Air India has now prohibited travel agents from selling the tickets of the flights scheduled under the Vande Bharat Mission as complaints of overcharging have started coming in.
However, this decision by Air India has garnered negative reactions from the association of travel agents, who have opined that this is a move by Air India to monopolize the business.
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Air India Blocks Travel Agents From Booking Tickets; Travel Agents Accuse Of Monopolizing Business
Flights under the Vande Bharat Mission have been scheduled between India and numerous other countries to bring back the citizens that were stranded during the lockdown enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this, private carriers have also been scheduling flights under the Vande Bharat initiative.
Air India initially allowed the tickets to be booked from the travel agents, but now has blocked them from selling the tickets because of complaints coming in of overcharging.
However, the Travel Agents Association of India has opposed this move alleging that Air India is looking to monopolize the business, and claimed that this is totally unfair and biased.
The association says, “After our repeated request to your good-selves, agents were permitted to book on the GDS (global distribution system), but now inventories have been blocked and selective sectors are only being permitted.”
Air India Received Multiple Complaints Of Overcharging; Warns Customers Not To Overpay
To this, Air India has responded that they have received multiple complaints from passengers about being overcharged by agents or sub-agents. This has been especially observed in sectors with high demand and therefore the national transporter was forced to restrict the access of distribution on these sectors.
As per Air India, “To address the issue, Air India has been disseminating complete information on country-wise criteria and documents required for travel to make the exorbitant service charges unjustifiable.”
Also, Air India took to Twitter and announced that the passengers that are booking tickets for the international flights operating under the Vande Bharat Mission through travel agents should not pay more than the fares mentioned on the website of Air India.
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