The covid-19 situation is quite grim in India. With cases rising in every state and thousands losing their lives daily, travelling is certainly not an option for now. Several passengers have cancelled their tickets to stay indoors, while others have tested positive and are in quarantine. However, despite the current situation, passengers testing positive are not being exempted from cancellation charges. Here’s everything you must know about it.
Social Media Pages Of Airlines Are Filled With Refund Requests
Social media pages of major airlines are filled with complaints by the passengers in distress. These passengers who are now unable to travel because of the rising covid cases are asking for refunds from the airlines. And to this, some airlines are responding stating that cancellation fees are applicable, while others choose not to respond to the grievances.
Divya Mehta, a Delhi resident, tested positive with her family. She had spent Rs. 47,000 for booking tickets from Delhi to Goa for April 30. However, her family, at present, is fighting against covid. She has lost her uncle to covid, and her aunt is critical- however, when it comes to cancellation charges, the Spice jet has charged her Rs. 30,000. In distress, Divya is pleading with the airline to refund the money since, with heavy hospital charges, the cancellation amount means a lot to them. However, there’s no response from the airline’s end. She even tweeted her and families RT PCR test, but again hasn’t received any response.
Indigo Airlines Respond Saying The Cancellation Charges Are Applicable For Now
While Spice Jet chose not to respond, Indigo clearly stated that changes or cancellation charges are applicable for now.
Raman Jaiswal, who had booked a flight for May 19, wanted to cancel it for safety reasons, and for the same, Indigo is offering him only Rs. 553 refund. When he approached the airline on social media, they said- they are monitoring the situation closely and are not offering waivers for now.
Some passengers are also resorting to using personal connections to get a refund. Something similar happened with Panvel resident- Nasreen Dada, who was going to fly from Mumbai to Kannur with her kids to meet her mum. However, the flights were cancelled thrice, and the airline then asked the passengers to cancel the flight without any refund. And after insistently fighting with airlines for a refund, she used her contacts to get the refund.
Well, these are just a few cases, several passengers are daily fighting with the airlines for refunds. Passengers say that airlines should encourage people to stay indoors, instead, they are taking advantage of this grim situation.
First Published: May 01, 2021 12:18 PM