[Resolved]  Spice Jet Airlines — Refund of Taxes and Fees from ticket price

I booked a ticket with SpiceJet on its website for the sector Delhi-Pune with travel date 13th march (fare 500 + taxes 2075 = total price 2575 paid by credit card).

I did not fly due to a personal reasons and was unable to inform Spicejet 2 hrs prior to the flight time for a reschedulement as per their requirement for which they charge an amount.

I called the airline call center requesting them for a refund of the tax amount i.e.Rs 2075 since it is not payable to the airline but government on flying. SpiceJet says only 225 can be refunded (the passenger service fee) and the rest would be forfieted. They cannot even reverse this amount to the card but would hold it with them as a credit in my name.

The base fare was 500. Spicejet says in its terms and conditions on its webpage http://www.spicejet.com/tnc.asp - "Bookings are non-refundable: Failure to show up for the flight at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure will result in the fare being forfeited".

As a frequent flier with various airlines, I have knowledge that Jet, Sahara airlines and few others pay back the entire taxes and even 10% of the airline base fare for a 'no-show' or no flying and no information till the time of departure of flight.

Hence i dispute the logic that should cause Spicejet to not pay me back the taxes amount for a flight (service) that i have not availed at all.

They can only have a right on their fare - high or low, not on the tax & fee component to the government. It must be noted that airlines always advertise their fare as Rs 0 or Rs 500 etc. never mentioning the tax of Rs 2025 upwards that anyhow will be levied on the customer. How can they then forfiet the tax portion under any arbitrary company policy of theirs? SpiceJet has duped many customers who are not aware of other airlines. I am contemplating lodging a complaint with the Consumer Forum.

Low cost airlines cannot get away by harrassing hapless consumers merely because they have the tag 'low cost'!!