An Open Letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation - DGCAIndia - Exposing unethical practices by Ticketing Platforms

Dear DGCA India,

As a citizen who frequently travels and as someone who has built independent platforms with transparency at their core, I write to draw your attention to a widespread practice that continues to erode consumer trust in airfare booking.

Many websites and online travel platforms that sell air tickets do not treat the convenience fee as a fixed, clearly disclosed charge. Instead, the fee is often adjusted depending on the bank offer, card offer, or any other discount the user selects. The result is that the advertised “offer” becomes largely illusory. The platform simply reduces the visible discount by increasing the convenience fee for that particular user, ensuring the final amount remains nearly the same. This is not genuine discounting; it is a practice that misleads passengers.

I request that DGCA make the following rules strict and enforceable for every website and platform booking airfares:

1. The convenience fee must be clearly stated upfront and must remain the same for the same flight, fare class, and passenger count, irrespective of any bank offer, coupon, or promotional offer selected.
2. Any discount or offer must be applied on the final total payable amount after the base fare, taxes, and the fixed convenience fee have been calculated. The convenience fee cannot be manipulated to neutralise or dilute the offer.
3. Platforms must display a transparent, itemised breakdown so passengers can see the base fare, taxes, the fixed convenience fee, and the actual value of any offer applied on the final total.

Without strict enforcement, these platforms will continue to adjust fees in ways that effectively scam passengers while still claiming to offer “deals.” Clear rules and consistent penalties for non-compliance will protect travellers and restore fairness in the booking process.

I urge DGCA to act on this promptly so that every Indian passenger can book with confidence, knowing that the price they see is genuine and that offers mean what they claim.

Innovate. Implement. Inspire.

Yours sincerely,
Arunkanth V
Filmmaker, Entrepreneur & An Indian Innovator.

Founder, Infopluto Media Works Pvt Ltd | AK Online OTT, IndieMa.in - Social Media Platform

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