Air India told to pay Rs 5 lakh each for denying seats

KOCHI: The Kerala State Consumer Redressal Commission has ordered Air India to pay a compensation of Rs 500,000 each to two persons for the failure of the airline to provide seats to them despite having valid tickets.

According to the complaint, the two passengers booked e-tickets for Air India flight from Agatti (in Lakshadweep islands) to Kochi on May 10, 2014 and from Kochi to Thiruvanathapuram on May 11, 2014.

On May 10 when they reported to the airport at Agatti, the duo were refused permission to board the flight or issue boarding pass and they were able to travel only on May 11.

Air India explained that they were unable to accommodate them on the day of the booking as their names were not seen in the passenger list due to the migration of Alliance Air System to SITA on May 9, 2014.

The Commission found that not allowing people to travel in the booked flight “is a clear deficiency of service on the part of Air India”. Complainants were put to much hardship due to the attitude of Air India and for that the airline was bound to pay a compensation”.

The complainants A Madasamy and R. Gopalakrishnan Nair, belonging to Thiruvananthapuram, had sought a compensation of Rs 25,000,00 as compensation but Commission president Justice P.Q. Barkathali ordered Air India to pay Rs 500,000 each to the two complainants.