This just looks like a Monopoly game instruction but for those who are flying out of Delhi from January 1, 2013 onwards, it could be some money in your pocket.
The Delhi Airport has had to reduce their Airport Development Fee, one of the highest in the world, to more moderate levels from January 1, 2013 on the instructions of the regulator. Before January 1, 2013, the ADF used to be Rs. 200 ($4) for domestic flights and Rs. 1,300 ($ 24) for international flights taking off from Delhi airport. The entire fee is supposed to contribute to the development of the airport.
From January 1, the new ADF applicable is Rs. 100 (~$2) for all domestic departures, and Rs. 600 (~$11) for international ones. Airlines charge the ADF on behalf of the airport operators and are supposed to pass on the ADF to them. However, if you booked your tickets before January 2013 and were charged the old ADF rates, you are entitled to a partial ADF refund by the airline. Airlines will be allowed to keep a collection charge of Rs. 2.5 – Rs. 5 for each transaction.
Now, I have no clue if the airlines are going to automatically issue a refund or one needs to request it to get it, but if you booked tickets in 2012 to travel via Delhi airport in 2013 it seems like it will be a wise idea to contact your travel agent or airline about the refund in question.
At last count, me and my family have tickets booked on Air India, SpiceJet, Indigo and Jet Airways which will undergo the drill. I think I will just contact one airline a day in the coming days to figure out how will they refund the monies.
Do share your experiences as well, with a positive or negative scenario so that we can all get the money back together!
Live From A Lounge is present on Facebook, Twitter & available via email, RSS.
Update: United has refunded me for the 2 tickets in an amount of 11.10 USD each. So this might work with other airlines also if followed up with them.
Same scenario for me, 2 tickets booked with United in Nov’ 12 for travel from DEL-EWR in Feb’13.
Sent in a refund request in last week of Feb, they are still checking on it.
Hi Aj,
I booked DEL-PNQ for 21st Feb 9W flight. The response from 9W is as below:
—————
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,
Thank you for your email and contacting Jet Airways.
With regards to your email,please allow us to mention that YM tax i.e. Development fee is reduced from Jan, 2013 and your ticket is issued on 18th Nov, 2012 no tax amount is refundable.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely
Sunita Shukla
Web Manager
Jet Airways India Ltd
——————————————-
Is this correct?
AI call center don’t know any thing about it and asked me to contact Airport office.
@Gaurav, I have a few tickets booked myself and I will report back when I get the refund and how.
Update- The airlines don’t seem to know about this or direct me to the travel agent and travel agent directs me back to the airline for the refund. Not sure what else to do.
Hi AJ, I have booked Hyd to Patna on AirIndia, with a change over at Delhi. Will refund applies ?
Thanks for the heads up! We’re headed to DEL next month and booked our tickets almost a year ago.
Yes, read about this earlier. Do you know whether this applies only to tickets originating in India, or ANY tickets issued anywhere, which simply had a flight out of DEL after 1/1/13?
@golmaal this should apply on any ticket where the ADF was charged in its old form
Fwiw, I called Travelocity to get the credit and they said the airline will directly handle it and they have nothing to do with it. I guess I’ll have to wait till Monday (offices are closed over the weekend) to get in touch with the airline and see what they have to say.