Air India has announced the introduction of a simplified purchases cabin upgrade process.
Air India has launched Upgrade+ which will enable guests with eligible bookings to purchase instant, confirmed upgrades to the front cabins at fixed prices. The new feature enables Air India passengers to opt for upgrades to premium cabins between 72 hours and 12 hours before a flight, subject to availability. Alternatively, Air India guests can purchase cabin upgrades at the airline’s airport counters at the time of checking in.
With the launch of Upgrade+, the airline has done away with its “Bid & Upgrade” programme, whereby passengers used to receive the email asking them to bid an amount they like to upgrade to a premium cabin if they are interested, and if they bid the highest amount, they would be upgraded for that amount.
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With Upgrade+, Air India guests will receive the benefits of the upgraded cabin, such as increased baggage allowance, priority check-in at dedicated counters, boarding and baggage handling, on board amenities, and a delectable culinary experience. However, the fare conditions of the original booking will apply to upgraded bookings, including cancellation, rebooking fees, and accrual of Flying Returns miles.
Passengers with confirmed, Air India-issued booking documents for flights operated by the airline would be eligible to opt for upgrades using Upgrade+. They would either receive e-mail invitation to upgrade their bookings or will be able to check their eligibility using the widget on the Upgrade+ webpage.
Air India currently operates three types of Premium cabin on its aircraft: Premium Economy (currently available only on select flights to North America), Business Class (available on almost all domestic and international routes), and First Class (available on select long-haul routes).
Featured image by Hindu BusinessLine
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