Patna: The Patna District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered SpiceJet to pay Rs 85,816 to a passenger after repeated flight delays caused him and two family members to miss a connecting flight, with the airline failing to arrange alternative travel.
The compensation includes Rs 15,816 towards expenses incurred during the journey, Rs 50,000 for mental harassment and Rs 20,000 towards litigation costs.
The commission also directed the airline to pay 12% annual interest on the Rs 15,816 expense component from April 19, 2021, the date of the complaint. If the order is not complied with within three months, the interest rate will rise to 15% per annum.
Flight Delays Led To Missed Connection
The case was filed in 2021 by senior citizen Dilip Kumar Agarwal, who had booked tickets for three family members to travel from Patna to Mangaluru via Mumbai on January 16, 2021.
The tickets cost about Rs 18,697. Repeated delays to the Patna-Mumbai flight resulted in the family missing their connecting flight from Mumbai to Mangaluru.
According to the complaint, SpiceJet did not arrange an alternative flight despite repeated requests. Agarwal, who needed to attend his son’s medical counselling session, subsequently purchased new tickets from another airline at his own expense.
Weather Defence Not Substantiated
SpiceJet told the commission that the delay was caused by adverse weather conditions in Delhi. The airline argued that it should not be held liable for compensation when delays arise from extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather.
The commission, however, noted that the airline failed to produce official documents establishing that the particular flight was delayed because of adverse weather.
The commission also noted that the passenger was not provided with food or refreshments during the prolonged wait.
Expenses Included Travel And Hotel Costs
Agarwal submitted documents covering expenses for alternative air tickets, hotel accommodation and transportation, as well as the loss incurred on a pre-booked hotel in Mangaluru.
The commission assessed the total eligible expenses at Rs 20,205 and deducted Rs 4,389 that had already been refunded by the airline. It therefore ordered SpiceJet to reimburse Rs 15,816.
Agarwal had sought Rs 3 lakh for mental agony. The commission considered the claim excessive and awarded Rs 50,000 instead, along with Rs 20,000 towards litigation costs.
