Air India Offers Only ‘Wavier’ But No Refund To Passenger Bitten By Bed Bugs During Flight

We are no stranger to stories of Airlines failing to provide quality service to passengers. From the staffs misbehaving with passengers to the unruly situations that arise in the aftermath, there has been a significant rise in the cases of misconduct on board in recent times.

However, we have a new case in the house. Though not an incident of misconduct, this time it is Air India, who saw a new low in their services after a woman’s tweet went viral on the internet.

In her tweet, the woman, who is a New York-based freelance stylist and events manager. revealed how she was left with severe bed bug bites and pain on traveling in the business class on an Air India flight.

What an #airindia #businessclass would do to you? AI still has to get in touch with me inspite if my repeated attempts to get in touch with them. @airindiain @NewYorkTimes11 @cnni pic.twitter.com/tDHfmhX0Vx

— Saumya Shetty (@saumshetty) July 20, 2018

According to The Indian Express, Saumya Shetty, who was traveling with her three children from Newark, New Jersey to Mumbai, took to Twitter with a picture of reddened lumps on her hands as a result of bed bug bites.

To add to it, the Air India crew did not allow her to change seat until “thirty minutes before landing” the next day after complaining twice.

Traveled business class thinking it would help with three kids. I’m covered with bed bugs bites and it’s been a painful day so far. @airindiain Inspite on complaining I had to sleep in the same seat and only got moved the next day when we werelanding. @timesofindia @indianexpreas

— Saumya Shetty (@saumshetty) July 19, 2018

Covered in painful bedbug bites all over my body thanks to business class of #AirIndia is this what you charge for?i only got moved to another seat in the morning when we were landing, it was disgusting! Mind you I was traveling with 3 kids. @timesofindia @mid_day

— Saumya Shetty (@saumshetty) July 19, 2018

She came up with a follow-up tweet on July 20th stating that Air India is yet to get in touch with her over the trouble she had to face. Saumya, who is based in Manhattan, highlighted that she had to deal with a careless ‘chalta-hai attitude’ every time she got in touch with the helpline.

“I called their helpline yesterday and asked for a refund of my tickets. I was given an email ID to write a complaint, but the mail bounced.”

“The lady executive (at Nariman Point) told me I have been mailing on the wrong email IDs. I asked whose fault was it, in that case.

She was also offered a so-called wavier, which would excuse her cancellation fee. And that’s all. Wow!

“The woman said I’d be given a waiver, that is, I’d not be charged the penalty fee for cancelling tickets. When I said I wanted a refund of the tickets, she countered me by saying that I still travelled on those tickets.”

On July 24th, Air India finally returned a mail to Saumya but there was no sign of a compensation or a refund. The Airline stated that they are trying to investigate how the bed bugs entered the plane and will keep away from such a situation in the future.

“Whilst the source of bedbugs entering the aircraft is being thoroughly investigated, we would like to inform you that the upkeep of our aircraft is now being continuously monitored to ensure that such a situation never recurs.”

The incident can be termed as a disgraceful one on Air India’s part. Safety and comfort of the passengers should always be a priority and this was nowhere near. Atleast, they should have offered her a full refund as compensation. But hey, that’s Air India for you. Do they care? We really doubt.