CHAOS AT KIA: Airline Sources Say Change In Validity Was Updated On Portal

RT-PCR TEST

8 denied boarding, staff seek -ve cert not older than 48 hrs

CHAOS AT KIA: Airline Sources Say Change In Validity Was Updated On Portal

Flyers Claim They Were Made To Undergo Another Test

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:16.11.2021

Mechanical engineer Krishna of HSR Layout claimed he wasn’t permitted to board a flydubai flight to Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday as the airline ground staff insisted he produce report of an RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours before departure.

Krishna, who was carrying a negative report obtained within 72 hours, underwent a fresh rapid PCR test by paying Rs 3,000 and tested negative. Yet he was turned away citing the invalidity of the 72-hour report.

No prior SMS alert on the change in test period was sent by the airline, the 52-year-old Bengalurean alleged. Seven others supposed to take the flight, FZ 406, underwent the same ordeal. They were all forced to cancel their Bengaluru-Dubai tickets costing over Rs 30,000 each.

“We received no SMS alert regarding the RT-PCR test validity being reduced to 48 hours for passengers. I came from Dubai to Bengaluru with a test report taken within 72 hours before the journey. I was shocked on Sunday morning when the flydubai ground staff refused to accept my Covid negative report with a validity of 72 hours,” lamented the engineer, who was scheduled to fly on work. He cancelled his one-way ticket and rebooked his trip.

Sources with the Dubaibased carrier said it had been updated on its official portal that travellers from India will have to produce Covid test report within 48 hours prior to departure and all passengers had been advised to thoroughly go though the rules.

“Earlier, the flydubai portal had said the test report needed to be within 72 hours but on November 11, 2021, it was changed to 48 hours and flyers were not alerted. There was no intimation via phone calls or text messages, and we had to find out at the airport gates, which was a bitter experience,” lamented another flyer who was forced to cancel his FZ 406 ticket and return to his Indiranagar residence.

The 43-year-old passenger also alleged that the flydubai ground staff made all those who were carrying reports taken 72 hours earlier undergo a rapid PCR test (based on molecular diagnostic testing) usually conducted for boarding passengers.

“We paid Rs 3,000 each for the test with the belief that they would let us board the flight if we tested negative. But that was not the case,” said the passenger. “If they didn’t plan to allow us, why did they make us pay Rs 3,000 and undergo another test? It is clear harassment,” he added.

Sources in flydubai at KIA said information on Covid test result requirements has been updated country-wise on the official website and has been altered based on change in rules in UAE, which some passengers failed to notice.

However, they said that the rapid PCR test was part of standard Covid guidelines. The airline didn’t give its official version of the events till Monday evening.

CAUGHT UNAWARES: The flyers were forced to cancel their Bengaluru-Dubai tickets costing over Rs 30,000 each

Earlier, the flydubai portal had said the test report needed to be within 72 hours but on November 11, 2021, the duration was changed to 48 hours and flyers were not alerted. There was no intimation via phone calls or text messages

— A passenger