Court orders IndiGo to pay Couple Rs 70K for delayed luggage, ruining vacation
A consumer court directed IndiGo Airlines to pay Rs 70K in compensation to a couple for delay in the delivery of their checked-in luggage.
In a recent ruling, a Bengaluru consumer court has directed IndiGo Airlines to pay Rs 70K in compensation to a couple whose vacation plans to Port Blair were marred by a delay in the delivery of their checked-in luggage. The order was issues by a coram comprising President Shivarama K and members Chandrashekar S Noola and Rekha Sayannvar, citing a deficiency of service on the part of IndiGo.
The court mandated IndiGo to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for the inconvenience caused, an additional Rs 10,000 to cover the mental agony suffered by the couple, and Rs 10,000 to address their litigation costs.
The ruling highlighted that IndiGo’s actions had significantly impacted the holiday experience of the complainants. The couple who had vital items such as clothing, medications, and ferry tickets for Andaman boat rides in their checked-in baggage, were compelled to purchase essentials locally, incurring an additional expense of Rs 5,000.
“The act of the opposite party [IndiGo] had spoiled the holiday mood of the complainants. Further, the complainants had important items… in the check-in baggage, and they were compelled to go to the local market and purchase clothes and other items amounting [to the couple] Rs 5,000/-. Further, even though opposite party staff promised that the luggage would reach the next day… the same had not reached… Hence, there is a deficiency of service on the part of the opposite party,” stated the order issued by the third Additional Bangalore Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
The incident unfolded on November 1, 2021, when the couple, flying from Bengaluru to Port Blair with Indigo Airlines, discovered that their checked-in luggage, containing crucial items, had not arrived at their vacation destination. Despite filing a complaint and submitting a Property Irregularity Report, the luggage was only delivered on November 3, causing significant disruption to the couple’s plans.
Ms Kalinga