Consumer forum penalises Jordanian airline

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has rapped Jordan’s national carrier Royal Jordanian Airline for leaving two Indian passengers in lurch in 2003 and directed it to pay them a compensation of Rs1 lakh.

Chandigarh-based Shakuntala Rani and her partner bought two confirmed Delhi-London-Delhi tickets through a travel agent for Rs63000.

They called the airline office from Birmingham and confirmed their tickets 72 hours before the flight as per airline requirements. The airline office also confirmed their request.

When they reached London’s Heathrow Airport the airline staff refused to check them saying their tickets were cancelled as they did not confirm their reservations.

Rani issued a legal notice to the airlines seeking compensation of Rs5 lakhs which the airline rejected.

Rani then filed complaint in the district consumer forum on grounds of deficiency of service.

The district forum directed the airlines and the agent, who booked the tickets, to pay Rs25,000 as compensation and Rs2500 as litigation costs.

The airline filed an appeal before the state commission. The commission enhanced the compensation from Rs25,000 to Rs1 lakh.

The Royal Jordanian Airlines filed revision petition in NCDRC, which upheld the state commission’s order and found it guilty of serious deficiency in service.