Indian Airlines
Fare Discrimination

Dear Sir,

I booked one ticket for Mumbai-Delhi sector on 06th Jan in the name of my wife for Rs. 3, 433/- (flight no. IC 168, for travel dated 22nd January).

The break up this ticket amount is: Basic fare Rs. 500 Passenger Service Fee Rs. 233/- Fuel Surcharge Rs. 2700/-.

Today when I wanted to book the same ticket for me, I found that the Basic fare have been reduced by Rs. 300/- and now the Basic fare stands at Rs. 200/-.

I checked at call centre of AirIndia (as to why I have been charged Rs. 300/- extra for the ticket of my wife and whether I will be refunded Rs. 300/-) they replied that this can not be done and the Basic fare for the earlier tickets shall remain the Rs. 500/- only.

I am quite surprised that how a Government Company can indulge in this 'Unfair Trade Practice' and as to how can any Vendor charge price discriminatory for the 'Services' which are yet to be performed? This discriminatory price practice very well falls in the category of Unfair Trade Practice' within the definition of The consumer protection Act, 1986.

I fail to understand that generally when a person books a ticket earlier (means coming in the que early and showing faith in the company) can be cheated this way. Generally when this reduction is done then the earlier customers are refunded the differential amount.

This way a customer who has booked the ticket early loses two ways i) parting with his money early and losing the control on the same early, ii) being cheated by the Vendor by reduction of price; that too for the Services which are yet to be performed. Moreover the other customers who book the ticket early and the customers who book the tickets late get the same 'Service' means discriminatory pricing for the 'Service' which are yet to be performed and both the customers are at equal footing.

I would like to call upon Indian Airlines to explain that how this is not unfair and unjust enrichment of a Government company at the cost of public at large and how this is not opposed to public policy.

Awaiting for your reply.

Best Regards,

Vivek Mittal