As the subject suggests I missed flight no. 6E 496 from Mumbai to Indore on 29th August 2018 scheduled to depart Mumbai at 10:35am. Thanks to the overzealous professionals at the boarding counter who stands by their duty at all cost, human or inhuman! Indeed if Ms. Kripa was not trained to be “that perfect time keeper” I would have been able to attend a very important meeting scheduled at Indore.
Since minutes and seconds have been the bench mark to Ms. Kripa performance I would like to give my account too with “time precision accuracy”:-
I reached the airport at 10:03am. For evidence I am attaching an image of the screen at the terminal 1 which is supposed to display gate number of the corresponding flight. To my utter disappointment the screen was not working which led to wastage of precious minutes. Every time I get a message on registered mobile number regarding the gate number, but this time I have not received any message whatsoever from your end. If at all you have to contradict me send a proof for the same. Because of your short comings; First – Failure to send an SMS regarding gate number, Second – No display at the terminal regarding flight and corresponding gate number, led to wastage of precious time in reaching the boarding counter!
By 10:08am I was undergoing the mandatory security check, where by my phone also had to be given away in the tray and, unfortunately I got a call at the same time from indigo airlines staff as a last call to proceed for boarding. Of course I missed it as it was not with me.
By 10:10am I rushed to boarding counter and had shared the call I had received, but missed, by indigo staff with Ms. Kripa, but was refused to board the flight. Do you really think that refusing a passenger who is late only by a minute as per your staff version, with euphemisms and phrases will ever justify monetary loss and in this scenario a very important meeting I had to attend at Indore. as well.
Deferring my request to board this flight just because of a minute(10:08am I got my last call for boarding and at 10:10am I was already the boarding counter.)Seems very unreasonable and unjustifiable and by all rights I demand that a refund be processed for the same. Being late by 1 minute does not seem irrational or improbable but refusing a passenger to board a flight who is late only by a minute is irrational and subversible conduct by any airlines. Corporate SME discounts and schemes are offered by airlines for their clients who are frequently travelling for business purpose. Similarly airlines need to see requirements of a business traveller vis-à-vis a tourist/people who travel for leisure. Delay in reaching the destination can cost insurmountable losses to a businessman.
I fervently hope that a refund will be immediately processed and the indigo staff will be co-operative in true sense and spirit of the word.