Air India Express' Trichy manager Prahaladan said that unlike Air India, Air India Express did not offer any discounts, no matter what the season was. In short, one has to pay the net according to the calculations of the computer. At Trichy, the flying conditions are totally different from other stations as there is hardly any competition for Jet Airway that operates three services on the Trichy-Chennai sector. "So the question of slashing the fare does not arise, since the only other connecting service to Chennai is offered by Air India Express that maintains its price as a constant," said a Trichy-based Jet Airways' representative without wanting to be quoted.

Sources say that it would cost a passenger Rs 3,250 from Trichy to Chennai, and at the eleventh hour it would be raised to above Rs 5,000. A source close to the industry said that airlines were trying to create an impression that the fares had been slashed drastically to attract future booking. For instance, as much as 30% is offered by some airlines, and booking is open six months prior to the travelling date. "But if one were not to travel on the appointed date, then he runs the risk of paying the "difference amount" (the minimum is pegged at Rs 1,500) plus the date-change penalty.

Creating an illusion and attract the bookings in the lean season is seen as a win-win situation for both the travelers, who get their tickets a little cheaper, and the airlines which need not fly with vacant seats. However, V Subbu of IATA agents association in Trichy, said, "The airlines make a big noise while slashing the prices for small term, but mom is the word when they are increased."Source