Go Air — Blatant racist attitude

Address:

East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

On the 10 of September 2014, we arrived at the Chatrapatti Shiva international airport Mumbai at 6-00 am-we were travelling to Guwahati on route home to Shillong. On checking in at the GoAir counter we were informed that our two pieces of luggage was booked through to Guwahati and we were handed two boarding passes. The first one was for the Mumbai New Delhi leg of the journey bearing flight Number G8-327 and seat number 16 A and 16 B STD 7.50 am and the second bore flight No G8-151 and seat numbers 16 B and 16 C, STD 10.35 am. That immediately told me that I had to change planes at New Delhi. The flight took off on time. Our STA at Indira Gandhi International airport New Delhi was 9.55 am. The flight took off on schedule but during the flight we were informed by the pilot over the intercom that the flight was delayed. I was not worried as this was quite normal. The flight G8-327 landed at 10.21 am -26 minutes behind the scheduled time and that when the nightmare started. We rushed out from the arrival lounge and headed for the departure lounge which was located in another building on the first floor. We entered through gate 7 was headed for the security check. Once out of security, we ran on to gate no 9, where we were confronted by the digital announcement board that that the gate was closed. We approached the three GoAir officials at the gate and explained that we had just got out of flight G8-327 from Mumbai and that we were there to catch flight G8-151 bound for Guwahati. They told us that the flight had departed while rudely demanding to know why we had deplaned as the same air craft was bound for Guwahati. I was perplexed for a moment but showed them the second boarding pass for flight no G8-151 and asked them if the same air craft was flying on to Guwahati why were we issued two boarding passes. To which they replied that it was ‘standard procedure’. One of them took away the boarding pass and asked us to follow him. At the counter we were told to wait. I watched them as they stood a little away their face grim as they discussed the situation. After about 15 minutes I walked up to the counter and asked for the fate of our luggage which was booked through to Guwahati. They asked me to be patient and wait as they were bringing it. 45 minutes or so later our bags were wheeled in. One of the airline employees tried to remove the baggage tags but I prevented them from doing so. By this time I had begun to realise that the airlines was attempting a cover up. So one again I approached the counter and demanded to meet their superior to register my complains. But I was stonewalled again and again. When I persisted they haughtily informed that they would rebook my ticket for the following day. A young man, in the airline uniform was given my boarding pass and was instructed to ask me take me to the reservation office to get the paper work done. However at the exit gate the young man passed on that chore to a lady colleague. I followed her on to the reservation office and was asked to wait at the lobby while she disappeared into the maze of offices with the Delhi Guwahati boarding passes. I waited for a very long time but I never saw her ever again. My patients ran out after a long wait and so I walked behind the counters trying to locate the lady. She was nowhere to be seen. Just as I despaired ever getting any where I noticed the air line staffer who had guided us from gate no 9 to the counter. I caught hold of him and demanded to know the status of the rebooking of our tickets. He asked me for the PNR no on my Mumbai Delhi Boarding pass and within seconds I was holding the new tickets booked the following day. I then demanded that the airlines make arrangements for the hotels at our unscheduled stop over at New Delhi. He coldly told to take care of it myself; once again iterating that the air lines were not at fault and so was not liable. I lost one whole precious day thanks to Go air. I also had to shell out of my pocket for my lodge and board plus taxi fare for the unnecessary stop over at Delhi. I boarded flight G8-151 bound for Guwahati the following day but not before I extracted the information from the flight manager that flight G8-151 originates from Bangaluru and not Mumbai as claimed by the officials’ of GoAir. Some questions If the same air craft was on ward bound to Guwahati why were we issued two boarding passes? With two sets of seat numbers If our luggage was booked through to Guwahati how/why was it unloaded at New Delhi air port. Would they have treated any other passenger from the ‘mainland India’ in the same shabby way? I can only conclude the following:- This is a clear case discrimination against people from the north east of the country Ingenious way to harass passengers Blatant racist attitude. The air line in risky one and I strongly advise travellers to avoid using their service The airlines had better pull up its socks if it wants to stay in business I was travelling with a cousin who is a cancer survivor on our way back home after his annual medical check up at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.