Go Air overbooks, minor left stranded
15 May 2012 9:14 AM GMT
A 15-year-old girl, who was travelling alone, was stranded at the Delhi airport on Sunday after a Delhi-Mumbai Go Air flight was found out to be overbooked.
According to sources, the traveller, identified as Aparna, had to get off the aircraft after the crew realised that the commercial department of the airlines had issued 181 tickets against sanctioned strength of 180. ‘When the flight was about to take-off at about 11.15 am on Sunday, a man approached the crew stating that someone else was sitting on his seat. Consequently, two tickets were found issued for the same seat,’ the sources
The airline authorities then decided to de-board Aparna and send her in the next flight which was scheduled after a few hours.
‘The flight was delayed for about 15 minutes as her baggage, which had been loaded in the aircraft took sometime to be spotted. In fact, against the runway protocol, her baggage was taken out and kept on the runway, which is not allowed as it should be kept only on a trolley,’ the sources stated.
The sources said that Aparna was travelling under Unattended Minor (UNM) category and her parents were informed about this incident as they were supposed to wait for her on the Mumbai airport. ‘It was a big flaw from the commercial department to have issued an extra ticket. It compromises security,’ the sources stated.
Overbooking, apparently, has become a regular practice by airlines as a lot of case of overbooking have been seen at the Delhi airport. Even though the issue has been raised several times, the airlines keep repeating the mistake, causing problems for the passengers. Several policies have also been initiated by the Indian government to settle the issues of overbooking.
The airlines, on the other hand, claimed inclement weather led to the unavoidable cancellation of many flights and customers affected from these cancellations were offered transportation on other flights. This was the reason why Aparna had to take a later flight.
‘Aparna was looked after by Go Air at Delhi until she departed by G8-162 for Mumbai. Her parents were intimated of the flight details and arrival into Mumbai. We do apologise to her and her parents, should this have caused any inconvenience to them,’ said the airlines spokesperson.
According to sources, the traveller, identified as Aparna, had to get off the aircraft after the crew realised that the commercial department of the airlines had issued 181 tickets against sanctioned strength of 180. ‘When the flight was about to take-off at about 11.15 am on Sunday, a man approached the crew stating that someone else was sitting on his seat. Consequently, two tickets were found issued for the same seat,’ the sources
The airline authorities then decided to de-board Aparna and send her in the next flight which was scheduled after a few hours.
‘The flight was delayed for about 15 minutes as her baggage, which had been loaded in the aircraft took sometime to be spotted. In fact, against the runway protocol, her baggage was taken out and kept on the runway, which is not allowed as it should be kept only on a trolley,’ the sources stated.
The sources said that Aparna was travelling under Unattended Minor (UNM) category and her parents were informed about this incident as they were supposed to wait for her on the Mumbai airport. ‘It was a big flaw from the commercial department to have issued an extra ticket. It compromises security,’ the sources stated.
Overbooking, apparently, has become a regular practice by airlines as a lot of case of overbooking have been seen at the Delhi airport. Even though the issue has been raised several times, the airlines keep repeating the mistake, causing problems for the passengers. Several policies have also been initiated by the Indian government to settle the issues of overbooking.
The airlines, on the other hand, claimed inclement weather led to the unavoidable cancellation of many flights and customers affected from these cancellations were offered transportation on other flights. This was the reason why Aparna had to take a later flight.
‘Aparna was looked after by Go Air at Delhi until she departed by G8-162 for Mumbai. Her parents were intimated of the flight details and arrival into Mumbai. We do apologise to her and her parents, should this have caused any inconvenience to them,’ said the airlines spokesperson.
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