Who Should Cover Those Costs: A Mistake That Cost Two Plane Tickets

Edgar Ayvazyan, a resident of Gavarr, was taken aback when he was denied boarding a flight at Zvartnots International Airport twice after checking in. He was forced to travel to Samara without his wife.

"I was told that the police would deal with me; they came and took me away, locking me in the airport precinct. I asked what it was for, and they said I was on the wanted list. I told them it must be a misunderstanding and asked to let me go so I wouldn't miss my flight," Edgar Ayvazyan recounted to A1+.

It soon becomes apparent that it was indeed a misunderstanding, but the plane had already departed. "I was told it was the investigator S. Melkumyan from the Shengavit Investigation Department who had blocked my flight. I go to the investigation department from the airport and tell the investigator, 'Where am I going? I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. I've been left outside; I'm not familiar with the city. How am I supposed to get home? Will these expenses be on my shoulders?' The investigator said yes. I asked why I wasn't allowed to board, and he replied that there is someone else with the same name as me who is on the wanted list and that I had been mistakenly stopped," Ayvazyan elaborated.

Yesterday, June 4, he picked up his suitcase and returned to Gavarr, buying a ticket for today. Early in the morning, he reached Zvartnots Airport again, and... the same story repeated itself. "I called the investigator again and said, 'Investigator, I told you politely yesterday that we don't know each other, I'm not on the wanted list, and I'm left with these costs. Today, why aren’t you opening the way for me to go to work? I have taken out a loan for this trip; how am I supposed to pay it back?' He responded, 'Why are you calling me, waking me up at 5 a.m.'" Ayvazyan explained.

He has approached the police; however, according to him, no one is willing to take responsibility for the misunderstanding. Meanwhile, he has incurred damages of half a million drams. Although the investigator informed him that starting Monday he would be free to travel, Ayvazyan notes that he has no opportunity to buy a ticket for a third time to reunite with his family.