Some airlines to impose QR40 ‘passenger facility charge’ for using HIA
Hamad International Airport’s (HIA) ‘passenger facility charge’ of QR35 ($10) is set to take effect from today, but some foreign airlines will be charging QR40, Gulf Times reported.
The new charge will reflect on exiting passengers’ air tickets issued from today onwards for travel from December 1. It also covers transfer passengers connecting within 24 hours.
However, there seems to be a difference in the actual rates that will be levied by airlines.
For instance, Qatar Airways has said — through a circular sent to travel agencies in Doha on August 25 — that it will charge QR35 per passenger per departure.
Similarly, Philippines-based Cebu Pacific, which flies to Doha thrice weekly, has said that it will stick to HIA’s QR35 charge for its bookings and re-bookings effective today.
But carriers like Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have confirmed that they will charge QR40, which is higher than the rate stipulated by HIA.
Asked about the difference, an Emirates call centre employee explained that their system automatically rounded off the amount, similar to other taxes and fees, to the nearest zero.
PAL, too, explained that they used a similar system of rounding off. In a circular, the carrier said it was introducing a QR40 “passenger facility charge”, which would be applicable to all PR (PAL’s airline code) tickets issued in Qatar.
The airline flies to Doha five times a week.
“We need to see how the system will work starting August 30,” a PAL employee said. He, however, admitted they always faced challenges in imposing such charges using the same system (of rounding off) as “passengers may think we get an extra QR5 but we don’t.”
Meanwhile, some travel agents said many passengers do not check the breakdown of charges except in cases where the total airfare is higher compared to a ticket bought for the said route during the same period in a previous year, for instance.
“What really matters to most passengers is the total airfare, not the breakup of charges,” a travel agent said, adding that he, too, was surprised to see the “passenger facility charge” varying among different airlines.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines said they would post updates about the new HIA charge on their social media pages. Travel agencies are also waiting for circulars from other airlines starting today.
Meanwhile, the HIA stressed that by introducing the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), it aims to deliver consistent service levels and enable passengers to continue using the airport’s “world-class services and facilities”, many of which are complimentary.
Courtesy: gulf-times.com
Dubai ahs done the same .. It is a means of generating extra revenue for projects
Hidden taxes
agree with acchabachha !
Brit: It is not the question of reading.. It is a matter of understanding. You understand things a bit way differently from others. That's the issue!
MM: You don't read the article do you?
The charge by HIA is 35.00 QR per person.. Some airlines are going to charge more on their tickets. So the extra money goes to the airline - NOT HIA
Brit, This is not the right way to ask for a salary increase ..............
It does not matter, we earned the money here, if we spend here then no objection because this money will go to make the place more
attractive for the tourists & business people ......... plus we use the seven star facility ..............
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways will be the next to go round and round the malabari bushes and start charging QAR. 50/- Discounted Price...:)
Rounding up? Ha! Ha! They are just using this opportunity to make the extra buck, that's all. Did not expect this from Emirates at least. What does an extra 5 Riyals mean to them?
The rounding up reason is a joke.. The simple fact is that airlines know that passengers have no choice and will have to pay whatever is asked of them..
I wonder if the Chief Executive of PAL will round up the salaries of employees for easier accounting..
We will support this for the long term