Passengers of India's largest carrier, IndiGo, are facing a fresh wave of frustration as complaints about missing, delayed, and damaged luggage flood social media. The issue, which has persisted for weeks, was severely compounded on Monday morning as dense fog disrupted flight operations across several airports in North India, leading to widespread cancellations and delays.
Social Media Flooded with Passenger Anguish
Numerous travellers took to the social media platform X to document their ordeal, directly tagging IndiGo and the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), seeking answers and compensation. The complaints highlight a systemic failure in baggage handling, with responses from the airline offering little immediate relief.
One frustrated user reported, "@AAI_Official 6e6725 landed at 7:45 still luggage is not thr at belt. Indigo wasting passengers time @IndiGo6E." In a now-familiar reply, the budget airline cited "operational reasons" for the baggage delay and directed the passenger to their on-ground team.
The problem extends beyond simple delays. Another passenger sought compensation for damaged luggage, accusing the airline of ignoring his claim for over a week. "@DGCAIndia @IndiGo6E, It has been more than a week that yall have not processed my compensation... Shame on you Indigo!" he wrote.
Instances of complete baggage loss were also reported. A third user stated that there was "Bo information about luggage left at Delhi Airport by Indigo till now," adding that provided contact numbers went unanswered for over ten hours. A group travelling on IndiGo flight 6E 6379 from Delhi to Patna on December 28 also claimed their properly checked-in luggage was lost due to the airline's negligence.
Fog Wreaks Havoc, Leading to Mass Cancellations
The luggage crisis unfolded against a backdrop of severe weather-related disruptions. On Monday, IndiGo cancelled nearly 80 flights across its network due to dense fog, with almost half of these cancellations originating from Delhi airport.
Flights to and from major hubs including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Patna were affected. In a travel advisory issued at 11:20 am, IndiGo warned, "Foggy conditions remain in place across Delhi and several airports in northern India... some delays may continue."
A Recurring Menace for IndiGo Passengers
This is not an isolated incident. The luggage handling troubles follow a temporary malfunction in the baggage belt system at Mumbai’s Terminal 2 on Saturday, which caused significant delays. The airline had then issued an advisory regretting the inconvenience.
Furthermore, earlier this month, similar complaints emerged when massive flight disruptions left passengers separated from their luggage. The current situation suggests that the underlying issues with baggage reconciliation and customer communication during disruptions remain unresolved.
As passenger anger mounts online, the spotlight is firmly on IndiGo and the DGCA to provide timely solutions, effective compensation, and a reliable system to prevent such widespread inconvenience during India's challenging winter travel season.
