Meat-eaters revolting over airline baggage policy
Scheme "banning" Jet Airways passengers from carrying weeping flesh in the hold somehow proves unpopular
Goans threatened to boycott the airline over its threat to their prawn curry deliveries to far-flung relatives. In June, without making a big deal of it, India's Jet Airways introduced a new policy that apparently prohibited passengers from carrying meat, seafood or poultry products onboard domestic and international flights -- even in checked-in luggage.
"Based on passenger feedback/complaints," ran the airline's press release, "on account of damage of baggage due to instances of seepage caused by carriage of improperly packed perishable fish, seafood and meat products, in normal ice, Jet Airways has disallowed carriage of such in check-in baggage."
Following media reports, including a "New York Times" piece on Goans threatening to boycott the airline, Jet updated its baggage policy on October 29.
Locked and loaded
"In view of the ongoing incorrect media reports, Jet Airways would like to clarify that the airline will allow carriage of food items in checked baggage that are packed dry and not prone to seepage," it now says.
"However, Jet Airways has only disallowed carriage of improperly packed perishable food items, in normal ice or liquids in containers that are susceptible to spillage or seepage."
In other words, meat-eating Indians and international travelers can now fly freely with their food, provided they pack it properly, presumably in dry ice and boxes with a decent seal. After all, nobody likes their bags smelling of someone else's prawn pickle.
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