New Delhi, June 30: SpiceJet will offer a discount to passengers carrying only hand luggage on domestic flights.

The rebate is Rs 200 on normal fare for a one-way flight and can go up to Rs 1,000 for a round trip. The tickets have to be purchased at least 30 days in advance.

However, those who book tickets at discounted fares but later carry check-in luggage will have to pay Rs 500 for up to 10 kg of baggage and Rs 750 for up to 15-kg baggage.

The airline had first announced this scheme for tickets bought in the last week of April as a test case. It has now turned this into a permanent offer. A spokesperson for SpiceJet said, "The DGCA had given us permission for the scheme in March this year."

While the airline regulator has allowed schemes that offer discounts to passengers travelling with hand baggage alone, it has struck down a proposal that sought to charge more for carrying check-in baggage.

"Discounts to existing fares for travelling light is fine... but charging for services such as baggage is restrictive and anti-consumer in nature," DGCA officials have said.

AirAsia, which has a global policy to charge luggage, tried to introduce this in India last year, but the DGCA rejected it. The regulator remains firm on not allowing extra fare for features such as check-in luggage and water served on board.

"By encouraging travellers to travel light, SpiceJet is helping lower fuel consumption and emissions as well," the carrier said.

The hand-baggage allowance remains the same - one handbag up to 7kg per passenger, plus a standard sized shoulder laptop bag or ladies purse.

"Travellers with check-in baggage can still check in their 15-kg baggage for free using our normal SpiceSaver and other fares. SpiceJet is not charging for checked-in baggage for those who select the normal fares," airline officials said. The international and connecting flights are not part of the scheme.

"With this fare, we are passing on the savings of carrying less weight to price sensitive passengers who have hand baggage only, and are incentivising more passengers to book early and travel light," Sanjiv Kapoor, chief operating officer of SpiceJet, said.