Enter Cheap-Exit Dear! Airlines Ripping Off Travellers visiting Goa

Enter Cheap-Exit Dear! Airlines Ripping Off Travellers visiting Goa

Mangaluru: Couple of days ago, I had been to Goa to attend a wedding of my close friend- and during the reception gala socializing with some friends, a topic on how airlines rip off their customers came up. This is the time of the year where airlines to hoteliers and other businesses connected with travel make a few extra bucks swindling money from their clients, even if they have been their regulars for a long time.

Chatting with couple of my friends I came to know that they had purchased an airline ticket from Mumbai to Goa on 23 December for Rs 2608- and their return ticket was priced at Rs Rs 10,358 on 2 January 2018. Just look at the difference. Airlines know that the travellers will have no other choice to buy the ticket at that price-since they have to go back to their hometown no matter what. Even though airlines are offering tourists unusually low fares to fly into Goa from major Indian cities to ring in the New Year-but there’s a catch, however, is that the flight back is priced three to four times higher for the visitors to return home. And it is learnt that the prices are presumably set to spiral further in the days to come.

The airfare on the Bengaluru to Goa route is as good as the off-season rate of Rs 1,399 before 31 December 2o017, but flyers will have to shell out Rs 6,077 to fly out of Goa on January 2, 2018. To land in Goa from Bengaluru and Mumbai, travellers will pay on December 31, this year, a lower price than even the bus fare to come to Goa from these destinations during New Year’s Eve. The bus fare to Goa ranges between Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 during this period. The flight tickets being offered to fly into Goa are the cheapest in recent years, even though this year, New Year’s Eve being a Sunday is part of an extended weekend.

To fly from Delhi to Goa before 31 Dec is Rs 6203, and return fare on 2 Jan is Rs 11,691; Chennai to Goa is Rs 2546 before 31 Dec-return ticket is Rs 8753; Hyderabad to Goa-Rs 3100, return ticket is Rs 7462;-these are just a few airlines prices on few destinations. Sources reveal that though Christmas eve, fell on a Sunday, the airfare to fly into Goa or out-of-the-state to the major cities did not reflect the same trend as the New Year week fare. For instance, the Bengaluru to Goa airfare was priced at Rs 4,250 for December 23, while Goa to Bengaluru flight post Christmas Day costs almost the same amount, priced at Rs 4,556 at its highest on December 26.

Not just airlines ripping off their clients, even the hoteliers do the same- the hotel where I always stay at a price for Rs 2200 for an AC room, the management has jacked up the rate to Rs 3400 plus tax. Even though I tried my best to convince the hotel manager being their regular customer for many years, all my efforts were vain. How about the “Marvadi” in Margao-Goa whom I always the rent the motorbike or a scooter has also jacked up the rates. Usually I pay Rs 250-300 for 12 hrs to rent a two-wheeler, but in December to mid January the rates are double. Bah humbug!

So if you are really desperate and don’t mind spending few extra bucks of your hard earned money, then only make your plans to visit Goa at the moment- if not hold on to your travel plans and explore Goa when the rates come down.