Flipkart Booking Fails, Passenger Misses International Flight

A Delhi-based traveller faced a harrowing experience after booking an international flight to Vietnam through Flipkart, only to be told at the airport check-in counter that his ticket did not exist in the airline’s system.

According to the passenger, the flight was booked via Flipkart’s travel platform, and he received a confirmation message along with a booking reference number. Confident that his travel plans were in place, he reached the airport on time for his Delhi–Vietnam flight. However, at the airline’s check-in counter, staff informed him that there was no record of the ticket, leaving him stranded moments before departure.

The traveller said repeated attempts to resolve the issue at the airport failed, as airline officials maintained that the booking reference was invalid. He then tried contacting Flipkart’s customer support, but alleged that the response was delayed and unhelpful, offering no immediate solution while the flight departed without him.

The incident has sparked concerns among consumers about third-party travel bookings on e-commerce platforms, especially for international travel where last-minute discrepancies can result in significant financial and emotional distress. Aviation experts advise travellers to always cross-check airline bookings directly on the carrier’s website after making reservations through aggregators.

While Flipkart has not publicly commented on this specific case, the episode highlights the need for stronger coordination between online travel intermediaries and airlines, as well as faster grievance redressal mechanisms.