Managing flight booking issues

Air India's fleet is described by some passengers as old and in poor condition, although this does not always correlate with flight delays. While some frequent flyers have not experienced significant delays, instances of flight cancellations do occur, necessitating alternative travel arrangements such as booking trains.

Indigo is a major low-cost airline in India. While many passengers use it without issue, it has a reputation for flight delays and cancellations. Some travelers advise choosing alternative airlines like Air India if possible, citing concerns about rescheduling and potential overbooking. Others find Indigo's newer fleet acceptable and note its popularity among locals. Experiences can vary, and it's advisable to check recent reviews and statistics for specific routes.

When booking train tickets in India through aggregators like 12goAsia, issues can arise, such as 'paid' status without ticket issuance and unresponsive customer support. If faced with such problems, consider seeking a refund through your bank. Exploring alternative booking platforms or purchasing directly from official carrier websites might be more reliable. Similar issues have been reported with 12goAsia in Vietnam, necessitating bank-initiated refunds.

If a passenger holds a single (interline/codeshare) booking for a flight with a layover in Doha (DOH), the operating airline is responsible for rebooking the passenger on the next available flight in case of delays that cause a missed connection. Always verify that both flight segments are under a single PNR (Passenger Name Record).

Indian Railways can occasionally reassign passengers to different cabin classes (e.g., from CC to Sleeper) due to train composition changes. Even if a ticket is issued for a specific class, the actual carriage may not be present on the train. Refunds for fare differences are not always automated or straightforward at the station.

A user reported purchasing a ticket on airindia.com and subsequently receiving a refund the next day. This suggests a potential automated refund process or a system issue that led to the cancellation and refund of the originally booked flight.

If Indigo Airlines notifies you of a flight cancellation and rescheduling, and the booking reference (PNR) is not working, it is advisable to contact their customer service via email, WhatsApp, or social media for clarification. While Indigo frequently changes flight schedules, your ticket should ideally still be accessible via PNR. Try accessing their website with a VPN. If direct contact is difficult, explore any secondary links provided in their notifications for urgent matters. Be aware that customer service response times may vary, especially during weekends.