Dear friends,
For those who do not know me, here is a brief introduction. My name is Sharmila Maiti. I am a journalist with Ananda Bazar Patrika Group, Kolkata.
Today (26.06.08) I had a pathetic experience with JetLite airlines. I think it is a duty to share this so that it comes of as a genuine alert to all of you.
I was travelling from Mumbai to Kolkata in Jetlite flight no. S2 703 from Santa Cruz Airport. I had two small suitcases as luggage. At the counter, the JetLite ground staff (who was not carrying his name badge) told me that total luggage weight of my bags is 29 kgs, i.e, 9 kgs excess. And for that excess luggage I need to pay Rs. 550 as fine. It surprised me because, with the same luggage I travelled from Kolkata to Mumbai by Kingfisher Airlines, where it weighed below 20 kgs. And I did not put anything extra into it.
I told them that it is unbelievable for me and I would like to weigh my luggage from a separate machine of a different airline. They did not comply with my request. "If you have any doubts, you can weigh it from any other machine of us, but not other airlines, " The boy said. I had to agree. When they weighed the same bags from another machine, the reading was 33 kgs!! And hey presto, the same boy said, "Madam, you have to pay for 13 kgs extra since the previous reading was incorrect."
I stood there for 15 minutes and noticed that, every two out of three passengers had to pay for no less than 8-14 kgs as 'excess' luggage, though their bags don't look that huge!!
Now I clearly told them that, THE FAULT LIES WITH WEIGHING MACHINE. YOUR TWO MACHINES ARE GIVING CONTRADICTORY READINGS. PLUS, I TRAVELLED WITH THE SAME BAGS CONTAINING THE SAME ITEMS AND DID NOT FACE ANY EXCESS LUGGAGE PROBLEM. SO I AM SURE THAT MY LUGGAGE WEIGHT DOES NOT EXCEED 20 KGS.
Neways, meanwhile this boy discussed something with his coleagues, and told me, "You don't have to pay for 9 kgs or 13 kgs for excess luggage. Paying for 8 kgs would be ok. You have to pay 952 bucks only."
I asked, if 9 kgs excess costs me 550 bucks, how come 8 kgs be 952 bucks? The boy said, "Madam, I miscalculated the amount. you need to pay 119 bucks per excess kg. I am sorry for that, but you have to pay this much. Otherwise we will block your luggage."
First of all contradictory readings and then confusing payments! As if excess luggage was something to be bargained and settled!! I straigtaway complained to a lady, who happened to take care of the JetLite passengers, (reluctant to divulge her name) about the faulty readings of weight machines. She not only refused to listen to me, but also INSULTED me on top of her voice saying, "If you dont have the money to pay, you dont have to board on a flight. There are trains and bus for you people! "
Even complaining to their manager fell into deaf ears. He did not even care a fig to listen to me. I had no other means than to pay the amount.
There was more in store.
Inside the flight, the cabin crew provided us with a bid-and-buy form alongwith a scratch-n-win coupon. I scratched and got a Louis Quartz wristwatch worth Rs. 3990. As per the norms, I needed to pay Rs. 490 as tax to collect the item. On arrival to Netaji Subhash Chandra Airport, I went to the respective counter. To my utter dismay, the item which they showed to me was not at all an original Louis Quartz. It was packed in an ordinary plastic container, the watch inside carried a 'faded' logo of Louis Quartz. On asking, the person sitting at the counter told straightaway that the watch is made in India. When I asked for the warranty card, she said that no warranty card, but only cash memo would be given.
Honestly speaking, I wonder if the cost of the watch is even Rs.550, forget about Rs. 3990! I did not take it thinking even my 490 bucks would not be enough for this.
So, in a nutshell, here are the 3 reasons for not boarding a JetLite plane&
1. They install FAULTY WEIGHT MACHINES and harrass their passangers by charging extra money. Since most of the passangers are not sure about the weight of their luggage, and all of them are in a hurry to board their flight, JetLite plays a prank on them.
2. Their ground staffs are not only irresponsible, but also ill-mannered.
3. In the name of scratch-n-win gifts, they provide FAKE branded items.
If you have any similar experience with JetLite, please share with me. I am going to write a consumer awareness article in our esteemed daily. Also informing consumer rights forum about this incident.
Please pass this message to as many persons as possible. Never ever entertain such fraudulant airlines cheating their passangers.
Best wishes
Sharmila Maiti
ABP
6, Prafulla Sarkar Street
Kolkata-700001
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