International airlines doling out offers to attract Indian flyers

Global airline majors are doling out low fares and promotional offers to attract Indian flyers in the festive season.

The UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic has started an offer for this festive season. Passengers will now have to pay for just 68 percent of the base fare when booking in premium economy and upper class.

Adding to the offer, the airline said travellers booking in premium economy will be reimbursed Rs.6,800 on the total fare for bookings till Aug 14 for a travel period valid up to Nov 30.

Middle-East airline major Qatar Airways has also begun offering Indian customers discounts up to 25 percent on economy and premium cabin fares to a wide variety of destinations.

The promotion, that runs till Aug 15, offers passengers a four-month travel window until Dec 10.

British Airways has also commenced a similar marketing initiative for Indian customers for destinations in North America and Canada with special monsoon offer which has all-inclusive fares starting at Rs.65,880 for tickets booked by Aug 31 for outbound travel until Dec 31.

South East Asian passenger carrier Singapore Airlines has also started special promotional campaign for flyers to Australia at an all-inclusive, return economy class fare, of Rs.55,000 onwards, for a minimum of two persons travelling together.

Not to be left behind, the low cost airline major AirAsia is trying to attract passengers with its new scheme - Premium Flex which provides benefits such as flexibility to change flight up to two times with no change fee and complimentary 20 kg baggage allowance.

Earlier, domestic airline company Jet Airways and its Abu Dhabi-based partner Etihad Airways had started a 72-hour joint special fare offer.

According to Jet Airways, the offer will be available July 25-27 with travel effective from Sep 1, 2014 till June 15, 2015 for flights within India and from Sep 1 till Nov 30, 2014 for flights to international destinations.

While Jet was focusing on air fares, its Middle east partner concentrated on enhancing more connections between India, the UAE and other key markets from Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kozhikode and Hyderabad.