For DrukAir, it is cash or nothing

Why do some travel agencies insist on cash payments?

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 20: The Central government is taking initiatives to transform India into a cashless society, a move that also aims at curbing black money.

But Royal Bhutan Airlines DrukAir seems to be not much impressed with the idea.

The airline company, as a policy, accepts only cash for issuing tickets. Not only credit cards and banker's cheques, the company has even refused to accept drafts for payment of fares, travelers have alleged.

Following complaints from travelers, this newspaper visited the office of the airlines near ABC on GS Road in Guwahati.

The personnel at the airlines office admitted they generally accept cash.

"We do not accept cheques because if it bounces, it becomes difficult for us to recover the money. It is a policy of the airlines not to accept cheques. We can accept cheques, but in that case we will have to issue the ticket only after it is cleared by the bank. However, if in the meantime, the fares go up, the customer has to pay the additiol amount before we issue the ticket," an official at the office said. However, the airlines, strangely does not have a policy to refund a customer if in case the fares slump in the meantime.

When asked why the airlines do not accept credit cards, the official said, "We don't have such a facility for technical reasons." Neither is there "any policy" to accept drafts.

Travelers feel that the DrukAir policy is not in sync with Central government's vision of a cashless society.

"The airlines always insists on cash payment. They are only encouraging flow of black money," said some travelers, who have appealed to the government to look into the issue.

DrukAir operates a Paro-Guwahati-Bangkok flight and then back daily.