Indigo Airlines — In a hurry to fly before time Indigo is not allowing last minute (not late reporting) passengers with baggage to board flight.

Address:

Gurgaon, Haryana, 122002

My daughter, who is a student, was to travel alone from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata on 01.11.2015 at 7.20. She joined the check in queue, after completing baggage x ray, before the reporting time 6.35 (45 minutes before scheduled flight time) but could not complete the process of baggage hand over before the reporting time due to the passenger before her taking more time. At that time no last minute announcement for that flight was made as is the practice by airlines. When she reached the counter it was informed that she had missed the flight. After some arguments on the counter it was written on her ticket that the reporting time was 6.43 where as at that time even the actual time was less than 6.43. It was informed that either she can go without check in baggage or she can be accommodated in the next flight. She agreed for the next flight and was directed to the booking counter. The flight, as per their website, left the airport 9 minutes before the scheduled time of 7.20. At the booking counter it was informed that she has to pay rebooking fee of Rs. 200/- but after a few minutes they demanded full fare of Rs.8600/-. She did not opt for that. They had offered to show CCTV footage to prove that she was not in the queue by the reporting time i.e.6.35. But did not to do that despite repeated requests. Some mails were exchanged and I requested to confirm the time, from CCTV footage, as to when she reached the queue. Many mails were exchanged but they have avoided that and asking me to check the same from airport authority, knowing very well that a customer would not be able to devote time to do that. It is learnt that they have 4 to 5 flights during that time of the day with just 5 minutes interval between each of them. The existing staffs are not being able to handle the pressure of Indigo’s quest to fly before time. But the same is achieved by not allowing passengers who report at the last moment but not late. K K Tarania