condenast traveller india

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

The 50 best restaurants in India

C ondé Nast Traveller India have hand-picked the 50 best restaurants in India, in collaboration with Himalayan Sparkling. Read reviews of the top 10 below, selected for impeccable service, game-changing chefs, sustainable sourcing and experimental ingredients – and keep scrolling for the full list of the top 50 best restaurants in India.

Read Condé Nast Traveller India 's full feature on the 50 best restaurants in India right now .

The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai

Modern India on a platter, served with a smile

The thing about modern India is that it refuses to be put into a box. And that’s the thing about the food at The Bombay Canteen as well. Young and fun, yet rooted in traditions that span the length and breadth of this country, with all its varied topographies and cultures and histories, the Canteen experience is a party as well as a bit of a history lesson. Be it the seasonally changing menu (the Eggs Kejriwal Toast and arbi tuk are perennial favourites, but try the pork seekh kababs and the Canteen haleem this winter) or the cocktail books inspired by Mumbai ’s Art Deco architecture and cinematic history, the restaurant is known to change things up. What doesn’t change, though, is the quality of what’s on your plate, and the warmth with which it is presented to you. The service deserves a special shoutout – staff here are warm and friendly, they really know the menu, and they will remember what you liked (and didn’t) the next time you visit. Because you will visit again.

Address : The Bombay Canteen, Unit 1, Process House, S.B. Road, Kamala Mills, near Radio Mirchi Office Lower, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013, India Telephone : +91 22 4966 6666 Website : thebombaycanteen.com

By Samira Sood

Indian Accent, New Delhi

Indian cuisine with a twist

Indian Accent is one of New Delhi ’s, in fact India’s most prized restaurants. Chef Manish Mehrotra expertly crafts Indian dishes so that they retain their original charm but also have a touch of modernity. Known for its butter chicken kulchas, melt-in-your-mouth naans, delicious dals and exquisitely plated, inventive desserts, Indian Accent is the place to be for a dinner to remember. For starters, the vegetarian ghee roast soya boti with roomali roti pancakes is a favourite, as is its meaty counterpart, the ghee roast mutton boti. Tandoori bacon prawns, soft-shell crab with tomato chutney and pork belly tikka are a few other incredible delicacies on the menu, but don’t miss the wasabi and cucumber raita, raw and ripe mango daulat ki chaat and of course, the special Indian Accent kulfis . Wash it all down with some sparkling wine or one of Indian Accent’s classic cocktails and top it all off with some carrot halwa crumble and whiskey ice cream .

Address : Indian Accent, The Lodhi, Lodhi Rd, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003, India Telephone : +91 98711 17968 Website : indianaccent.com

By Andrea Pinto

The Table, Mumbai

Small plates for big appetites

When The Table first opened, its unusual menu and sharing plates immediately set it apart. Since then, the food has remained remarkably consistent, while evolving to reflect the growing bounty available at the restaurant’s namesake farm in Alibag. Dishes here take inspiration from countries from all over the world, allowing chef Divesh Aswani to play with cuisines, modernise traditional recipes and experiment with ingredients. Dishes that have become fixtures on the menu include the boneless chicken wings, the Table salad (for which all ingredients come from the restaurant’s farm), yellowfish tuna tataki and avocado toast served on sourdough from sister enterprise Magazine Street Kitchen. The soft-shell crab with nam jim and mixed-herb salad exemplifies the restaurant’s commitment to sustainable sourcing, with each of the ingredients that make up the hearty salad sourced locally.

Address : The Table, Ground Floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400039, India Telephone : +91 22 2282 5000 Website : thetable.in

By Aatish Nath

Bomra's, Goa

Go Burmese in Goa

In the land of fish curry and feni, there lies Goa ’s best-kept Burmese secret, Bomra’s. This casual dining restaurant in Candolim, just a stone’s throw away from Fort Aguada Road, has become quite the sensation. The restaurant essentially serves Burmese cuisine but draws on influences from China , India, Laos and Thailand . Run by chef patron Bawmra Jap, Bomra’s is an open-air restaurant designed with simple but unique flair. Bawmra Jap prides himself on sourcing the freshest produce from the markets of Goa and he is known to be a ninja when it comes to cleaning all that fresh fish. His superpower lies in discovering the most basic produce found deep within the markets of Goa and transforming it into a masterpiece on your plate. On the menu, you’ll find an excellent selection of seafood. The red snapper, black pomfret and mussels are some of the favourites here and a very interesting tomato salad makes the perfect accompaniment to your meal. For meat lovers, the pork and pomelo salad makes a great start to lunch and the succulent tuna has been known to make grown men weep with joy.

Address : Bomra's, 247, Fort Aquada Road, Candolim, Goa 403515, India Telephone : +91 97675 91056 Website : bomras.com

Masque, Mumbai

Foraged and fermented food from the heart

Bringing city diners a range of decidedly new ingredients, chef Prateek Sadhu expertly melds together his Kashmiri heritage and his time spent in the kitchens of Alinea, Noma and The French Laundry. Masque is a space that encourages experimentation and innovation in the kitchen. Making trips all over the country and then using techniques learned abroad, Sadhu and his colleague, Aditi Dugar, ensure the food at Masque showcases regional, often little-known, ingredients in exciting new ways. Since its opening the restaurant has also hosted pop-up dinners by chefs from all over the world – including Mike Bagale of Chicago’s Alinea and Garima Arora of Gaa in Bangkok. Taking Sadhu’s Kashmiri roots into account, it’s not a surprise that kalari, Jammu’s beloved cheese, is reinterpreted on the Masque menu, accompanied by Kashmiri rice pancakes, walnut chutney and farm radishes.

Address : Masque, Gala 3, Laxmi Woollen Mill, Shakti Mills Lane, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400011, India Telephone : +91 22 4973 7431 Website : masquerestaurant.com

Trishna, Mumbai

So much butter garlic crab, so little time

Come December and there’s always a wait at Trishna, as those making fleeting trips to the city patiently line up for their fill of butter garlic crab, Hyderabadi dal and, of course, fish koliwada. During the rest of the year, regulars who relish the top-quality seafood on offer here demand that their crab be brought out before its cooked, while they down the first of many beers. First-timers often wonder if the place is all hype. The first bite of neer dosa with fish in green masala puts all of their doubts to rest.

Address : Trishna, 7, Saibaba Rd, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India Telephone : +91 22 2270 3213

Wasabi by Morimoto, Delhi

Clean flavours in a minimalist setting

Morimoto’s second Indian outpost is now more than 10 years old, but under the watchful eye of Arun Sundararaj, the executive chef at the Taj Mahal Hotel Delhi, its food continues to be inventive, seasonal and full of the subtle, layered flavours that one expects. Japanese food demands a light touch and at Wasabi by Morimoto, the sushi, sashimi and maki rolls showcase just such a touch in the finest ingredients. The seasonal ingredients that dictate the dishes on the menu are a hallmark of Japanese food. At Wasabi, these ingredients are sometimes flown in from Tokyo, ensuring that the flavours stay true to their roots even as they are played around with. Start with the miso soup and then share a tuna or salmon pizza. If you’re looking for comfort food, opt for the ramen and steamed tofu. With chef Morimoto taking inspiration from French techniques, Peruvian influences and Asian flavours, the food has taken on a global character that is still uniquely Japanese.

Address : Wasabi by Morimoto, The Taj Mahal Hotel, No.1, Mansingh Road, near Khan Market, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110011, India Telephone : +91 11 6656 6162 Website : taj.tajhotels.com

Artusi Ristorante Bar, New Delhi

Rustic Italian with heart

For those craving the bitter, creamy hit of tiramisu, the smokiness of salmon or the smoothness of chicken liver pate – a trip to Greater Kailash is in order. The food at Artusi encompasses northern Italian favourites (after all the owners and chef are from the Emilia Romagna region) in all its authentic glory. We’re partial to the spaghetti cacio e pepe and grilled lamb chops, but with a kitchen as uncompromising as this, you can be sure that everything on the menu is bound to impress. The restaurant makes use of greens that are farmed hydroponically, like in the butterhead salad with raspberry vinaigrette.

Address : Artusi Ristorante Bar, M-24, M-Block Market, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi, Delhi 110048, India Telephone : +91 88002 09695 Website : artusi.in

Paul Richardson

Amy Abrahams

CNT Editors

Slink & Bardot, Mumbai

Because Paris is always a good idea

Don’t be put off by the winding, narrow bylanes through which you have to manoeuvre your way to get here. Because once you do, the traffic, the noise and the chaos of Mumbai magically disappear as you’re transported straight to Paris . Elegant black-and-white-tiled floors, floral-patterned sofas and lighting that’s just low enough without being too dim – the interiors of this refurbished bungalow provide the perfect environment for equally elegant, yet fun French food. Much of the menu is devoted to drinks and we’re not complaining. The inventive list of cocktails includes the intriguingly named Sitting in an English Garden Waiting for the Sun (a refreshing blend of Tanqueray, organic elderflower syrup, cucumber juice, egg white and lavender bitters) and the espresso Old Fashioned (Jim Beam, espresso, sugar, bitters) that’s potent enough for an army. Follow that with some glazed brie en croute – the filo pastry encasing the cheese is brushed with just enough lavender honey. The steak tartare with mustard ice cream and garlic crostinis is wonderful, while vegetarians will enjoy the miso-glazed aubergine steak, which comes with crispy okra, pear, orange and brown butter emulsion and toasted almonds.

Address : Slink & Bardot, Thadani House 329/A, opposite Indian Coast Guard Worli Village, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400030, India Telephone : +91 70459 04728

Toast & Tonic, Bengaluru

The best of India with a global twist

This Bengaluru favourite is a celebration of all things local but with an eye on what the world is eating. Chef Manu Chandra is constantly experimenting. Bandel from Kolkata , Naga chilli, perilla seeds from Shillong, chocolate from Pondicherry , coffee from Coorg and Chikmanglur, tea from Munnar, pork from Tamil Nadu – the ingredients are top grade. But every finished item that goes on the plate has a unique Toast & Tonic signature. Whether it is the crisp soft-shell crab from Bhimavaram, the soft eggs and fresh andouille sausage on sourdough toast with green mustard spread or the smoked Bandel and gin mustard hollandaise, most of what goes on the plate – the breads, the sauces and garnishes, the sausages and meats – is made in-house. This carries to the bitters, sodas and, of course, the tonics that accompany the impressive selection of gins at the bar.

Address : Toast & Tonic, 14/1, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560025, India Telephone : +91 80 4111 6879 Website : toastandtonic.com

By Raj Aditya Chaudhuri

\11. Bukhara, ITC Maurya, New Delhi

\12. Megu, The Leela New Delhi, New Delhi

\13. O Pedro, Mumbai

\14. Bastian, Mumbai

\15. The Black Sheep Bistro, Goa

\16. Gunpowder, Goa

\17. La Plage, Goa

\18. The China Kitchen, Hyatt Regency Delhi, New Delhi \19. Wasabi By Morimoto, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

\20. Annamaya, Andaz Delhi, New Delhi

\21. A Reverie, Goa

\22. Yauatcha, Mumbai

\23. Karavalli, The Gateway Hotel, Bengaluru

\24. Olive Qutub, New Delhi

\25. China XO, The Leela Palace Chennai, Chennai

\26. Koko Asian Gastropub, Mumbai

\27. Mocambo, Kolkata

\28. The Restaurant, The Bangala, Karaikudi \29. Elevar, Goa

\30. Avartana, ITC Grand Chola Chennai, Chennai \31. Palácio Do Deão, Goa \32. Delhi Club House, RK Puram, New Delhi \33. Botticino, Trident, BKC, Mumbai \34. Koji, Conrad Pune, Pune \35. Gajalee, Vile Parle, Mumbai \36. Wild Garden Café At Amethyst, Chennai \37. Adaa, Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad \38. Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mumbai \39. 6 Ballygunge Place, Ballygunge, Kolkata \40. Baba Au Rhum, Goa \41. 1135 AD, Jaipur \42. Zeebop By The Sea, Goa \43. Ciao Bella, Goa \44. Edo Restaurant & Bar, ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru \45. Royal China, Fort, Mumbai \46. The Fatty Bao, Bengaluru \47. Baan Thai, The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata \48. Olive Beach, Bengaluru \49. Pumpkin Tales, Chennai \50. Diva – The Italian Restaurant, New Delhi

Like this? Now read:

Priyanka Chopra on Mumbai

Goa, India | The ultimate guide

Our guide to Pondicherry, India

Conde Nast Traveller India

About this app

Data safety.

What's new

App support, more by conde nast (india) private limited.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 Met Gala

What’s the dress code, who’s hosting, who’s going and how to watch.

By Vanessa Friedman

First things first: What is the Met Gala?

Officially, it’s the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit, a black-tie extravaganza held the first Monday in May to raise money for the museum’s fashion wing, the only curatorial department at the Met that has to pay for itself.

Unofficially, it’s the party of the year, the Oscars of the East Coast and “an A.T.M. for the Met” (the last according to the publicist Paul Wilmot). Consider that last year’s event raised almost $22 million , while the Met’s Art & Artists Gala raised $4.4 million .

How is that possible? What is the secret sauce?

Two words: Anna Wintour.

Ms. Wintour, the global editorial director of Condé Nast and the editor in chief of its marquee fashion magazine, Vogue, has been the gala’s chief mastermind since 1999 after first signing on in 1995, and has transformed the event from a run-of-the-mill charity gala into a mega-showcase for Vogue’s view of the world — the ultimate celebrity-power cocktail of famous names from fashion, film, tech, politics, sports and, increasingly, social media. Every brand scratches every other brand’s back.

We think of it as the Fashion X Games or the All-Star Game of Entrances.

When is it?

The big day is Monday, May 6. In theory, the timed arrivals — each guest is allotted a slot — start at 5:30 p.m., usually with the evening’s hosts, and end around 8 p.m. But you try telling Rihanna when to show up. (Last year she came so late, other guests had already begun to leave.)

Is there a theme?

The party signals the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual blockbuster show, and the benefit is usually themed to the exhibition. Last year, that was easy — Karl Lagerfeld , the designer of Chanel, Fendi and his own brand , was both subject and dress code. But this year the show is called “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” and it is a lot more convoluted.

It will be built around not fairy tales or Disney, but rather treasures in the museum’s fashion collection so old and delicate that they cannot be displayed on mannequins. Instead, the exhibit will involve A.I. and 3-D recreations of the work, as well as sound and, um … smell. But that’s not all.

The idea of decaying dresses — in total, the show will include about 250 pieces from four centuries — led Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator in charge, to think about the ephemerality of nature, which led to gardens … which ultimately led to the party’s dress code.

OK, what is the dress code?

It’s as potentially confusing as the exhibit. Guests have been instructed to dress for “The Garden of Time,” so named after a 1962 short story by J.G. Ballard about an aristocratic couple living in a walled estate with a magical garden while an encroaching mob threatens to end their peaceful existence. To keep the crowd at bay, the husband tries to turn back time by breaking off flower after flower, until there are no more blooms left. The mob arrives and ransacks the estate, and the two aristocrats turn to stone.

Just what comes to mind when you think “fashion,” right?

How this parable will be expressed in fabulousness has left many scratching their heads, but for anyone in doubt, roses are the most likely default. Also corsets, drapery and — hopefully — a great vintage gown or two; given his recent popularity , the smart money is on old Galliano resurfacing.

Still, there may be some surprises. Last year, Jared Leto came dressed as Mr. Lagerfeld’s cat , Choupette, in full kitty glory. (After weeks of speculation, the look’s inspiration ultimately did not attend .) Given that Loewe is one of the sponsors of the evening and exhibit, you can expect a lot of Jonathan Anderson creations. He did once make a coat that sprouted real grass. That would look terrific as a formal sheath, don’t you think?

Who are the hosts?

Joining Ms. Wintour as the 2024 gala’s co-chairs are Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth and Bad Bunny, while the honorary chairs are Mr. Anderson of Loewe and Shou Chew , the chief executive of TikTok. (TikTok is sponsoring alongside Loewe and Condé Nast, though given what is currently happening in Washington with that social media company, whether he shows up at all is a question.) Like the party itself, the combination of hosts is all about the mix: music, film, fashion and social media.

Who are the livestream hosts?

To give an inside look at the gala, Vogue will be livestreaming the event for the fourth year in a row. Hosts have not yet been announced, but last year they included La La Anthony, Derek Blasberg, Emma Chamberlain and Chloe Fineman.

Who’s invited?

The guest list is a closely guarded secret. Unlike other cultural fund-raisers, like the Metropolitan Opera gala or the Frick Collection Young Fellows Ball , the Met Gala is invitation-only. Entry is not just about price — which this year is a whopping $75,000 for one ticket ($25,000 more than last year), with tables beginning at $350,000. Qualifications for inclusion have more to do with buzz, achievement and beauty — the gospel according to Anna — than money. Ms. Wintour has the final say over every invitation and attendee.

That means that even if you give tons of money to the museum, you won’t necessarily qualify; and even if a company buys a table, it cannot choose everyone who will sit at that table. It must clear any guests with Ms. Wintour and Vogue and pray for approval. This year, as in 2023, there are about 400 Chosen Ones, according to a spokeswoman for the Costume Institute.

Rihanna has confirmed her presence. Given the hosts, it’s also a pretty safe bet that Ben Affleck, Ms. Lopez’s husband, will be there; ditto Elsa Pataky, Mr. Hemsworth’s wife. Chances are likewise high that Loewe faces such as Greta Lee, Josh O’Connor, Taylor Russell and Jamie Dornan may also show. There will probably also be a Kardashian/Jenner or two, judging from years past, and odds are good that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez will step out — though the hottest speculation is around such names as Caitlin Clarke, Sam Altman and the current celebrity royal couple, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Last year a cockroach made a surprise, and very New York, appearance .

Do the celebrities buy their tickets?

Do dogs fly? No, they get invited by brands (or by brands on the instruction of Vogue), who buy their seats at the table, as well as often custom-making their looks, flying them in and putting them up. In return, the famous guests work the fashion angle. They can also, of course, always make a donation to the museum.

Vanessa Friedman has been the fashion director and chief fashion critic for The Times since 2014. More about Vanessa Friedman

Art and Museums in New York City

A guide to the shows, exhibitions and artists shaping the city’s cultural landscape..

Uzodinma Iweala, chief executive of The Africa Center , will leave at the end of 2024 after guiding it through the pandemic and securing funds.

Renaissance portraits go undercover in the new Metropolitan Museum show  “Hidden Faces,” about the practice of concealing artworks behind sliding panels and reverse-side paintings.

Donna Dennis is a trailblazer of the architectural sculpture movement, and her diaries rival Frida Kahlo’s. Are we ready for the unsettling clarity of the godmother  of installation art?

The Rubin will be “reimagined” as a global museum , but our critic says its charismatic presence will be only a troubling memory.

How do you make an artwork sing? Let your unconscious mind do it . That’s the message of an alluring show at the Japan Society.

Looking for more art in the city? Here are the gallery shows not to miss in April .

3 Hot List Hotels That Demand a Stay in 2024

By CNT Editors

Presented by Capital One

Every hotel winner on our 2024 Hot List makes its way there for a reason; these three properties serving are no exception. From brand-new properties The Fifth Avenue Hotel in the heart of Manhattan and the Eternal City’s 1, Place Vendôme to the just-reopened Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island, these are the new reliables where guests can make the most not just of the pristine properties but also the world of the destination around them. Here's how (and why) to spend a getaway at three of our 2024 Hot List winners, from Manhattan to Paris to Hawaii—plus what to pack for each.

The Portrait Bar at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York

The Fifth Avenue Hotel — New York City

The big hotel brands have long closed ranks in New York City along Central Park South, and most of them are great! But The Fifth Avenue Hotel, from its titular 5th Avenue address just above Madison Square Park and the world’s first Shake Shack (still a literal shack, albeit one with dreamy twinkly lights and ample outdoor seating) is a jewel box whose Mary Poppins-bag-style whimsy is made all the more impressive by its position amidst NoMad’s hustle and bustle. A five-story limestone-and-brick building with past lives first as part of a socialite’s estate and then as a bank, the hotel is storied despite its newness and fresh despite its long history. Designer Martin Brudnizki has payfully pulled at the Gilded Age, Renaissance palazzo roots with his jubilant palette and rich diversity of textures—wallpapers, rugs, and prints make an eye fat from feasting.

While a stay at The Fifth Avenue Hotel is ostensibly undertaken on some level to visit and see the Big Apple proper, stepping off the premises may prove unappealing once you’ve settled in. This is a whole world, one where the colors are richer and the people more thoughtful. After check-in, you’ll first meet your around-the-clock butler outside of your room where they await with a welcome drink and warm towel. Between 5 and 7 p.m., order a martini ritual to your room. Condescend to dine at onsite Cafe Carmellini, one of the best new restaurants in New York City. Flit out to nearby Gagosian and Fotografiska for a further art fix. It’s all that you need.

Beyond an extra suitcase to accommodate all the shopping you'll do nearby, pack whatever you feel most comfortable in—a neutral suit or little black dress to compliment the surroundings, or your most playful Rachel Comey to give the interiors a run for their money.

The exterior facade of the tony 1, Place Vendôme hotel in Paris's regally glamorous 1st arrondissement

1, Place Vendôme — Paris

Nestled above the 1st arrondissement’s Chopard boutique sits Paris’s new stealth-wealth gem of a hotel, the first from the Swiss fine jewelry maker owned by the Scheufele family. The watchmaking giant first bought the building, which dates back to 1723 (the roof and facades are protected historical monuments), a decade ago while it was still operating as another hotel, and subsequently embarked on a painstaking renovation and restoration project that birthed the beauty that exists today. With just 5 rooms and 10 suites, it’s a remarkably intimate affair. None looks like another, by the way—on one stay, you might lounge on the cobalt blue lounger of the modernist, Pop Art attic suite while the next sees you splayed out on the four-poster bed of double-height, quintessentially Parisian Appartement Chopard (the latter has its own hammam).

In the absence of an onsite restaurant, chef Boris Algarra slings his 24/7 menu (divided up between breakfast, day, and night) wherever the guest desires it—the library, the bedroom, you name it. And that’s saying nothing of the litany of fine dining found on the hotel’s doorstep—the neighborhood is the flâneur’s playground, with the Tulieres Gardens and prime shopping also a short jaunt away. Pack a good pair of walking shoes as Paris is, famously, best-walked from top to bottom with shopping bags weighing down either arm.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, is prized for its location and laid-back vibe

Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort — Hawai'i

The new iteration of Kona Village, now operated by the reliably resplendent Rosewood group, ticks the boxes of design, location, and service in a way that few resorts across the Hawaiian islands have brushed the ceilings of. Senior editor Rebecca Misner dubbed the property “the Platonic ideal of the ‘Hawaiian hotel’” in her review. With 150 hale, or bungalows, dotting the 81 acres of oceanfront land, it earns its name for functioning as a sort of communal haven. The favored onsite watering hole, Shipwreck, sits within the gutted schooner of the original owner. A coconut outside a guest’s bungalow door sends the same signal that a do-not-disturb sign would at a more traditional hideaway.

As a preeminent resort, Kona Village offers everything you could ever dream of within its property line—two bars, two restaurants, a spa built into the site’s lava flow, and a beach that feels so endless in large part because there’s not much else in the vicinity. But the adventurous would be wise to call up the concierge, who can arrange excursions to the town of Waimea, as well as day trips to see the waterfalls in the North and guided hikes through hidden craters. Be sure to bring along your swimsuit, sarong, and a pair of water shoes for those excursions.

If you love to travel, Capital One has a rewards credit card that’s perfect for you.  With the Venture X card from Capital One, earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Turn everyday purchases into extraordinary trips with Venture X from Capital One. What’s in your wallet?

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

A new rule by the DGCA could make your base airfare cheaper

By Arundhati Ail

A new circular issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is bringing potentially good news to domestic fliers. The circular dated 23 April , calls for the unbundling of services and fees by airlines, so as to reduce the base airfare a customer has to pay. This means that several charges, including those for check-in baggag e and preferential seating, could soon become optional add-ons rather than mandatory fees.

“The airfares so established by the airlines also include charges for some of the services rendered by them. On the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many a times these services provided by airlines may not be required by the passengers while travelling,” the circular reads. As per the new DGCA rule, consumers will now have the option to pay for additional services, while the base fare becomes more affordable. These are the services that are to be unbundled and charged separately on an opt-in basis:

• Preferential seating
• Meal , snack or drink charges (besides water)
• Charges for airline lounges
• Check-in baggage charges (airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance and “zero baggage” fares, as long as the consumer books their ticket under this scheme; any applicable charges are to be reasonable and prominently displayed to the passenger at the time of booking and on the ticket)
• Sports equipment charges
• Musical instrument carriage
• Fee for special declaration of valuable baggage

Airlines are free to decide the charges for each of these services. These unbundled services are to be offered on an “opt-in” basis and not an “opt-out” basis to avoid any confusion among passengers about the services they are paying for. The DGCA also outlines that there is not to be any discrimination in this regard against passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. The circular also requires airlines to ensure that all children below the age of 12 are allocated seats with at least one parent or guardian travelling on the same PNR.