Grahakjago (S.K.Virmani)©

Why not we consider to dispense with web check-in facility till the time Airlines withdraw the fee for web check-in Indigo recently had come out with charging of fee from the passengers who use their web check in facility. This fee could be even as high as Rs. 600/- per passenger. It is understood Spice jet is following the suit and with such latest move of Indigo Airlines to charge fee for web check-in, the stage is being set by other Airlines to follow.  The web check in to a great extent is a relief onto the Airlines through which the Airlines can reduce their work load at the counters and in a good business sense, the cost reduction through such check-in should ideally be passed onto the passengers to encourage them to use web check-in facility. Instead of offering any discount to the passengers, the Indigo Airlines have imposed cost on the passengers if they check-in themselves. As such such fee being charged by the Airline become unethical business practices and ne...

An article titled " Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) need to intervene and frame out policy on cancellation fee chargeable by the Airlines and to withdraw the practice of charging for preferential seat allocation"  was published in this blog on 13/03/2018. The link to the article is http://skvirmani-jagograhak.blogspot.in/2018/03/director-general-of-civil-aviation-dgca.html Subsequent to the article, the same was posted to DGCA. A petition has also been created titled "Airlines must charge only 20 pct of ticket value as cancellation charges ". It is felt that we jointly have to raise our voice so that Govt. of India is compelled to intervene and frame a policy to restrict the cancellation fee not more than 20% of the air fare. The link to the petition is: http://bit.ly/rationalise-airticketcancellationcharges The citizens may like to contribute to the social justice as the issue is of public interest. The link can also be shared on vari...

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) need to intervene and frame out policy on cancellation fee chargeable by the Airlines and to withdraw the practice of charging for preferential seat allocation                           Recently a ticket booked for Delhi- Ahmedabad-Delhi on 2 nd February 2018 for scheduled Departure on 25 th February 2018 and scheduled return journey on 28 th February 2018 was required to be cancelled on 22 nd February 2018. Surprisingly, the amount of refund by the intended passenger as received was merely Rs. 493/- out of the paid amount of Rs. 6,243/- deducting an amount of Rs. 5,750/-   supposedly to be the cancellation fee.                       Total amount paid:    Rs. 6,243        ...

Why Indian Railways considering charging of insurance premium from passengers? It seems Indian Railways is considering introduction of a nominal fee for covering the risks against accidents and luggage. If we look at the past statistics, most of the accidents and stealing of luggage of passengers is due to the inefficiency of the railways. To an estimate, more than 80% of the accidents are occuring because of human failure. Similar is the view about luggage being stolen. The railways need to ensure that the travel by unathorised passengers (main cause of the stealing of luggage) do not travel in the reserved coaches. TTE has been failing in their duties to check on such lapses, the prominent being from the angle of corruption. Number of supporters of the present Government are making grounds for charging of nominal fee of Rs. 2/- per passenger as insurance premium to cover for such risks. Now the question comes as to why the passenger be made to pay for insurance premium. I...

Why Airlines should feel hesitant in refunding the excess ADF?? As you may be knowing that Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) have reduced ADF w.e.f 1st January 2013 for the passengers embarking from Delhi Airports (DIAL). The ADF for domestic passengers has been reduced from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 100/- whereas for the international passengers it has been reduced from Rs. 1300/- to Rs. 600/-. The passengers who have booked their tickets prior to 31st December 2012 are entitled to a refund of Rs. 100/- and Rs. 700/- for domestic and international flights respectively.  Times of India in their news published on 20th January 2013 that Airlines are delaying the refund of Excess amount charged under "Development fee" due to reduction in fee w.e.f 01/01/2013. The reason cited is inadequate staff deployed by Airlines. I have failed to understand as to why the refund should be delayed on a/c of shortage in staff. First of all most of the tickets are booked electronic...

Denied boarding despite confirmed ticket entitles compensation not only for the monetary loss or injury suffered by the complainant but also for injustice suffered by the consumer District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I, UT Chandigarh (for short the ‘District Forum’) in complaint case No. 603 of 2010 of Lata Sikri vs. Kingfisher Airlines for deficiency in service on the part of the petitioner-Airlines in not issuing the boarding pass to her on a Delhi-Hyderabad flight for which the complainant held confirmed / OK ticket partly allowed the complaint of the complainant with the following directions:  “ From the above detailed analysis of the entire case, we are of the considered opinion that the complaint must succeed.  So, we accept the complaint and decide the same in favour of the complainant and against the Ops.  The Ops are directed to issue a complementary return ticket to the complainant (as agreed), on any domestic flig...