Sir/Madam,
I had booked a flight on Flt# 6E156 from Calcutta to Bangalore on 29th September,2009 (tuesday). I was 31 weeks pregnant as on that date.I was asked to produce a fitness certificate at the booking counter.I produced the certificate signed by my doctor (Dr. Praveena Shenoi). The certificate clearly mentioned that I was 31 weeks pregnant and I was fit to fly.The certificate was examined by your staff and my family (husband and child) and I were given our boarding passes.
We boarded the aircraft and the flight was about to depart at 15:15 when some Indigo ground staff entered the flight and asked me and my family to get down from the flight because I was not eligible to fly just because I was pregnant.I argued that I had been given the boarding pass after my doctor's certificate had been examined which clearly stated that I was 31 weeks pregnant and fit to fly but your staff was adamant about not letting us fly.We agreed to get down from the flight because we did not want to delay the flight and cause inconvinience to all the other passengers.
We are shocked by this treatment in the hands of the Indigo staff.What right did they have to ask us to get down from the flight when we had already been issued boarding passes?Which rule book says that a 31 weeks pregnant woman is unfit to fly?If Indigo does not want pregnant woman to fly then why doesn't it categorically state that "Indigo regards pregnant woman unfit to fly".Why did they issue the boarding passes and what right did they have to ask us to leave the aircraft just before the flight was about to take off?
I made several calls to my doctor in Bangalore who was extremely cooperative and equally shocked at how a pregnant woman was harassed by Indigo staff.She spoke to your staff members on phone and sent them emails and fax saying that I was 31 weeks pregnant and fit to fly (things which she had already mentioned in the certificate I had produced at the booking counter).
After such a lot of harassment we were allowed to board another flight to Bangalore (6E 352) at 16:55.This was a hopping flight while the original flight we were supposed to travel in was a non stop flight to Bangalore.
Your staff did apologize after my doctor in Bangalore intervened and objected to the treatment metted out on a pregnant woman.However, no amount of apology can eraze the shock and distress I had to go through at this stage of pregnancy.
I wonder whether any action will be taken against the Indigo staff in Calcutta airport.But I would like all pregnant woman to know that they should not travel by Indigo if they are pregnant and their "pregnancy shows" because no matter what your doctor's certificate says Indigo staff have their own ways of deciding how fit you are for flying and how many weeks pregnant you are.Also Indigo staff assume that pregnant woman are stupid enough to put their life and the life of their unborn baby at risk by travelling in their aircrafts by producing fake doctor's certificates.
I was fortunate to have a very supportive doctor who swung into action immediately although she was in Bangalore.Every pregnant woman might not be lucky enough.
I also wonder whether the flight was over booked on that day and that was the actual reason behind making me and my family leave the aircraft.
Anamika Ray Was this information helpful? | 
