MUMBAI: Cash-hit Jet's premium passengers flying out of Mumbai since Tuesday received a shock when they approached the airport lounge-a free service that full-service carriers extend to premium passengers and frequent flyers. They were met with a notice: "Complimentary access at the GVK lounge is currently not available for
Jet Airways customers only.'' The notice added passengers could have lounge access on a paid basis.
Several passengers have since then taken to social media to vent their ire against the sudden downgrade as the airline had not informed them in advance about the change in service at Mumbai airport terminal 2.
Jet operates both domestic and international flights out of Mumbai Terminal 2.
On Wednesday night, model and actor Karishma Tanna tweeted: "Wat the hell is this?? @jetairways has stopped GVK lounge access at
International Airport
Mumbai. This has gone to dumps!Extremely disappointed!" Similarly, author
Devdutt Pattanaik posted on
Twitter Thursday morning: "Why is lounge access in Mumbai denied to business class passengers?"
Later in the day, a Twitter user Vaibhav K Srivastava wrote: "So @ jetairways you have stopped Lounge services for Platinum guests too. When are you revoking the accrued miles?'' Another Twitter user, Liton Das, posted: "@ jetairways You have failed to inform your guests on the unavailability of lounge access at the Mumbai airport. Way to go. Feeling the pressure Jet."
The airline responded to these tweets stating that the lounge access is "temporarily unavailable".
When TOI contacted Jet, the airline issued a statement: "Jet Airways wishes to inform that access to the GVK Lounge at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Terminal 2 is temporarily unavailable. The airline sincerely regrets the inconvenience to its loyal guests and seeks their understanding in the interim, even as it works to reinstate the complimentary access soon."
Full-service carriers offer free lounge access as a service to its business and first class passengers or those who have accrued a high level of frequent flyer miles. Free lounge access for the premium flyer is one of the services that separates a full-service carrier from a low-cost carrier.
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