So I was travelling from Bagdogra to Kolkata (IXB-CCU) on 26 March 1635 hrs flight, after my work finished in Siliguri. I got dropped at Bagdogra Airport by about 1500 hours. The mobile network of Jio was not working, so I went up to the counter to show my PNR and asked for the ticket printout. To my utter surprise I was told that , the ticket has been cancelled as the payment was declined while booking.I have booked my ticket on 22nd March through mobile app, a day before my onward travel. I have got an email from Indigo mentioning the PNR and the seat no. I didn’t even bother to check if the payment is through or not.
Now , at the counter, I got perturbed as I planned to stay a day in Kolkata in my short trip in the home state and go to Hyderabad a day after. There weren’t much options to take another flight from Bagdogra to Kolkata. I was also told that the flight is running full and there are no available seats in the flight 6E-534. I had to wait for any no-shows. I called up the Customer Care and they told me the same that due to payment link failure, the status of the ticket was in pending and later cancelled. Neither Indigo or the bank have informed this via email/sms.
I went inside and was waiting at the Indigo counter. There was still about 45 mins for the counter closing time. In the mean time, I went up to the Air Asia counter so ask for any availability for Kolkata flight that evening. He checked on his system and first told its not available, later rechecked and told there is only 1 seat available and the flight departs at about 1810 hours.
Came back to Indigo counter to ask the status of ticket availability. They told there are 8 no-shows that time, about 40 mins to go for counter closing. I met this Indigo guy, who was very reassuring and extended all his support. Also, the girl at the ticketing, kept on updating me on the status as I kept on asking them every 5 mins.
I met Indigo Duty Manager that time, Ms. Vijayeta. She was very proactive and told me they can accomodate me if there are any no-shows. At the end, there were 2-3 no-shows I believe at the counter closing time of 45 mins prior to departure which came as good news to me. I gave my details before hand, my details along with card information and at 44 mins before the departure, the boarding pass was in my hand, with a new fresh booking made, though it costed me way more than usual. Ms. Vijayeta took care of the luggage and her staff guided me all the way to the boarding gate of 6E-534 and I thanked her for the support from her end. Though I was gutted but on the positive side was impressed with the entire Indigo ground team who extended all the support that was required. I boarded the flight and landed in Kolkata as per schedule and met family and friends in my planned short stay at home in Kolkata.
This episode taught me a lesson to check the ticket carefully from next time which comes in the mail and also to look at the status of the ticket. Also, wish the airlines send me an email/sms saying about the declined payment so that I wouldn’t have gone through this episode at all, leaving aside a new fresh booking for higher ticket price.
However, this is how my stay in Bagdogra concluded on what was otherwise a beautiful trip around Dooars, Kurseong and Darjeeling. More of that later…