Flight postponed,place to stay not provided: AI told to pay Rs 80,000

Couple alleged they spent another Rs 55,000 as their flight was cancelled.

Not providing accommodation to an elderly couple,after their Air India flight to Delhi from London was repeatedly postponed,has resulted in the national carrier being directed by a consumer forum here to fork out Rs 80,000 as compensation.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that the couple was left to fend for themselves and had to incur additional expenses during their extended stay in London,and in travelling to and fro from the airport.

We hold opposite party (Air India) guilty of deficiency in not providing the old couple sufficient accommodation when their flight was repeatedly postponed. This has caused mental agony and harassment to the old couple and they are entitled to compensation by opposite party… We allow the expenses of Rs 55,000 (claimed by the couple), a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

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The forum also granted compensation of Rs 25,000 to Ashok Bajaj and Bimla Rani.

The couple had alleged that they found out about the cancellation of their flight scheduled for December 18,2010 after reaching Heathrow Airport,UK,as the airline did not inform them in advance. After telling them that their flight would leave the next day,December 19,they were later informed that it would leave on December 21,the couple alleged.

The ex-parte order was passed against Air India as no one appeared on its behalf initially and no reply was filed by the airline before the verdict was reserved.

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