Hi folks,
Today,
I had been to Pune airport to get reservation for a flight I wanted to take
and ventured out to check out the 'ARMED FORCES CONCESSION' that every Airline
BOAST THEY DO.
I
had actually gone to clarify certain issues and also thought I would book it
there, as I was NOT able to check out the requisite details on the
net.
Firstly,
I WAS INFORMED, THAT CONCESSION TICKETS CAN ONLY (ONLY) BE BOOKED ON
NET!!
Since
I was not able to ascertain the concession I get,
I asked
them what was the concession I can
expect. They informed me that it was 50% of the BASE FARE. I stated
that I wanted
to know in terms of money; what I can
expect.
I
noticed that they were VERY RELUCTANT TO LET ME KNOW THE SAME, AND STATED IT
CAN BE SEEN ONLY IN THE NET. When I insisted that I need to speak to some higher
officials, I was informed by INDIGO, that the BASE
FARE OF THE TKT I WANTED WAS
Rs 200/- (YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, DO YOU. BUT YES IT WAS Rs 200 AND SO I, A PROUD
VETERAN, GET A CONCESSION OF Rs 100 (YES, ONE HUNDRED Rupees) I THINK IT IS
SHAMEFUL, FOR; PEOPLE TIP
THEIR BEARERS MORE THAN THAT.
The
same was the reply from SPICE JET, WHO ALSO OFFERED ROUGHLY THE SAME
CONCESSION.
GO
INDIA HOWEVER STATED IT WAS Rs 500/- FLAT ON EVERY TICKET.
If
this Rs 100/- is the concession today, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THIS
BELITTLING OF THE FORCES BE STOPPED AND WE ASK THE AIR COYS NOT (NOT) TO
ADVERTISE THE SAME BOLDLY AND PROUDLY. THEY SHOULD IN-TURN BE ASHAMED OF
OFFERING THIS TO THE FORCES. IF THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING THIS AS A SOCIAL
CAUSE, I CAN ONLY PITY THEIR JUDGEMENT.
This service concession
was earlier granted by Indian Airlines (IA) primarily because the Air Traffic
Control (ATC) at airfields in forward and remote areas were manned by the Air
Force personnel. Thus this concession was a mode of not
only acknowledging and appreciating the services rendered by the Forces, but
also saved on the manpower and infrastructure that would have to be spent by
IA.
I
wonder why we, (the Armed Forces), cannot insist on a review of this and
justice is done, as we still man all the ATCs of remote areas incl some in
vital airbases including PUNE !!
ALTERNATIVELY,
LET THE SERVICES ASK THE COYS TO DO AWAY WITH THIS FARCE OF CONCESSION TO THE
ARMED FORCES. It is really demeaning to one who has served proudly to look for
such pittance thrown by such coys.
I,
FOR ONE, PROMISE NOT TO AVAIL THIS CONCESSION TILL THIS IS ADDRESSED. I KNOW IT
WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO THEM, BUT I FEEL PROUD OF THIS. I AM NOT WILLING TO
BE HURT BY THEIR TREATMENT.
I
strongly feel this be given wide publicity, so that everyone (both in uniform
and those out of it) be informed of this.
Col
K Srinivas (Retired)
=========================================================
(Source-India of my Dreams)
=========================================================
(Source-India of my Dreams)
its pitty, my scale, while never existed in 1969
ReplyDeletewhen i was discharged from navy. now they place me in to -- scale PB-2. BUT NO ADJUSTMENT-- NO BASIS
HOW IAM GIVEN 21/-RS AS HIKE.
255907 JWO R.JAYARAMAN ELECT/FIT INDEED IT IS SHAME ON THE PART OF THE AIR LINES.I WAS REALLY PROUD TO KNOW ABOUT THE CONCESSION BY THE AIR LINES THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE A REAL 50% OF TOTAL FARES.THE PROPER FORUM SHOULD SAY THAT NO SUCH A TYPE OF CONCESSION IS REQUIRED BY THE A F V.JAI JAWAN JAI KISSAN (BOTH ARE THE SUFFERERS )
ReplyDeleteWELFARE POLICIES IN RESPECT OF DEFENCE EX SERVICEMEN ARE ALMOST AN EYE WASH, AND LIKE FASHION SHOW BEYOND GROUND REALITY TO PROMOTE MAXIMUM RETIREMENT IN CREATING VACUUM FOR YOUNG FORCE.
ReplyDeleteit is really shameful...what a common defance can do???
ReplyDeleteI dont want to hurt anyone as service offered by armed forces to motherland undoubltedly supreme and no such offering by govt of india could payback the commitment and sacrifice what our soldier do when placed at the border.
ReplyDeletecoming to the poin now. Rs. 200 basefare was entilted in accordance with the distance that flight has to cover. larger the distance hten higher will the base fare and so the concession.
you wont believe that the ticket from chennai to delhi at the time of booking with the few flight was 18000/ and when for the same date and time when applied through spicejet was 6930/- only, folks doesnt it make any difference for large distance flight. I guess we need to be very smart when travelling. please do compare the price the website of different company flights.
Shooting medal winner gets lakhs of Ruppies where as the Soldier shooting enemies gets such a nominal amount when he sacrifices his life. Rally Ironical . Country is run by people who do not have their sons in defense forces specially in Ranks. If this is the Base fare then rest is what and why rest is so high. Like Iodised Salt sell for Rs 15 per Kg and up against normal Crystal Salt of Rs. 5 per Kg. Iodine added in such a little amount equal to tip of needle ( Sui Ki Nok Ke Barabar ) the same Salt become three times costlier. I was surprised with this salt rates only but you have informed such a big difference in Air fare from Base Rate & Final Rate, I am Astonished. Pl share to all Concerned so that we are updated.
ReplyDeleteCol Srinivas, I have been using the defence concession of and on. It is quite significant. Normally the the ticket is cheaper by more than 1000 rupees. The concession depends on the fare and it is also limited, however the difference is significant. It is only oflate that i see that the ex-armed forces are mobilising else it was all talk. Let us not look at the gift horse in the mouth, however what is disturbing is that even paramilitary person bandwagon on this offer.
ReplyDelete@ Col Srinivasan, I think U r misunderstood the matter. I am a regular travaller in Indigo and let me say there is almost flat 40-50% concession in fares for forces.
ReplyDeleteI too travel by indigo. longer the distance you fly, greater the concession. This september I will be flying from delhi to tvm and back for just Rs.6400/-.Even Air India -which is a govt venture,is not at all offering any concession to defense personnel. these pvt airlines are doing a good job.
ReplyDeletevery shameful to air services, they makes show off that they are doing 50% concession for defense personal but in fact it is mare game of word nothing else. we must ask to make mandatory provision to give 75% concession of total air fare to ex-servicemen as well as active armed force personal.
ReplyDeleteHi can anybody help me out for this , my father is retired from Bsf and he is also a PPMG medal winner but he cannot have any id card of ex-serviceman . i want to know that instead of this he is able to show discharged certificate in check in and take the benefit of armed force personnel discount . also want to know that my mother is not carrying any dependent card but she had aadhar card and voter id card there is also mention my father name . so she is also getting discount of the same . please response hope anybody is response the query .
ReplyDeletePlease ask your Dad to go to the nearest Sainik Welfare Officer who can issue him a Certificate/I.Card after verification of his service documents. This is being followed in Maharashtra. I am unaware of the policies of other state govt.
DeleteHi can anybody help me out for this , my father is retired from Bsf and he is also a PPMG medal winner but he cannot have any id card of ex-serviceman . i want to know that instead of this he is able to show discharged certificate in check in and take the benefit of armed force personnel discount . also want to know that my mother is not carrying any dependent card but she had aadhar card and voter id card there is also mention my father name . so she is also getting discount of the same . please response hope anybody is response the query .
ReplyDeleteFirst of all the airlines need to verify your credentials of being eligible for any concession, for which you must have some document to satisfy them that you are eligible for the concession that you are asking for.. So, if you have any health card or something like that issued by BSF for retired personnel, you can very well use them. Once I spoke to Indigo officials and they permitted me alongwith my wife to fly producing the health card issued to retired armed forces (ECHS Card). So, you can always check with the concerned Airlines Customer Care Service Centres prior booking a ticket in concessional category.... Mind : It differs from one to other airlines...
DeleteMy father is ex-service man.i dont have any dependent id cards but i have ECHS card.ECHS card is acceptable on indigo airlines.
ReplyDeleteI have xerox copy of my fathers id card and discharge book.IS it accepted??????
Dear if r u dependant on your father,have u got dependant certificate? then u can get concession.u can talk to me if u want i m exman and travaleld by indigo many time my cell 7744947436
ReplyDeleteI am an Ex service man (Army). Domestic flights have given 50% off on the flight ticket price for Ex Service Man, spouse and dependent children. They have issued Valid Photo ID card for Air Force and Navy retired person and his family. But they have not given it to Ex service man (Army). So they cannot benefit this concession. To whom should I sent petition on this matter. Pl inform me.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIs Discharge book a valid proof for Ex-service man & his dependant wife ?
My father was Sergeant & has discharge book in which relation with wife is mentioned as dependant.
Thanks,
Sir Can Defence Civilian Persons Get Consasstion On Flight Booking?
ReplyDeleteThe concession was introduced by Indian Airlines first in 1971 , after 1971 war, and late Air Chief Marshal PC Lal took over as Chairman of the then IAC. That time, there was no element of fuel surcharge, airport user's fee etc etc in the fare. Over a period of time, many Airlines Cos stepped into to the civil aviation arena and all these elements also started getting included in the fare for their own reasons. That is what we find now. The Airlines Cos do not want to offer discount on these elements, leaving the base fare intact. That is the history. Since the facilities at the Airports are getting improved, we should not be cribbing too much.
ReplyDelete