Karnataka: Fliers fume as airlines offer credit shell instead of refund

BENGALURU: Many people with cancelled flight tickets are upset with their airlines as the latter have offered credit shells instead of a bank refund.
A customer can use a credit shell, or a credit note, to pay for a fresh booking within a stipulated time frame. But with no clarity on when air travel will resume, customers want money to be refunded to their bank accounts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised people against buying tickets for travel in May and June.
“We are in the process of cancelling May 4-17 reservations. The ticket amount is protected in the form of a credit shell in PNR, which will be shared with you in the next 5-7 days. The credit shell can be utilised within one year from the issued date, for the same passenger(s). You can choose any travel date as per your convenience,” Indigo said in a communiqué to its customers.
Other airlines have issued similar statements, while Air Asia is asking patrons to choose between an ‘unlimited flight change’ option and credit.
On April 27, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the central government and DGCA following on a plea that has sought directions for airlines to refund the full ticket amount due to cancellation of domestic and international flights following the lockdown.