Offer makes tickets equivalent to Indian fares By Sheena ShahaniINDIAN carriers have gone a step further in their campaign to lure passengers from the UAE by offering them the option of buying their international and domestic tickets at the fares available in India converted to their equivalent in foreign currency.The strategy has been introduced this year to gain a share of those travellers who usually buy their tickets from India for economic reasons. The move is said to have four-fold benefits. It will help making inroads into the sizeable chunk of passengers who buy their tickets in India for travel originating out of India, it will promote rise in sales in the overseas territory, it will help in foreign exchange generation and benefit key travel partners - the travel agents, who get a commission for each ticket issued in the UAE."Airlines usually quote for this purpose the dollar rate, after applying the prevailing bankers' selling rates or BSR", explained Ratan Bali, Air India's Marketing Manager for Dubai and the Northern Emirates.Jet Airways will introduce new business class fares for travel within India equivalent to Indian rupee fares converted to local currency at prevailing exchange rates from April 1. The move follows the introduction of similar rupee equivalent fares for economy class travel from February 1. The two decisions are the result of passenger surveys conducted by the airline's Gulf, Middle East and Africa office, which is headquartered in Dubai."The answer was more or less unanimous - a lot of Indians said they bought their tickets for domestic travel or even for foreign travel and then continuing the journey domestically not in their country of residence but in or from India because the INR (Indian Rupee) fare worked out cheaper for them, " said Jet Airways' Regional Manager Abraham Joseph. Passengers who buy their tickets here get confirmations before arrival in India will also get 40kg baggage allowance in business class and 30kg in economy class.Indian Airlines has also introduced discounted fares for domestic travel within India meant for sale in the UAE and also in other Gulf stations inclusive of Saudi Arabia, according to K. Shyam Sundar, the airline's UAE Manager.From March 16, the airline has increased the discount on domestic dollar fares from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. The discount is available in both the economy and executive class categories. "This discount in effect makes the dollar fare for domestic travel, sold in the Gulf area, equal to the INR fare that is available for sale to Indians in India," said Mr Shyam Sundar."In the case of many of the sectors out of Mumbai, for example Mumbai/Ahmedabad, Mumbai/Bangalore, Mumbai/Calcutta, Mumbai/Hyderabad, Mumbai/Goa, Mumbai/Delhi, Mumbai/Chennai, etc., the newly established Indian Airlines dollar fares for sale in the UAE are less than their rupee fare equivalent."These promotional fares of Indian Airlines are valid for sale up to October 31, 2002 and for travels that commence on or before October 31, 2002.The validity of the tickets would be for a period of six months from the date of commencement of travel on the first leg of the journey. There are no documentation requirements and no restrictions regarding eligibility for the special fares. The fares are open for sale to foreigners besides expatriate Indians. <A HREF="http://www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/#top";>Top</A>