Da Nang Airport plans to collect 'priority lane' fees: Priority service or discrimination?

Passengers line up to enter the security screening area at the domestic terminal of Da Nang airport – Photo: CONG TRUNG

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , Da Nang International Airport will become the first of 22 airports in Vietnam to pilot a "priority lane" service fee of VND100,000/passenger, expected to be applied in early 2025.

Some readers believe that this is a solution to increase convenience, while many others are concerned about discrimination and negative impacts on the image of Vietnam's aviation services.

Charged twice?

As a passenger, reader Tran Trung expressed: “I don’t mind spending 100,000 VND, but I feel discriminated against if I don’t spend 100,000 VND for the priority lane service. And if everyone spends 100,000 VND to use this priority lane, is there still priority?”

According to reader Phong Vu, applying this toll road could cause the service to be rated lower in the eyes of customers.

“A hot spot that serves a large crowd, always on a first-come, first-served basis.

Suddenly there is a proposal that whoever pays more will be served first. Does this upgrade or downgrade the service?, this reader asked.

At the same time, Phong Vu readers believe that business lies in pleasing the rich without making the poor feel discriminated against. Customers who have purchased business class tickets, which are more expensive than economy tickets, also feel uncomfortable with this policy.

Reader Truong Kiet shared that premium class passengers paid more for priority, and the additional fee for a separate aisle was unreasonable and felt like being charged twice.

Airlines and airports need to clarify this cost and not let passengers incur additional charges.

Many other opinions say that priority passage should be reserved for special groups such as the elderly, pregnant women or people with disabilities, instead of being commercialized to collect money.

According to a reader named Tho, the service provided by Da Nang airport for 100,000 VND should not be called “priority” but “toll-free passage”. Because a true priority passage should be reserved for those who need assistance without having to pay extra.

Some other readers commented that this service creates unnecessary hierarchy, affecting the image of Vietnamese tourism and aviation services.

Reader Le Quang commented: “Customers are willing to spend a few hundred dollars on business class, but they will feel uncomfortable when they are charged this fee. Then, customers will have a bad opinion about aviation services in Vietnam.”

“This method only brings immediate profits but leaves a bad impression on passengers” – reader Bui Duc Thang express

Effective solution to overload?

Meanwhile, some opinions support the application of priority access, as long as the implementation is transparent and reasonable.

“I really agree with this pilot plan of Da Nang airport. We have the choice between queuing or paying to go through faster and more privately” – reader Vine Tran.

According to readers Ken: “Priority lanes are for business class passengers, people needing special medical assistance, VIP passengers and are entirely collected from the airline's ticket sales to passengers. That means no additional fees and no separate collection from passengers.

As for normal customers, they can pay to buy priority entry to get in quickly, without waiting in line.

Reader Minh Tran cited the example of some international airports where economy passengers can pay extra to get priority. However, this fee should only be applied when the airport is really crowded.

“If upgrading security screening machines is beneficial to passengers, then passengers should happily pay” – account ndph****@gmail.com commented.

Meanwhile, reader Toan thinks that instead of collecting fees for priority passage, it would be more effective to invest in and improve screening services to reduce processing time.

Even if you buy a business class ticket, you still have to pay 100,000 VND if you want to use the "priority lane".

Mr. Phan Kieu Hung, director of Da Nang airport, said that currently the priority lanes at the security screening entrance of terminal T1 have been upgraded, so the airport will collect a fee of 100,000 VND/passenger (excluding VAT).

Because for many years now, the port has been serving the airline's priority customers without charging any fees.

This service will be applied to CIP (Business Inclusive) customers, business class passengers.

Specifically, the port will collect priority service fees for passengers traveling in Vietnam Airlines ticket classes including Business and Premium Economy.

Vietjet is Skyboss class. Bamboo Airways is Business class, similar to Vietravel Airlines is Premium Economy class. Pacific Airlines is Business class, Premium Economy class.

Please note that customers using airline loyalty cards have priority access at the screening point.

For example, Vietnam Airlines has Million Miler and Platinum cards. Vietjet Air has Skyjoy and Skyboss Plus membership packages. Bamboo Airways has First card, and Vietravel Airlines has Vietravel Airlines Plus card.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/san-bay-da-nang-tinh-thu-tien-loi-di-uu-tien-phuc-vu-uu-tien-hay-phan-biet-doi-xu-20241202111441924.htm