Kingfisher told not to shift passengers to Air Deccan

New Delhi: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has found UB Group-owned Kingfisher Airlines guilty of making its passengers travel by Air Deccan, which provides low-cost services. These passengers had purchased tickets of Kingfisher that operates full-service flights with hot meals and in-flight entertainment. Cost of travel by Kingfisher is usually higher than Air Deccan, which is well-known as a budget airline.
The apex consumer panel, which passed its order on a petition filed by an aggrieved air traveller, has asked Kingfisher not to indulge in such “unfair trade practice” till further orders. The panel has also asked the ministry of civil aviation to take ‘appropriate’ action.
Delhi-based J K Mittal was made to travel to Bhubaneswar in a Deccan flight though he purchased a Kingfisher Airlines ticket through the airline’s website. The ticket, which was bought for Rs 4,800, would have cost Rs 2,300 less if it was booked on Air Deccan, he complained to the Commission.
At the airport, Kingfisher staff informed Mr Mittal that the airline did not have a flight that day between Delhi and Bhubaneswar. Therefore, he was directed to board a Air Deccan flight. The aggrieved passenger has sought Rs 5 crore from Kingfisher as ‘damages’.
A similar case pertaining to Dharmesh Misra of Delhi, was asked to board an Air Deccan flight on August 7 from Indore to Delhi despite purchasing Kingfisher tickets, is also under consideration of the Commission.
16/08/08 Souvik Sanyal/Economic Times

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Categories: Deccan Aug 2008, Kingfisher Aug 2008