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Submit your complaint →Freelancer Prakruthi Ravishankar has raised a strong complaint against Akasa Air, Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip over unethical ticket pricing, booking discrepancies, and sudden flight cancellations. The verified complaint, featured on Choice4Voice.com, highlights the growing issue of price manipulation and lack of transparency in online air ticketing platforms. Learn what legal cases can be filed and how Choice4Voice.com helps consumers fight unfair airline practices.
Complaint Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Complainant Name | Prakruthi Ravishankar |
| Profession | Freelancer |
| Company Involved | Akasa Air, Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip |
| Issue | Price discrepancy, booking cancellation without notice |
| Location | Bangalore to Delhi |
| Complaint Source | LinkedIn Public Post |
| Status | Unresolved |
| LinkedIn Post URL | View Original Post |
Full Complaint Write-Up
Prakruthi Ravishankar, a freelancer, recently shared her frustrating experience with Akasa Air and its online travel partners Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip after facing unethical pricing discrepancies and booking cancellations.
While attempting to book four round-trip tickets from Bangalore to Delhi, Prakruthi encountered multiple issues that raise concerns about transparency in India’s online flight booking ecosystem.
The issues faced:
- Price Manipulation:
The airline’s website allowed booking only three tickets at the base fare, but the fourth ticket price was increased immediately suggesting artificial fare inflation. - Cancellation Without Notice:
A confirmed return flight booking was cancelled abruptly without any communication or valid reason from the airline or booking platforms.
Prakruthi expressed her disappointment at the lack of transparency, inconsistent pricing policies, and non-responsive customer support across all platforms involved.
She further criticized the broader airline industry’s disregard for middle-class travelers, calling the situation a form of “airfare harassment” and “air mafia behavior.”
This case underscores the growing distrust among Indian consumers toward online travel intermediaries and airlines that fail to maintain fair booking and pricing standards.
Legal Case Can Be Filed
The following legal cases and complaints can be filed against Akasa Air, Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip for such malpractice:
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019
- For unfair trade practice, price manipulation, and deficiency in service.
- File at the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
- Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) under DGCA
- Airlines are legally required to maintain transparent fare display and notify passengers before cancellations.
- Violation can lead to penalties under DGCA’s Regulation 13(1).
- Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 43A)
- For data misuse or leakage during online ticket booking.
- Competition Act, 2002
- Complaint can be made to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for cartelization or price-fixing among online travel aggregators.
How Choice4Voice.com Can Help
Choice4Voice.com helps passengers like Prakruthi Ravishankar take action against unfair airline and online booking practices.
Here’s how we handle such complaints:
- Step 1: Collect all booking details, fare screenshots, and cancellation emails.
- Step 2: Draft a formal consumer complaint citing airline and OTA violations.
- Step 3: Escalate the issue to DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Consumer Forum.
- Step 4: Publish the verified case on Choice4Voice.com and LinkedIn to publicly pressure the brands to resolve the issue.
If you’ve experienced similar treatment, submit your case at Choice4Voice.com for immediate assistance and legal escalation.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to File an Airline Complaint
- Visit DGCA’s AirSewa portal – https://airsewa.gov.in
- Select “Airline / Airport / Travel Agent Complaint”.
- Fill in flight details, PNR, and attach booking or cancellation proof.
- Mention the name of the airline and the OTA (e.g., Goibibo, MakeMyTrip).
- Submit your complaint and note the acknowledgment number.
- If unresolved within 30 days, escalate the case to Consumer Court via https://edaakhil.nic.in.
Pre-Drafted Complaint Templates
1. Complaint to DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)
Subject: Unethical Pricing and Sudden Cancellation by Akasa Air and Online Booking Partners
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Name], booked four round-trip tickets from Bangalore to Delhi through [Platform Name]. The airline charged an increased fare for the fourth ticket and later cancelled the confirmed return booking without notice.
This constitutes unfair trade practice and violates DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) regarding transparency and passenger notification.
Kindly investigate the matter and take appropriate action against Akasa Air and its online partners for misleading pricing and arbitrary cancellations.
Regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Contact Details]
[Date]
Brand Background
Akasa Air is a low-cost Indian airline founded in 2022 by late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Vinay Dube. It operates domestic routes with a focus on affordable fares. However, the airline has faced several customer complaints regarding booking inconsistencies and refund delays.
Online Partners:
- Goibibo – Subsidiary of MakeMyTrip, one of India’s largest travel aggregators.
- MakeMyTrip – Publicly listed OTA with a wide user base.
- Cleartrip – Acquired by Flipkart, known for flight and hotel bookings.
Official Contact Emails:
- Akasa Air: flyakasa@akasaair.com
- Goibibo: feedback@goibibo.com
- MakeMyTrip: service@makemytrip.com
- Cleartrip: customersupport@cleartrip.com
Author
Prakruthi Ravishankar is a freelancer who frequently uses online booking platforms for travel and work assignments. Her complaint reflects a growing frustration among Indian flyers toward inconsistent airline pricing and opaque cancellation processes. Through her post, she advocates for consumer transparency and accountability in digital air ticketing.
How Choice4Voice.com Works
Choice4Voice.com is India’s trusted consumer advocacy platform that helps individuals expose unfair practices by companies and demand justice.
Our process includes:
- Complaint Submission: Consumer fills the online form on Choice4Voice.com.
- Verification: Our team verifies documents and evidence.
- Publication: The complaint is published online for public visibility.
- Escalation: The issue is formally escalated to the company and relevant legal authorities.
- Resolution Tracking: Updates are provided to the complainant until the case is resolved.
Through this process, Choice4Voice.com ensures that consumer grievances are no longer ignored or buried by corporate silence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can airlines increase fares based on ticket count?
Yes, fares fluctuate based on seat availability, but manipulating base prices mid-booking is an unfair practice.
Q2. What can I do if my confirmed flight is cancelled without notice?
File a complaint on DGCA’s AirSewa portal and demand compensation as per DGCA guidelines.
Q3. Are online travel portals legally responsible for cancellations?
Yes, under E-commerce Rules, 2020, they share accountability with the airline.
Q4. How can I get a refund for a cancelled flight?
Refunds must be processed within 7 working days for online payments as per DGCA rules.
Q5. Can I get compensation for price discrepancies?
Yes, if proven as unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Q6. What if multiple OTAs show different prices for the same flight?
This may indicate dynamic fare manipulation, which can be reported to the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Q7. Is Akasa Air responsible if I booked via an OTA?
Both the airline and the OTA share responsibility for the final transaction.
Q8. Can I file the complaint jointly against airline and OTA?
Yes, both can be named as co-respondents in consumer court.
Q9. What proof should I attach for filing?
Booking confirmations, fare screenshots, payment receipts, and cancellation messages.
Q10. How long will DGCA take to respond?
Usually 15–30 days, depending on case volume.
Q11. Can Choice4Voice.com escalate my case to DGCA?
Yes, we guide consumers step-by-step in drafting and submitting formal complaints.
Q12. What happens if DGCA doesn’t respond?
You can approach consumer forum or Ministry of Civil Aviation directly.
Q13. Are dynamic airfares legal in India?
Yes, but airlines must disclose fare calculation transparently.
Q14. Can I demand compensation for inconvenience?
Yes, under DGCA guidelines, you may claim compensation for cancellation without notice.
Q15. Are travel portals allowed to hide booking charges?
No, all mandatory fees must be disclosed upfront.
Q16. How can I contact MakeMyTrip for refund issues?
Email service@makemytrip.com with your booking ID and transaction details.
Q17. Can I sue Akasa Air in consumer court?
Yes, for deficiency in service and unfair cancellation practices.
Q18. Can Cleartrip and Goibibo be held accountable together?
Yes, if the booking process or price manipulation involves both parties.
Q19. Does Choice4Voice.com charge for publishing cases?
No, the platform verifies and publishes genuine complaints free of charge.
Q20. How can I publish my airline complaint?
Visit https://choice4voice.com → Click Submit Complaint → Upload details and evidence.
