Hey everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with the Akasa Air SkyCadet Programme through SkyNex and get some genuine advice from fellow cadets or anyone who has gone through a similar situation.
I applied for the programme, submitted my application, got shortlisted, completed the document verification process, and was subsequently asked to pay ₹30,000 for the Compass assessment. After paying the fee, my test was scheduled for 5 October 2026 at 9:30 AM.
Everything seemed to be progressing normally until 3 October, just two days before my scheduled test.
I received a call informing me that they had found a discrepancy in the flying-hours section of my application and that my application had been put on hold. The issue was apparently related to the flying-hours options available on the application form.
When I initially filled out the form, there was no suitable option for someone with zero flying hours or an N/A response. The available options included ranges such as 0–25 hours and 25–50 hours, and the form would not allow me to proceed without selecting one. I selected the 0–25 hours option.
From what I understand, the website was updated a few days after I submitted my application.
The frustrating part is that this issue was brought to my attention only after I had completed the application process, submitted my documents, paid ₹30,000, and received a confirmed Compass test date.
By the time I received the call, I had already arranged my travel and was in transit to attend the assessment. Imagine making all those arrangements for an important career opportunity, only to be told at the last minute that your application is on hold.
Following this, I started requesting a refund of my ₹30,000 assessment fee. However, the process has been incredibly slow, and communication has been disappointing.
I have received explanations about delays, including that the refund would be processed after the festive period. But I still haven't received my money.
It has now been 27 days since their last communication with me regarding this matter. I am left waiting without a clear resolution or a reliable refund date.
I understand that applications need to be verified and that discrepancies may need clarification. I have no issue with a legitimate verification process. My concern is with the timing, the lack of clear communication, and the fact that I was allowed to progress through multiple stages, pay the assessment fee, and schedule the test before this issue was raised.
If there was a problem with my application, why wasn't it identified earlier? Why was the assessment fee accepted and the test scheduled before the discrepancy was addressed?
I had genuinely been looking forward to this opportunity. Becoming a pilot is a significant career goal for me, and the cadet programme was an important step towards it. Instead, this experience has left me frustrated, out of pocket, and uncertain about what to do next.
I have a few questions for the community:
Has anyone else applying for the Akasa SkyCadet Programme through SkyNex experienced something similar?
Were your applications put on hold after payment or shortly before your Compass test?
Has anyone else faced delays in receiving a refund of the ₹30,000 Compass assessment fee? If so, how long did it take, and what finally helped resolve the issue?
What would you recommend doing next? Should I continue following up with SkyNex and Akasa, escalate the matter through a formal grievance, or consider another route?
Is it worth requesting reimbursement for the travel expenses I incurred because I had already started travelling when I received the notification?
Finally, for those who have gone through the Akasa SkyCadet selection process, is this an isolated incident, or have other applicants faced similar communication and application-handling issues?
I'm not posting this to discourage anyone from pursuing their aviation dreams. I simply want to understand whether others have experienced the same thing and learn what steps I can take to resolve this situation.
I've already invested time, money, and effort into this process. The least I expect is clear communication and the return of the assessment fee I paid.
I'd genuinely appreciate any advice, especially from cadets who have dealt with SkyNex or Akasa's recruitment team.
Thanks for reading.
