MP misses flight, faces plight

Mumbai: BJP-backed independent MP Raju Shetti was left behind while he was to fly from Mumbai to Delhi on Wednesday morning on Jet Airways 9W 762. According to Shetti, he was issued a boarding pass and had been in the lounge where no audible announcements were made for the passengers.

As he kept sat waiting in the lounge, the flight took off, leaving him behind. Later, he was accommodated in the next flight, for which he had to pay an extra Rs 2,000.

Shetti had booked a business class ticket and was to take off in the 6 am flight. The MP had reached airport on time and after receiving the boarding pass, had chosen to stay in the VIP lounge until the flight’s time. After no airline official came to ask him to board, he went to the boarding area to check on the status of the flight, only to realise that he had missed the flight.

Rushing to the airline counter, he complained to the airline authorities about their negligence of not informing him to board on time. Being a business class passenger, an airline official should have not only have asked Shetti to board, but should have also assisted him till he boarded the craft. After the MP made noise about the negligence, the airline came up with a suggestion to accommodate him in the next flight at 7am, however he was asked to Rs 2000 extra as a fare difference between the two flights.

Mr Shetti said, “I was sitting alone at the VIP lounge, waiting for the airline to inform me about the boarding but no one ever came. On the contrary, when asked to allot me a seat in the next flight, the adamant airline officials not only asked me to pay more but also warned me that if I delayed the payment, I would miss the next flight too. I had to reach Delhi for a parliament meeting and had no other option than paying the extra amount to them.” Shetti finally flew by 9W 301.

Offering an apology, the Jet Airways Spokesperson said, “A guest, who checked in for Jet Airways flight 9W 762 of June 14, did not present himself at the boarding gate on time and was therefore considered as a ‘Gate No Show’. As Mumbai airport is a silent airport, no PA announcements are permitted. The guest was offered an alternate flight, which he accepted for travel to Delhi. Apologies were tendered and charges levied inadvertently, were refunded.”