Congress seeks to eliminate airline seat and baggage surcharges

Additional payments made by Peruvian travelers upon entry commercial flights they may soon be eliminated thanks to an initiative put forward in Congress.

Currently low cost or low cost airlines offer passengers to travel with backpack only and with random seat, carry more luggage and choose either window seat or aisle seat, the user has to pay extra and depending on the fare set by the company.

But Congressional Commission on Transportation and Communications seeks to change civil aviation legislation so that passengers can freely choose their seat and carry baggage up to 10 kg at no additional cost.

At the same time, airlines will be prohibited from charging customers for choosing a seat and carrying additional hand luggage to a backpack, which is already allowed and is called “personal item” on both domestic and international flights.

The legislative initiative has already been approved by the committee and may soon be submitted for consideration plenary session of the Congress are subject to discussion.

The ruling states that the fact that the lowest fares do not allow passengers to choose seats for free and cannot carry hand luggage, including for free, is considered an “insulting” and “discriminatory” practice. Consumer Protection and Protection Code.

“As far as air travel is concerned, business lines They do not comply with these measures, because there are neither objective nor reasonable reasons for a different attitude towards air transport users when choosing a seat, ”the document approved by the above-mentioned commission states.

However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that this measure will seriously damage the country’s connectivity, competitiveness aviation industry and development of tourism and Peruvian trade.

The union adds that the initiative could limit supply by scrapping the cheapest fares and making tickets more expensive.