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A senior citizen is an individual over the age of 60. This is also the official age of retirement in most organizations, and hence, it is often referred to as the golden years of an individual's life, when you are free from work responsibilities.With more time on hand, as a senior citizen, you are likely to spend your retirement travelling. This could be to visit your children, travel to places of religious significance, or simply explore the world. There are many senior citizens benefits available, especially in the travel sector, which allow for cost-efficient travel options. Here are some examples:
- Discount on train tickets The Indian Railways provides a discount for senior citizens. Men can enjoy a flat 40% discount while women can get a whopping 50% discount. The concession is applicable to all classes in the following group of trains, Shatabdi, Mail, Express, Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi, and Duronto.For women, a minimum age of 58 qualifies you to avail this discount. For men, the minimum age is fixed at 60. The concession can easily be applied while booking your tickets on the IRCTC website. However, the discounts are not applicable on Tatkal tickets. Do remember to mention your age correctly to avail the discount and carry the required government-issued photo ID as proof.
- Discount on airfare As most airlines in India are privately owned, each one of them has a different discount available for the senior citizens. Air India provides a 50% discount on basic fare for domestic travels to senior citizens who have attained the age of 60 on or before the date of the journey. This discount is restricted to economy class, and the ticket needs to be purchased at least 7 days before the journey.Similarly, other airlines have their own set of terms and conditions for the discount extended towards senior citizens. For all airlines, you must provide a government-issued ID that has your age mentioned on it as proof.
- Discount on cruise packages Private shipping companies have seasonal or festive discounts available for senior citizens. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI), which manages and operates ships in the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep regions, also provides a discount to islanders. Their ships usually sail from Port Blair to Chennai and Kolkata to Vishakhapatnam multiple times in a month.
- Easy loans for funding your travels One of the biggest senior citizens benefits is a lower rate of interest on loans. Right from personal loans to travel loans, you have many attractive, low-interest options available.
Apart from this, if you are booking your travels via a travel agent, you can always work out the finances with a payback model that provides you with some additional discount and benefits.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein is generic in nature and is meant for educational purposes only. Nothing here is to be construed as an investment or financial or taxation advice nor to be considered as an invitation or solicitation or advertisement for any financial product. Readers are advised to exercise discretion and should seek independent professional advice prior to making any investment decision in relation to any financial product. Aditya Birla Capital Group is not liable for any decision arising out of the use of this information.
