Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on Emirates airlines to compensate a couple for the mental agony caused when their connecting flight was cancelled. The airline was also asked to pay the flight charges for the cancelled sector and costs.
The couple, Mr Vinay Kumar Sinha and Ms Krishna Sinha, aged 57 and 55, had booked flight tickets on Emirates from Hyderabad to Detroit via Dubai and Boston to meet their relative residing there.
They boarded the aircraft on July 12, 2017, at Hyderabad and travelled without incident till Boston. Once there, they were informed that their flight to Detroit was delayed. Later they were informed that the flight was operated by Jet Blue, an associate of Emirates, and had been cancelled.Jet Blue promised to set up a counter to help the stranded passengers but did not do so. The airline staff stated that there was no flight available to Detroit till July 14, and even on that there was just one seat available.
The couple said Emirates and Jet Blue failed to provide food, accommodation and transport. They asked the passengers to collect their baggage and gave them a voucher worth $32 that could be used at eateries at the airport and stay outside.
Without any other go, the couple approached one Pooja Rathore of Rajasthan, who paid $540.38 from her pockets for the couple’s onward journey. The Sinhas were charged another $260 for excess baggage, though Emirates had allowed them two pieces of luggage each and cabin baggage while boarding at Hyderabad.
In response, Emirates told the forum that it did not know why Jet Blue had cancelled the flight. It wanted the airline to be made party to the proceedings or the complaint dismissed.
The forum stated that it is the primary responsibility of Emirates in coordination with its associate service provider to see that its customers reach their destination as per the purchased ticket.
The forum said that the Sinhas suffered a lot of trauma, hardship and mental agony due to the deficient service of Emirates. “It cannot be measured in terms of money. However we feel that by awarding an amount of Rs 2 lakh as compensation for the deficient acts and adoption of unfair trade practice upon the part of Emirates,” it said.
The forum also directed Emirates to pay the Sinhas Rs 60,028.50 towards flight ticket charges from Boston to Detroit with 9 per cent interest from the date of travel and Rs 10,000 towards costs.Consumer forum fines Fly Emirates Rs 2 lakh
Durga Prasad Sunku I DC
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on Emirates airlines to compensate a couple for the mental agony caused when their connecting flight was cancelled. The airline was also asked to pay the flight charges for the cancelled sector and costs.
The couple, Mr Vinay Kumar Sinha and Ms Krishna Sinha, aged 57 and 55, had booked flight tickets on Emirates from Hyderabad to Detroit via Dubai and Boston to meet their relative residing there.
They boarded the aircraft on July 12, 2017, at Hyderabad and travelled without incident till Boston. Once there, they were informed that their flight to Detroit was delayed. Later they were informed that the flight was operated by Jet Blue, an associate of Emirates, and had been cancelled.Jet Blue promised to set up a counter to help the stranded passengers but did not do so. The airline staff stated that there was no flight available to Detroit till July 14, and even on that there was just one seat available.
The couple said Emirates and Jet Blue failed to provide food, accommodation and transport. They asked the passengers to collect their baggage and gave them a voucher worth $32 that could be used at eateries at the airport and stay outside.
Without any other go, the couple approached one Pooja Rathore of Rajasthan, who paid $540.38 from her pockets for the couple’s onward journey. The Sinhas were charged another $260 for excess baggage, though Emirates had allowed them two pieces of luggage each and cabin baggage while boarding at Hyderabad.
In response, Emirates told the forum that it did not know why Jet Blue had cancelled the flight. It wanted the airline to be made party to the proceedings or the complaint dismissed.
The forum stated that it is the primary responsibility of Emirates in coordination with its associate service provider to see that its customers reach their destination as per the purchased ticket.
The forum said that the Sinhas suffered a lot of trauma, hardship and mental agony due to the deficient service of Emirates. “It cannot be measured in terms of money. However we feel that by awarding an amount of Rs 2 lakh as compensation for the deficient acts and adoption of unfair trade practice upon the part of Emirates,” it said.
The forum also directed Emirates to pay the Sinhas Rs 60,028.50 towards flight ticket charges from Boston to Detroit with 9 per cent interest from the date of travel and Rs 10,000 towards costs.
