Passengers are facing a tough time in getting refunds for
Air India (AI) flights that have been cancelled because of the strike by pilots that entered the sixth day on Monday. The strike has led to nearly 90 per cent of the domestic flights being cancelled by the national carrier.
AI plans to operate only 40 of the 320 daily flights till the strike is withdrawn, said an AI spokesperson, even as the Delhi High Court is set to take up contempt of court proceedings against the leaders of the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA).
Taking a tough stand against the striking pilots, the Delhi High Court on Monday asked them to resume work or face the consequences.
"The leniency that we are showing today may not continue tomorrow. We do not like people playing around with the court," said the bench headed by Justice B. D. Ahmad that during the daylong hearing gave pilots three chances to call off the strike and save themselves from the contempt proceedings.
The court, however, has not yet issued the contempt notice against the striking pilots.
"There is a thin line in asking for demands and ransoming someone.
A few people already believe that you have crossed the line," said Ahmad in an open court.
During the hearing the pilots did agree to call off the strike if AI agreed to some conditions to reinstate the eight sacked pilots, revoke derecognition of their association and file a joint petition before the concerned committee to hear their case pertaining to pay parity and flying hours on priority.
However, the matter got stuck with AI counsel Lalit Bhasin refusing to agree with these demands.
The passengers' woes have been compounded with private airlines hiking fares despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asking airlines not to charge exorbitant amounts on spot tickets and to ensure that these did not exceed the maximum fares published on their Websites.
Rohit Mishra, a 32-year-old engineer, had booked an economy class ticket for Rs 9,638 on AI's Chennai-New Delhi flight for April 29. The flight was cancelled at the last moment and Mishra made a spot booking through the online travel portal MakeMyTrip.com on Kingfisher's Chennai-Delhi flight for Rs 13,999.
Mishra has, however, not yet got any information about a refund for the AI ticket, either from the airline or from Make-MyTrip.com through which he had booked it.
"I am yet to receive communication from Air India or Make-MyTrip.com through which I booked my ticket. When I contacted the online travel portal, they told me that it would take time and they would refund the money to my account once they get it from the airline (Air India)," he said.
The president of the Travel Agents Association of India, Rajinder Rai, said passengers get refunds only after two weeks. "It normally takes at least 15 days for refunds on air tickets for any Indian carrier.
This is not the case in developed countries where it takes around three days to get a refund. Airlines in India will have to upgrade their technology," Rai pointed out.
The head (marketing and strategic alliance) at online travel portal Yatra.com, Pratik Mazumder, said it takes at least a week to refund the money to passengers. "We cannot refund money to passengers who book their tickets through online travel portals until we get the approval from the airline," echoed Sonia Mehta, the chief customer experience officer at Yatra.com.
Airlines in India offer three per cent as commission to online travel portals and authorised agents for a domestic booking.
Courtesy: Mail Today
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