Passengers on a flight can have varied experiences depending on what happens during their journey. It might turn out great if the attendant provides safety instructions by rapping instead of boring announcements or if you happen to sit next to a celebrity. It could be super weird if one of the fliers is a bird. But it would definitely be annoying if the airline leaves your luggage behind.
The Indian Express reports that IndiGo has two Delhi-Istanbul flights, 6E15 and 6E11, which leave from the IGI airport every day at 11.45 am and 2 pm, respectively.
The flights that took off this weekend, however, did not carry any check-in baggage due to an “operational issue”. And the passengers were informed about the same only after they deboarded at Istanbul.
Just flew in on @IndiGo6E flight 6E 11 from Delhi to Istanbul last evening. We received this piece of paper when we were waiting for our luggage at the belt. The airline did not load the luggage of the ENTIRE FLIGHT. Not a single passenger got their luggage (1/n) #shameonindigo pic.twitter.com/7KF2VT0f2O
— Chinmay Dabke (@chinmaydabke) September 16, 2019
The Times of India quoted the airline’s official statement saying,
“Unfortunately, due to the exceptionally heavy headwind, we had certain payload restrictions on a few flights to Istanbul which led to offloading of a limited number of checked-in baggage. In light of these limitations, we have upgraded our aircraft and adjusted the payload as long as the prevailing wind conditions remain, so all the left behind baggage will be carried today. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers.”
Needless to say, fliers were not impressed by this explanation and took to Twitter to share their harrowing experiences. Some had connecting flights to take while others had important medication in their baggage. Pretty soon, #ShameOnIndigo began to trend as the airline wasn’t able to get the luggage even after 24 hours!
My father has his necessary medication in his luggage. He is a diabetes patient who needs his daily dose. Some other travelers were on connecting flights to their end destinations in different countries. What do these folks do? (3/n) #shameonindigo @IndiGo6E
— Chinmay Dabke (@chinmaydabke) September 16, 2019
I agree. We are now waiting for communication from the airline
— Chinmay Dabke (@chinmaydabke) September 16, 2019
#indigoairlines the full flight 6E11 Del-IST travelled today with not a single baggage on-board. Travellers In a mess and no support in Instanbul. Operational excellence pathetic and shameful.
— Manoj Jaiswal (@manojjaiswal1) September 14, 2019
@IndiGo6E Brazen apathy shown by you guys. I,along with other passengers on flight 6E 11 on 14th sept,still haven't received my luggage at ISTANBUL Airport. PNR- PNSRWH
Stranded,no luggage/essential medicines/documents.Your service centre in India not helping. @MoCA_GoI help pls.— Chandrika Garg (@ChandrikaGarg4) September 15, 2019
@HardeepSPuri urgent help landed frm Delhi to Istanbul by indigo flght 6E-11 my brother is epileptic medication was in luggage it has not boarded if he doesn't get it seizures will start may result in death . Please help indigo is not replying
— Aishwarya Gadkari (@AishwaryaGadka5) September 16, 2019
@HardeepSPuri sir my luggage from the flight 6E11 flying from delhi to istanbul has not reached me even after 24 hours and no response from indigo sir, please help I’m in a foreign country for the past 24 hours without my luggage and @IndiGo6E isn’t replying pic.twitter.com/eBoVDYxQy4
— rajesh jethwani (@rajeshjethwani) September 16, 2019
@IndiGo6E @DGCAIndia Indigo flight 6E 15 New Delhi to Istanbul 13th Sep 19, where’s our luggage! Waiting since last 2.5 hours at luggage belt. No one from ground staff to help or give status.
— rachit (@fz0812) September 14, 2019
Pls investigate in indigo airlines turkey flight# they do not load luggage to save fuel and send next day by turkish Airlines#customers stranded at Istanbul# unethical way of making money#flight 6E11#happening daily@DGCAIndia pic.twitter.com/ljcXebARYo
— Starfish On Feni (@blissOnFeni) September 16, 2019
Hi, it seems you travelled on 15th sept without baggage, we travelled on 14thsept 6E11 and haven’t received the bags yet. This is very serious. We are now stranded with family (old and kids) in a diffiernt country with no basics, medicines. Its a big mess.
— Manoj Jaiswal (@manojjaiswal1) September 16, 2019
Guess what , the same thing happened to me last week , we were headed to Vienna , 8 passengers missed the connecting flight and our luggage was shipped after 2 days
— Sachin (@sacsubr) September 16, 2019
They are doing this for all 6E11 flights. We went through the same ordeal on 14 Sep and we are yet to hear anything other than we will get back. We are with 11 month old kid with all his clothes, food, medicines with Indigo! Shameful @DGCAIndia this is fraud!! We are stranded!
— Varun (@guptavarun13) September 16, 2019
Everyone agrees that this is completely unacceptable and the inconvenienced passengers should receive adequate compensation from the airline.