Despite Travel Advisory, Air India Reportedly Refusing To Waive Cancellation Fees, Give Refunds

Amid coronavirus fears, even PM Narendra Modi tweeted that people should avoid travelling abroad and cancel all unnecessary travel plans. But it seems Air India isn't taking things so seriously.

While many airlines like Alaska Airlines in the US have waived cancellation fees on air tickets booking, Air India Express reportedly asked a passenger in Mumbai to pay a hefty amount in cancellation charges to the tickets to Dubai they had booked earlier.

Twitter

Many people online have been tweeting to and about Air India and its refusal to waive cancellation fees:

Have ticket booked from Milan to Delhi to Kolkata, both flights on Air India but after March 31 as return for planned multi-city summer vacation tour of Europe. Air India says no free change for us and no refund upon cancellation, though the GOI has issued "no travel warning"

¡ª sbveda.writer@gmail.com (@SbvedaW) March 13, 2020

@airindiain worst airlines. I cancelled my flight due to Coronavirus and Panic in New Delhi Airport. Air India still charged me cancellation fee which was 50% of ticket price. all other airlines are providing full refund. RIP Air India. will never book air india

¡ª Sandeep (@sandyparhar) March 11, 2020

Air India is refusing to provide full refund after Indian Ministry Travel Advisory has suspended travel from March 13th. Why should we have to burdened with cancellation fees? Please provide full refund. @airindiain @narendramodi

¡ª Raj Sehrai (@rajsehrai) March 13, 2020

One such person according to a report is Priyanka Dutt, an entrepreneur and a resident of Andheri. She was supposed to travel to Dubai along with her husband and two children, including an infant. When she contacted Air India Express customer care to get her tickets cancelled, she was asked to pay a cancellation and convenience fees of over Rs 20,000!

"We are a family of four and have booked tickets for a 12-day vacation (From March 15 to 26) to Dubai. But given the circumstances, due to coronavirus, there was a lot of confusion and we finally decided to cancel the plan. Therefore, I contacted Air India asking them to cancel the ticket. However, they said that there will be cancellation fees of Rs 18,900 and Rs 2,800 as a convenience charge,¡± Mirror online quoted her as saying.

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She further said, "They are making a joke of the public. I want a solution. It is unfair for the national carrier to do so when India and Dubai both the countries are asking to avoid non-essential travel. In fact, hotels in Dubai are refunding the payment."

Meanwhile, GoAir airlines has waived cancellation fees for tickets booked till April 30.

#GoAlert pic.twitter.com/kwAu3srSj0

¡ª GoAir (@goairlinesindia) March 8, 2020

Air India on its part said that Air India Express passengers can reschedule their tickets free of cost for new bookings but there will be no refund.