British Airways is playing unfare with desi travelers in the U.S.
Folks, British Airways made a big-time error in its fares to India from the U.S. but refuses to take responsibility for the mistake by doing the right thing.
A desi travel agent in New Jersey says that this past Friday British Airways was showing round trip fares from anywhere in the US to anywhere in India from $44 round trip, which came up to $551.00 including taxes.
Travel agencies on the East Coast like Air-Savings.com sprang into action and informed many of their clients about the special.
It seems the $44 fares were available through the travel agents’ Global Distribution System, the airline’s web site and over the phone as well.
And some of the clients were smart enough to book it. Come on, who wouldn’t book a $44 fare to India. Balle Balle, Amritsar, here we come!
Alas, on Monday British Airways cottoned on to the computer glitch, cancelled all those bookings and refunded people’s credit cards.
This left quite a few of our desi customers understandably upset.
New Jersey travel agent Sonny Chatrath is sore over the way British Airways handled the whole incident and the airline’s decision not to honor the $44 fares.
It is not ethical because they did not catch the glitch till Monday. Maybe, they were just trying to play a game. Maybe, they were just trying to see what kind of demand is out there.
I would expect an airline like British Airways to honor the airfare, because their own website showed that same fare.
According to Chatrath, British Airways did not bother to inform it by phone, e-mail or fax that the bookings were not valid.
Apparently, the Edison, NJ travel agency realized that the bookings were canceled only by looking at an issues queue in its Global Distribution System.
If British Airways did indeed make a mistake, they should own up and honor the fares.
No, we are not an affected party here.
As always, we’re just looking out for our fellow desis. 😉
British Airways Screws Desis Over $44 Fare to India added by SearchIndia.com on
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Isn’t this the same airline that got turned in two years ago by Virgin/Richard Branson for price fixing fares?
Why should anyone believe them when they say it was a “glitch”?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Why should anyone believe them when they say it was a “glitch”?
We agree.
British Airways should just honor the fares.
Yes. I booked too.
So did dozens and dozens of my friends, just to get a cancellation mail on Monday telling it was because of a “glitch”.
If indeed it is a system glitch, then why not own up to it, being a global enterprise?
This beats ethics.
All indications pointed to a confirmed itinerary until Monday evening, and then boom went the cancellation from BA. I would ask who the fish BA was to cancel a ticket I booked with my money, and blocked.
If you did the mistake, why should I own up with my hard earned money and loss of peace of mind. Absolutely unethical behaviour which left everyone fuming.
I would never fly with these shitheads again.
Screw the British!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I would never fly with these shitheads again.
Attaboy, that’s the spirit.
All desis in the U.S. must boycott the British Airways rascals until they honor the fares.
The swines swindled us for 200 years in India and the swines now want to play unfare with us in the U.S.
British Airways Murdabad.
2. You write: Screw the British!
Screw British Airways if they don’t honor their fares of our desis.
British Airways, you made a mistake on your fares. Own up and treat your customers fair now.
Folks, show these Chicken Tikka Masala addicts who’s king.
You’ve plenty of choice flying to India from the U.S.
3. You write: This beats ethics.
We agree 100%.
british airways needs to be sued. They have NO rights to cancel a ticket after they have issued a e-ticket.
I guess the BA management are some cheap, dumb ass folks….they don’t know what business they might be losing.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I guess the BA management are some cheap, dumb ass folks
Sure looks like it the way they handled this incident.
Cheap swines.
2. You write: british airways needs to be sued
Bravo.
Madayaa…first of all you dont respect INDIA and you want British Airlines to respect India?
Monkey manga katta..mayuru kodukum…Got it?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Madayaa….Monkey manga katta…
Kiddo, we didn’t ask for you father’s name or its profile.
Gentleman, Give respect take respect..if you cant respect your nation/desi and you want British airlines to treat you like Royal prince?!!!
Have you lost your balls,Moron?
Maybe British Airlines wud have read your blog…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You seem to have completely lost it.
What does the British Airways action of duping our desis have to do with the SI blog. That’s just corporate greed.
2. You write: Give respect take respect..if you cant respect your nation/desi
Who says we don’t respect our nation. Mera Bharat Mahaan.