Soon, access all air travel policies on one website

Air passengers can soon access air travel policy decisions on a single website.

Air passengers can soon access air travel policy decisions on a single website.

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The Air Passenger Association of India (APAI), a national body formed by frequent fliers, is revamping its web portal to better connect with travellers.

Within a month, the body will gather information from airlines, airports and aviation regulatory bodies across the world and offer the data at the click of a mouse.

“Small things such as baggage rules of different airlines and passenger compensation policies in different countries are often a grey area for passengers. Passengers can bank on us for such information,” said Sudhakar Reddy, national president, APAI.

APAI has tied up with Essentia, a US-based service provider for the project. The company will design the new website and moderate it. “We will ink the agreement next week,” he added.

Passengers will also be able to post their grievances in real time via an interactive tool on the website. “It will be very effective because then we can address the problem instantly,” added Reddy.

Frequent fliers feel that such a website would be helpful as airlines frequently tweak there policies. “Though the changes reflect on the airlines’ websites, they often get lost in the fine print,” said Sujit Wagh, Vashi-based entrepreneur who shuttles between Delhi and Mumbai at least twice a week.

Government websites such as the aviation ministry’s website and the one run by the safety regulator offer very few updates to passengers, claim travellers.

“We get to know about government policies only via newspapers and television. The website should dedicate a section to updates,” said Chanchal Gangurde, a frequent traveller.

Since APAI members are part of the ministry’s Civil Aviation Economic Advisory Committee (CAEAC) set up earlier this year for passenger redressal, the website would also serve as a platform for feedback from fliers.