New Delhi, March 4 -- An American couple was on a trip to New Zealand when they received the sad news. Patricia Kerekes, the wife, was diagnosed with cancer of the gallbladder. She was told that she had only four months left to live.

The couple landed in New Zealand in January and had originally intended to stay there till April. However, their surgeon asked Todd Kerekes to take his wife back to the USA soon.

Todd asked the airline, Air New Zealand, to move up the ticket due to the emergency. However, he was told that it would cost the couple Rs.6.5 lakh (NZ$ 13,000). Todd was "momentarily stupefied" as the new seats were only $100 more expensive than the older ones they had already paid for.

"What they were charging me was four times ...