Indian Airlines, Reliance Info pioneer mobile air ticket bookings

New Delhi: Indian Airlines and Reliance Infocomm have joined hands to offer India's first mobile booking of a domestic airline ticket. The facility has been launched on R World, the data application suite of Reliance IndiaMobile (RIM).

Air travellers who use Reliance IndiaMobileusers across the country can book an IA ticket for domestic travel from anywhere using RIM phones. Bookings will be available against rupee payments on full fare value and IA's Easy Fare option.

It is a win-win option for both and a new convenience for flyers who now have an additional booking medium. "As a national carrier, our aim is to service customers and expand our reach," says Anil Goyal, director commercial, Indian Airlines on the m-ticketing facility. "I am confident that people living in the interiors will now have better access to our reservation system and an opportunity to benefit from our low cost fares. "

On entering the origin and destination points and date of travel, flyers receive full and discounted fares in economy and executive classes on their mobile screen. They then need to select the fare and payment mode and book the ticket. The PNR is generated and displayed onm the mobile screen. The ticket can be collected from the airport or an Indian Airlines office by producing the PNR and photo identification.

"Our focus had been on developing applications and services that cut across various aspects of customer lifestyle, "said Navneet Saluja, CEO, Delhi Circle, Reliance Infocomm, announcing the new initiative.

RIM users do not have to register separately for this service and can use their existing RIM bill payment PIN for bookings and make a secure online payment using their Master, Visa or Diners credit cards, which is processed through the Citibank mobile payment gateway.

Currently, the IA ticket booking is a subscription service and is bundled with over 65 frequently used R World applications accessible on purchase of a monthly pass for Rs25 or a day pass for Rs3. A person can use this service irrespective of the time he has logged in every session.