Malindo Air/Batik Air operates flights from Malaysia to India. I had flown with them few years ago and service was good.
Booked another flight for 2025 sometime in 2024 but could not travel. The ticket was multi city ticket between BLR, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and back to BLR. At about 18k, it was very tempting deal, even cheaper than Air Asia. So I took a chance and booked back then.
But then I couldn’t travel. Airline changed timing of one of the flight by about an hour and I applied for refund on their website. But I got automated replies stating the bank details are not enough and they can’t refund to my India bank account.
I gave all the details one more time, again it was rejected.
Then I escalted to few people I knew. Eventually Batik Air India team was looped in and they processed some refund manually, after taking my bank account details, cancelled cheque etc.
I got about 4k INR back out of 18k, just 25%, as I had booked a cheapest non refundable ticket. Only airport tax and few such components of the ticket will be refunded in such cases.
If I had paid 50% for a more flexible ticket I would have got back more, but if I had travelled I would have lost that extra money. So it was a tough gample
- Super Saver Fare: Pay 18k, get back 4k, net loss 12k
- Batik Value fare: Pay 50% more compared to Super Saver Value at 27k, lose 17k in cancellation charges (refer below screenshot, 8500 per one way, NOT for entire PNR as per my understanding), get back 10k- net loss 17k if we cancel, 9k loss if we travel (compared to Super Saver fare)
- Value fare allows one rescheduling free though.
Note: Prices are indicative- do check for origin, destination and dates of your choice on Batik Air website and compare options for yourself.
Summary:
- The refund process took almost 2 months of chasing, follow ups & waiting but eventually got something
- Batik air should have clear process to refund Indians to their India bank account as they are selling tickets in India
