Airline tickets just one phone call away now

Increased capacity in the aviation space has forced domestic airlines to think out of box to reach passengers who are not online. In addition to offering them discounted fares, airlines are now giving tickets at door steps of passengers.

Airlines are strengthening ticket distribution systems through tying with courier firms for door delivery and entering into strategic arrangement with ATM operators.

The Wadia Group promoted low-cost carrier GoAir has tied up with Mumbai-based speciality courier company ExpressIT for home delivery of tickets. By calling GoAir call centre, the ticket booked will be delivered to their doorstep within 24 hours at a nominal charge. This charge, in addition to the cost of the ticket at the time of booking, can be paid either by cash or credit card.

Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said: "The focus is on convenience. With the home delivery of tickets we are aiming at providing tickets to the Indian traveller in the quickest and most efficient manner." The home delivery service will be available initially in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Pune, Goa, Jammu, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Kochi.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines has ticketing facility via any of the State Bank of India (SBI) ATMs or any of the SBI Group's allied ATMs for in the cities of Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. A passenger can call up Kingfisher Airlines call centre and obtain booking reference number (BRN). The passenger can then go to any SBI Group ATMs in these cities and confirm booking of flight. By showing ATM transanction slip to ticketing centre, the passenger can collect ticket.

Manoj Chacko, General Manager Sales, Kingfisher Airlines said: "This will enable our passengers to do their travel bookings while on the move. It will facilitate enhanced convenience to our passengers in the cities of Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, which are key revenue generating markets for us."

Meanwhile, Delhi-based low cost carrier SpiceJet has enetered into an agreement with Galileo International to provide airlines' low fares and inventory.