Travel portals are now offering to Cash On Delivery option for air tickets. Promise to deliver the tickets at your doorstep
MUMBAI: For all those travellers who find it convenient to book tickets online but are sceptical of making the payment through a credit card, several online portals are now coming up with the Cash On Delivery (COD) option. So like pizza, now you can also expect air tickets on your doorsteps and pay COD.
Although online penetration of travel industry is 11 per cent, according to industry figures, there are many passengers who distrust the internet for booking air tickets via credit/debit card and like to pay in cash. Now, they need not have to take the pains to visit their travel agent or the airline counter to pay the money and collect their tickets. Various online travel portals like Yatra and Clear My Trip have come up with the CODoption.
“We conducted a survey and found out that a small segment of travellers is not able to make online payments. Either they hesitate to use the net or do not have credit limits in case of booking international tickets or hotels,” says Noel Swain, vice president (marketing), Clear My Trip(CMT). CMT is going to launch a COD option for international bookings in the month of June. According to CMT, those who prefer this option are 3 to 5 per cent of the total online users.
Therefore, those using the portal can click on the COD option and get their tickets booked. A CMT agent will deliver them the tickets and collect cash from them. “This option is also available for those who do not have much credit limit and want to make partial payment in cash,” says Swain.
Even Yatra has launched a similar service and it is available for both domestic and international bookings. The customer just has to send an SMS to 2622 and a customer executive will call to take the details. The ticket will be delivered to him by an agent wherever he is and he can pay in cash to the executive. “The customer can call us and verify the identity of the agent to wade away fears of being duped,” says an official from Yatra.
The COD option is available for both air tickets and online bookings. Yatra has also lodged a scheme whereby the passenger will be reimbursed Rs200 in case of flight delays over 20 minutes.
s_naveeta@dnaindia.net
