- Tajinder Bagga highlighted a large cancellation fee difference on Agoda versus Akasa Air
- Akasa Air charged Rs 299 cancellation fee; Agoda charged Rs 4,764 for the same ticket
- Agoda has responded to Bagga, seeking more information to investigate the booking issue
A recent post on X by Tajinder Bagga, National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has gone viral after he highlighted a sharp difference in cancellation charges between booking directly with an airline and using an online travel platform.
Bagga said he had booked an Akasa Air ticket via Agoda but mistakenly selected Navi Mumbai instead of Mumbai. When he attempted to cancel the ticket through Agoda, he was shown a cancellation fee of Rs 4,764 and a refund of just Rs 1,571.
He then checked the details on Akasa Air's official platform. As shared by Bagga, the airline's cancellation page showed a total deduction of Rs 299 and a refund of Rs 6,076.
"The Akasa customer care team also confirmed that the airline's cancellation charge is only Rs 299, and since the booking was made through Agoda, the refund would be processed to Agoda," he added.
Questioning the discrepancy, the politician wrote, "If the airline is deducting only Rs 299, why is Agoda charging me Rs 4,764?"
Calling the charges "completely unethical", he added, "That's an extra Rs 4,465 for what exactly? Charging 15 times the airline's actual cancellation fee for the same ticket feels completely unethical."
He further said, "@agodaindia, please explain this loot. @AkasaAir passengers deserve transparency from booking partners. @jagograhakjago @MoCA_GoI."
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The post quickly gained traction on social media.
Responding to the complaint, Agoda wrote, "Hi Tajinder Bagga, we're sorry for the inconvenience. Please check your DM - we've requested more information so we can investigate your booking. Regards, Rosie."
The post triggered mixed reactions in the comments section.
One user wrote, "Exactly! These platforms are running a massive racket. I spent weeks fighting @EaseMyTrip over an @airindia flight. The airline cleared a full refund, but the portal held back a portion, citing 'pending' system codes and blaming the carrier."
Another commented, "Something similar happened to me. I had booked through MMT and cancelled directly with the airline, but MMT still deducted a large cancellation amount. It's better to book directly with airlines than through such agencies."
However, some users defended booking platforms.
One said, "While this may seem predatory, such terms and conditions are usually disclosed at the time of purchase. As consumers, we are responsible for reviewing them. Cancellation charges are typically highlighted clearly."
Another remarked, "Why question this when even a cup of coffee sells for far more than its ingredient cost?"
NDTV has reached out to Agoda for further comment. The story will be updated if a response is received.
