SpiceJet

Great news for spice jet lovers but just a word of caution : BEWARE IF YOU PLAN TO FLY IN OCTOBER!!!

Why the warning - well, I booked a return ticket for October successfully, chose my seats, booked hotel and the works. Was sitting happily a couple of weeks back when suddenly I get this call from SpiceJet - "Sir, your tickets ex-Delhi stand cancelled (In August!!) and you will get a full refund. Thank you for choosing SpiceJet!"

I am bewildered now.

What do I do with my return ticket?

"Sir, if you want to cancel it, standard cancellation charges will apply."

But you are not letting me go there in the first place!!

"Hmm. We see your point. But sorry, we cant do anything about it. Company Policy you see."

What about my hotel and all the other expenses that I have already made?!

"Doesn’t concern us."

But why are you cancelling the flight? Can’t be the weather? Do u know in advance whether AAI will go on strike on that day?! (I’m truly bewildered here! Even Deccan cancels on the day of the flight whenever they do. And that is when a connecting flight gets delayed/cancelled etc. There is some logic there)

"You see sir, the aircraft we were planning to buy is not coming. So that flight can’t go."

How can you book passengers, take money and advertise a flight that does not have an aircraft attached to it?! Isn’t that fraud?

"No answer"

Then what’s this news on your 1.1B USD financing? That indicates your aqusitions are on schedule!!!

"No answer"

I am going to the consumer court. This is completely out of the line..

"Sir, Sir, Sir, let me check with my supervisor. We might have another flight on that day!!"

Waiting Music...

"Sir, good news! We have a flight two hours before your old one. We can transfer you on that without any charges!"

Dear readers, did I have a choice?

I have not disclosed the location fearing someone from Spice Jet will read this review and cancel that flight as well or deplane me on obscure charges!!! I really have money stuck there and need to complete this flight. But in case that happens, you will be the first to hear - along with the confirmation messages (both instances) and emails from these fellows & names of the supervisors/contact centre staff I spoke to...

Keeping my fingers crossed expecting atleast good in-flight service!!!

EDIT on Nov 8 2006: Hi all. I am glad to announce that I travelled on both flights and thankfully both were normal and peaceful....even though I was clutching to my seat thinking they will evict me @ 35000 feet any moment!! Jokes apart, no service issues and on-time arrival departure.

And surprise! The "no aircraft" excuse was a complete sham as the flight I was earlier booked on did take off. I am sure they recd a more profitable bulk booking and therefore evicted the budget flyers who had already booked. Hence, I will not change my rating in this edit. They are scamsters, either which way!