Consumer Grievances in Airline Sector - Inputs on Issues

Dear Members:

Thanks for submitting your vote on the poll about what industry has the most share of consumer grievances.

Let us initiate a discussion on the issues we as consumers face with airlines. I request all of you to outline the various issues you have experienced/come across in this industry with regards to air travel within India or internationally from India.

Once we understand the issues, we will root cause them and identify solutions that can be taken to the various Ministries and Departments for implementation.

Our objective would be to bring some systemic changes that will increase accountability and reduce consumer grievances in the airline industry.

I look forward to you inputs!

Rajendra Pratap Gupta more

Helpful Connected Consumers Sep 06

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View all 36 comments Below 36 comments

Anup Sharma (Engineer)

1. Airlines have made the passengers wait in the Aircraft for good 2 to 3 hours, claiming that it shall take off as soon as the clearance is given to fly due to technical reason. 2. Wait for several hours in the departure lounge for booked passengers , Airlines stating that due to technical reasons the flight is delayed or aircraft has NOT arrived. 3. The Airlines keep announcing that the flight is ready to DEPART SHORTLY and keep EXTENDING the departure every half hour , this delay may extend up to 3-4 hours. more

Aug 28

Nakkeeran Singaravelu (Career Guidance -to School students, Social service)

1.Frequent Flier scheme with AI. When I tried to book the ticket from Chennai to Colombo, sector on line, it was not possible. But it allows fro domestic sectors. My mileage points get lapsed. There was no response to my queries, why it was not possible. They blindly say to pay some money for validating the mileage points. Customer care over phone is equally good in the response. 2. Any airline not paying the fuel bill within a week, shall not be allowed to take fuel. When they get the fare paid by the passenger, they shall also pay for the fuel. Ultimately it is getting accumulated, and Government is bailing out with taxpayers money.(Tax collected from the salaried people, who is not getting any service for the tax paid more

Aug 24

Seshadri Vijayajakumar

Couple of issues comes to my mind are : 1. The pricing structure for purchase of ticket with respect to time period should go!The pricing policy should be uniform." No fly by night operators"2. The delay,cancellation should be properly notified well ahead! If possible they have to streamline their operations for zero delay!3.The area of maintenance of aircraft should be very stricly followed with proper accountablity to avoid any evenuality of accidents,loss of innocent lives,etc.4.The Govt. should provide support on fuel costing,tax structures,etc sothat the pricing is reasonable.5. The undue overhead of the airline business houses should be thoroughly reviewed for better operational efficiency,pricing and cost of ownership and the ultimate benefit should go the the public.6. The travel insurance should be part of the ticket cost compulsorily and should not be an option to travellers.7. All the domestic/international airports facilities needs a thorugh examination and upgraded for a world-class standard. more

Aug 24

Shree Prakash

I have bitter experience with Air India.I had bought a return ticket of Air India a few yrs back thru an approved agent.It was for my daughter studying in France Paris-Delhi Paris route.My daughter used it for Paris-Delhi & she drcided not to return to Paris.So I surrendered unused -Delhi-Paris ticket to the agent for refund as per terms printed on the ticket.But agent informed that Air India has refused any refund.Then I took up matter with Air India Kolkata where agent is based.Again airline told me that ticket was nonrefundable as per some code printed on ticket.Then I wrote to CMD Air India & the then CA minister Mr P .Patel.Thougjh non responded after long argument they refunded the Sale tax only.where as as per terms printed on tiket nowhere it was mentioned as Nonrefundable. Airline must print if the tiket is Nonrefundable on tiket.I had to beat huge loss & now I don't have any tiket as the unused tiket was to b surrendered for any refund more

Aug 24

Krishnan Vc

Running an airline is a business just like running any other business. A person is there to profit and not for Charitable purposes. After saying so, i would to comment as follows: 1. To assist INDIAN companies running such expensive businesses the government should help them in sourcing cheaper sources of finance. 2, An airline helps in fast travel and also assists in facilitating access to places to which access is extremely difficult like Leh, Arunachal Pradesh, etc. 3. It keeps business on its toes. 4. it assists in transporting persons to foreign places where train or bus or car travel is prohibited or prevented. If the Government makes the purchase of fuel internationally competitive and give access to companies to source their fuel and also provide services AT THEIR COST without any hand holding by the politician or the Banker then i am sure the best will survive and we will get the best of services. vck more

Aug 23

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