[Resolved]  Airindia — No refund for alternate travel arrangements made during ICPA strike.

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

I had booked onward & return tickets for my frnd Beena Vijayaraghavan on Yatra.com (AI / ETKT 098 [protected]) for a total of Rs 15,459/- to fly with Air India from Chennai to Singapore. She flew to Singapore on 23rd Apr 2011 (AI-358) & was due to return to Chennai on 30th Apr 2011 (AI-347). However, on the 30th of April all of Air India employees went on strike because of which she was asked to make alternate travel arrangements by the Air India officials in Singapore as they couldn’t arrange for a transfer to another flight. They promised her that all costs of alternate travel arrangements would be refunded along with other expenses that she would incur as a result of the strike including taxi fares & hotel accommodation.

So I booked a return flight for my frnd on Makemytrip.com from Singapore to Chennai via Colombo on Emirates/Jet Airways to leave on 1st May 2011. She had to fly from Singapore to Colombo (ETkt # 176 [protected]) on Emirates (EK-349) & from Colombo to Chennai (ETkt # 176 [protected]) on Jet Airways (9W-253) which was the cheapest & most viable option for her at that point of time considering the sudden demand for tickets to Chennai. This return ticket alone cost me Rs 16,812/-. She also had to make an extra taxi ride to the airport & back which cost her a total of S$ 35.40. When I approached AirIndia on several occasions trying to reach the right department with a refund request they said they cud only go by their rules which states that I will get a refund only for the unused flight ticket which is abt Rs 7000. So I am looking for a total refund of Rs. 16,812 + taxi fares of Singapore $ 35.40 + compensation for the physical & mental stress that was caused to my frnd & me and an apology letter from Mr J K Chowdury (APM) for Traffic Services, Mumbai, AirIndia.

I have attached 2 docs: The refund request letter sent to AirIndia & The reply received from them.

I request you to help me get justice.