Recently, a court in Bengaluru mandated that IndiGo airlines pay a compensation of ₹70,000 to a couple whose vacation to Port Blair was marred by the delayed delivery of their checked-in luggage. The incident transpired in November 2021 when the couple, bound for Port Blair from Bengaluru for a vacation, discovered upon arrival that their checked-in baggage had not reached the destination. This luggage contained essential items such as clothing, medications, and ferry tickets, causing significant inconvenience as it remained undelivered for two days in Port Blair
Legal Action Against IndiGo: Bengaluru Couple Alleges Negligence and Seeks Redress for Disrupted Vacation
The Bengaluru couple asserted that IndiGo was aware of the failure to load their checked-in baggage during departure but did not communicate this information, exacerbating the situation. Although the luggage eventually reached Port Blair on November 2, it couldn’t be promptly delivered to the couple as the ferry to Havelock Island had already departed. The couple finally received their luggage on November 3, 2021.
Subsequently, the couple took legal action against IndiGo, alleging damages to their vacation and sending a legal notice. They argued that the delayed arrival of their bags caused irreparable harm and insisted that IndiGo was aware of the non-loading but failed to inform them.
Consumer Court Ruling: IndiGo Ordered to Compensate Bengaluru Couple ₹70,000 for Vacation Disruption
After a year, the couple approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Bengaluru. On September 26, 2023, the Bengaluru consumer court directed IndiGo to pay ₹70,000 in compensation to the complainants within 45 days, with any delay in payment incurring interest at a rate of 9% per annum.
The compensation structure includes ₹50,000 as compensation to the affected couple, an additional ₹10,000 to address the mental distress endured, ₹10,000 for litigation costs, and an extra ₹5,000 incurred by the couple in purchasing clothes and other items in Port Blair before the arrival of their luggage.
