Twitter
Advertisement

38 holidayers stranded at Mumbai airport after connecting flights gets delayed

Latest News
article-main
Some passengers took to social networking sites to vent their anger
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

New year celebrations turned sour for a group of foreign tourists as they missed their connecting flight to London from Mumbai as their flight from Goa reached here late in the wee hours on Monday. While they were supposed to take a British Airways flight back home, they had taken an Air India flight to arrive here. Now, while both the airlines are passing the buck on each other, at least 38 passengers are stranded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Among those stranded is a wheelchair-bound patient with renal issues.

The passengers allege that a BA staffer told them that they will now have to wait for about a week as all their flights to London are booked. However, a British Airways spokesperson said the airline is taking all possible steps to assist customers who missed their flights. "We have booked a number of customers on to flights of other airlines and we are working to re-book the remaining onto the next available flights." However, An Air India spokesperson did not respond to the mail by dna. It was not immediately clear as to how by many hours did the passengers missed their flight. Also, how many of stranded passengers have managed to return home.

Meanwhile, passengers took to social networking sites to vent their anger. Simon Fisher, one of the stranded passengers tweeted, " @British_ Airways BA138 left 38 people #strandedinMumbai we are cold starving and have been sleeping on floors. Please help. Many kids here"

Tia Fisher, another passenger wrote, "@British_Airways Please respond re flight BA158 out of Mumbai - missed connection, no-one rebooking, no food or hotel. Kids & special needs!".

" 38 passengers left #strandedinmumbai @airindiain and @britishairways squabbling about responsibility - no flights avail for next 10 days" tweeted @braynut. The passengers said though social media account of these airlines are monitored round-the-clock, they received no reply from them.

Airport sources said some of the passengers made alternative arrangements on their home to fly back to London and are legal action against Air India and British Airways.

An Air India official said it was BA which was at fault which should have co-ordinated after so many of their passengers could not make it on time due to a delayed connecting flight. "BA goofed up big time," the official said. An Air India spokesperson said despite not being at any fault they provided breakfast to the passengers and even offered to accomodate some of the passengers on their flight to London.

The compensation in case of missed flight due to delay in arrival of connecting flight is apparently a grey area as both the airlines try to shy away from the responsibility, say travel experts. Iqbal Mulla, former president of Travel Agents Association of India, an umbrella association of over 2,000 travel agents, says, "However, the airline on which the passenger will be flying on its further journey should co-ordinate accordingly so that the passengers do not face inconvenience," said Mulla.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement