American Airlines has been asked to pay Rs 40,000 by a consumer forum as compensation to a family whose travel plans went awry because of a flight delay by the airline in 2007.
According to the consumer dispute redressal forum order on June 6, the airline is liable to pay Rs 40,000 to Naresh Kumar Gupta and his wife who were to have flown from New Delhi to London on December 14, 2007, and thereafter take a connecting flight to the US for attending a family function. The delay of four-and-half hours caused the Guptas to miss their connecting flight to the US, where they were to attend the convocation ceremony of their daughter, according to a complaint filed with the forum.
“Holding American Airlines to be deficient in service, we direct them to pay Rs 40,000 as compensation to the complainant which shall include the cost of litigation,” said consumer forum president M.P. Mehndiratta. The forum also slammed the airline for the delay, saying that the reasons given by the international carrier were insufficient.
The forum also took cognisance of the baggage delay by the airline which further agonised the family. “The fact remains that there was undue delay in the delivery of the baggage of the complainant.” The airline’s representative did not reply to queries sent by IANS.