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With cash becoming the king at airport counters, the government has instructed airlines to make PAN cards mandatory for transactions above Rs 25,000. Also, bookings made via cash payment till Friday midnight have been made non-refundable.
To counter unaccounted money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening had announced that notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will be rendered illegal. There is a window till December 30 to exchange such notes. People were allowed to use such notes at airports, railway stations and hospitals. “The government now fears black money holders will use airline counters as a loophole to transact in cash. Hence, we have been instructed to keep identification records of such transactions,” said a private airline executive.
“For cash bookings above Rs 25,000, customers are being asked to show their PAN cards. All cash bookings made during this period (till midnight on Friday ) are non-cancelable and non-refundable,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson. A GoAir spokesperson, too, added payments made by cash would be non-refundable. Airlines are accepting the “rendered useless” notes only for excess baggage or seat upgradation payments.
“Cash bookings at airports have more than doubled the normal rates,” said a senior executive of a private airline.
Railways, too, refuses refunds
Facing shortage of currency notes of lower denominations coupled with heavy rush at booking counters, the railways has stopped giving refund for cancellation of tickets in cash and instead issuing ticket deposit receipts (TDR). Besides, in case of refund amount touching Rs 10,000 or above, the railways will only transfer the amount to the customer’s bank account and the person concerned is required to furnish account details for receiving the amount while cancelling the ticket. PTI
