Kolkata flyers, airline in cabin bag ‘grey area’ row; debate moves online; bizman claims mismatch between receipt and payment

KOLKATA: A tense early-morning stand-off at Kolkata airport escalated into an online debate on airline rules, passenger rights, and the thin line between regulation and irritation.

The flashpoint occurred around 5 am on Sunday when a SpiceJet ground staffer stopped a passenger at the boarding gate for carrying what was deemed an extra handbag, and refused to allow him to pass it on to a friend — travelling without any cabin baggage — to avoid payment. After several minutes of heated exchange at the gate, the passenger eventually paid the excess-baggage charge before being allowed to board. The flight departed, but the argument did not end there.

By midday, the episode had become a talking point among flyersat the airport and on social media. Some argued the airline staff followed the rulebook while others said the rigid enforcement — especially at the boarding gate — caused avoidable stress and left passengers feeling harassed.

Airline sources maintain that the ground staffer was technically correct. According to them, a passenger is not permitted to transfer cabin baggage to another traveller booked on a different PNR due to security protocols. They also pointed out that when overhead bins fill up, airlines often move large handbags to the cargo hold, and the PNR is essential for baggage identification and claim.

“Once the ground staff notice a violation at the boarding gate, s/he cannot ignore it. Allowing another passenger to carry that bag would go against DGCA norms,” an airline official said, adding that the situation might have passed unnoticed had the transfer happened earlier.

But for Deshapriya Park-based businessman Swarnab Banerjee, the explanation offers little comfort. Banerjee was travelling from Kolkata to Mumbai with his brother and a friend on an early morning flight. While Banerjee and his brother were booked under one PNR, and each carried two large handbags — cleared at the security check — the friend, booked separately, had no bag and offered to carry one to help avoid extra charges.

“Had they flagged the issue earlier at the security gate, I could have checked in the bag. Raising it at the boarding gate left me with no choice. This felt like some kind of loot,” Banerjee said.

He alleged that the SpiceJet customer service agent insisted on payment despite repeated explanations that the group was travelling together. “She kept saying, ‘This is company policy. I can’t force you to pay, so either leave your bag or make the payment’,” Banerjee claimed.

The controversy deepened after Banerjee alleged discrepancy in the payment receipt. He said he paid Rs 9,750 as excess baggage charge, but the receipt from the airline acknowledged Rs 6,000. He has demanded a refund of the excess amount and action against the staff member involved.

In a statement, SpiceJet said: “The allegations made by the passengers are misleading and are strongly denied. As per govt regulations requesting another passenger to carry one’s baggage is a security violation.

Additionally, passengers travelling on different PNRs are not permitted to club hand baggage, as this can compromise security and hinder accurate identification of baggage ownership in the event of an emergency. In accordance with applicable rules, the passengers were requested to pay the excess baggage charges.”

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