Since making their debut on the flying circuit, low-cost airlines have doled out sky-high concessions and special packages to lure consumers.

But the ride has been a lot rougher than expected for most, as several conditions in many of the schemes are tough for travelers to follow.

Recently, low-cost airline GoAir introduced the ‘The GoAir Challenge’, according to which, if the price paid for the ticket bought on a competing airline is lower than that of GoAir, the customer will get twice the difference in fares reimbursed, as well as the cancellation fee for terminating the seat with the other carrier.

Let’s take a look at the conditions required to win the challenge. The first step is to find an airline that offers fares lower than that of GoAir.

Next, you have to make sure that the ticket is for the same date and same cabin class, for an aircraft with exactly the same fare rules and restrictions, and with a similar size as the GoAir aircraft on the same route.

The operative words here are ‘same’ and ‘similar’. It’s almost as if you are required to don the mantle of an astrologer and produce the perfect match-making horoscope. Getting the size right may even test your rusty mathematics skills.

An aircraft size involves standard measurements such as the wingspan, overall length, tail height and interior cabin width. Size may also imply the number of seats and the type of aircraft. After match-making and maths, you need to get the timing and placing right.

The other ticket must be purchased within two hours of having purchased the GoAir ticket and must be for a flight that is within 90 minutes of the scheduled GoAir flight.

You then need to call a GoAir travel consultant on the same day and fax the ticket to him. Travel must originate and conclude in India. There are ‘exceptional’ hurdles lined up for you as well.

For example, GoAir’s ‘Lowest Airfares Guarantee’ does not apply to package fares, such as airfares sold as part of a travel package, nor does it apply to airfares that have been reduced as a result of promotional discounts.

If you feel like you’ve given up already, there are more such low-grade rules of other no-frills carriers.

Airlines like SpiceJet and Air Deccan charge an extra sum for correcting misspelled names. Airlines generally do not allow passengers to board the aircraft if they get their spellings wrong.

So keep your eyes wide open while booking your tickets online and double-check to ensure the titles Mr and Ms are not interchanged.

Also, think twice before enrolling for special schemes as they may turn out to be double-edged swords. While these schemes do offer heavy discounts, you stand to lose a lot of money if you quit the scheme since you won’t get any refund.

Air Deccan has a policy of free seating and does not provide pre-assigned seat numbers during boarding. This first-come-first-served policy may lead to a mad scramble for seats, and you may end up feeling like you’re actually boarding a crowded Mumbai local train.

Besides the above-mentioned inconveniences, passengers also have to put up with regular flight delays and cancellations.

Hence, they need to be aware of their rights and privileges and find an appropriate redressal system to address their grievances.

Passengers can approach the consumer courts after lodging a complaint with the concerned airline. The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 can be used to file a complaint against a low cost airline, but you will have to establish negligence on the part of the airline.

A better option is to become a member of an organization like the Air Passengers Association of India, which takes up cudgels on behalf of aggrieved air passengers.

When is the best time to book cheap flights?

It is identified that there is an ideal time during which it is easier to book the cheapest flights is from four months to three weeks before the departure date of your flight. It is also known as the prime booking window.

Also, prices for plane tickets tend to go expensive closure to the departure.

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