Lucknow | Passengers in Lucknow have raised serious complaints against IndiGo Airlines after repeated flight cancellations were followed by steep refund deductions and delays, despite the cancellations being initiated by the airline itself. Several travellers have alleged that they received only a small fraction of the fare they originally paid, triggering widespread frustration and accusations of unfair airline practices.
With IndiGo facing operational disruptions nationwide, passengers from the state capital say they are being left to bear the financial burden of cancellations beyond their control.
Frequent Cancellations Trigger Refund Disputes
According to multiple passenger complaints, IndiGo flights from and to Lucknow have been cancelled at short notice, often after long delays or rescheduling. Travellers claim that instead of full refunds, airline systems reflected unexpected and unexplained deductions, with customer care responses offering little clarity.
Many affected passengers took to social media to share screenshots of refund summaries and booking details, accusing the airline of poor communication and lack of accountability.
Passengers Report Major Refund Deductions
One of the complainants, Satish Singh, booked a Bengaluru–Varanasi IndiGo ticket worth ₹6,000. After waiting nearly 16 hours due to rescheduling, the flight was ultimately cancelled. When the refund was processed, he reportedly received only ₹400. His PNR was Y9DWTG.
In another case, Amardeep Singh Bhatia, who had booked a Chandigarh-bound flight for ₹16,777, said ₹4,536 was deducted when the airline cancelled the journey. He was later informed that the full refund had allegedly been routed to the travel agency through which he booked the ticket — a claim he disputes.
A passenger travelling from Mumbai to Delhi via Lucknow said the cancellation of the Mumbai–Lucknow sector disrupted his entire connection, leading to a ₹2,500 deduction. Similarly, A. Mishra, who had booked flight 6E-5088 (Mumbai–Lucknow) for December 3, alleged a ₹3,200 cut from his refund after cancellation.
IndiGo Crisis Was ‘Pre-Planned’, Say Pilots; Demand Judicial Probe, Criminal Action
Delayed Refunds, Limited Responses
Several passengers said that getting updates from IndiGo has been a struggle.
- Rajesh Mishra, who booked return tickets from Pune to Lucknow (Booking ID: NF7 AI99P 82907240265), said repeated follow-ups with the airline yielded no resolution.
- Dr. Antariksh Srivastava, whose Dehradun–Lucknow flight 6E-518 was cancelled, said he has been emailing IndiGo for more than three days without any response.
- Shubham, who booked a Bhubaneswar–Lucknow ticket, claimed customer care told him the refund could take up to 15 days.
Former CDRI Scientist Also Affected
Among the affected passengers was Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, a former scientist at the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI). He said IndiGo cancelled his Lucknow–Chandigarh flight 6E-6752 without prior notice and that the refund is still awaited.
Another passenger, Indrajit Yadav, reported a similar experience, saying that despite repeated complaints, the refunded amount has not been credited to his account.
Public Concern Over Airline Accountability
The growing number of complaints has sparked public debate over airline refund practices. Passengers argue that deductions on flights cancelled by the airline itself violate basic consumer rights, while delayed refunds add to financial and emotional stress.
As allegations continue to surface online, travellers are urging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and consumer authorities to intervene and ensure transparent, time-bound refunds when airlines cancel flights.
