Vistara is moving fast with adding on as many services and products to become or remain the preferred carrier of Indians. Yesterday, they launched another suite of products/services which essentially help them catch up with the other full-service carriers while cutting out the middleman.
Called Vistara Direct, Vistara wants you to come directly to them for making your reservations, which helps them reduce the payout to the travel agencies. Here is what you get when you book direct:
- Free change/cancellation within 24 hours
- Complimentary Vistara Priority Services
- Double Club Vistara points
- Additional Baggage Allowance
- Free Upgrades & Tickets between October & December 2017
Free Changes/Cancellation within 24 Hours
The free change/cancellation within 24 hours is an American concept implemented by law there and first launched in India by Jet Airways. I’ve used this many a times when stuck with a reschedule on my agenda, and Vistara making this work would encourage me to use them more often. However, a key difference with respect to Vistara is, you can only change/cancel your plans at least 7-days out. Additionally, you have to call to make a cancellation/modification and you cannot do it online yet.
Complimentary Vistara Priority Services
Vistara’s Priority Services suite includes free priority baggage handling/priority check-in and boarding. Anyone who books directly can now receive these services and should proceed to the Premium Economy counter to check-in.
Free 5 KG Excess Baggage
Vistara is now offering 5 KG extra baggage allowance to those who book via their website directly. That means, if you are travelling in Economy, you get 20 Kg instead of 15 kilograms. This brings them closer to Air India who offers 25 Kg of free baggage allowance to everyone even in Economy. At the moment, Vistara confirms this is a limited time offer, but I’d expect this to stick around for long.
Double Club Vistara points
Vistara will offer double Club Vistara points for those who book Direct with them and fly October 1 onwards. Can’t say enough about this for those who
Free Upgrades & Tickets between October & December 2017
This is the masterstroke to get behaviour turned towards booking directly. Vistara will be offering the following vouchers to those who book & fly directly:
- 6 Economy class flights in a month: 1 PE upgrade voucher
- 6 Premium Economy Class flights in a month: 1 PE Upgrade voucher + 1 base-fare waived flight on Vistara Premium Economy (one-way)
- 6 Business Class flights in a month: 1 Business class-base fare waiver ticket
Bottomline
I think Vistara is being very generous with those who book direct, and I sure do hope this increases the case for booking direct for them. Full marks to them for making this happen!
Would you be booking Vistara more often now with the new Book Direct scheme?
I am waiting to get rid of JetPrivilege the moment Vistara comes to Chennai!
I feel they should expand their network out of Delhi to do some serious catchup.
they should also upgrade their low fare tickets against upgrade voucher of fliers, which they are not doing at present in line of Jet Airways.