Jet Airways to pay flyer Rs 65000 for lapse in communication

The District Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum at Nashik has ordered Jet Airways (JA) to pay Rs 65,921 to a passenger for not informing him of changes in flight timing as a result of which the passenger and his wife missed their flight from Leh to Delhi and Pune. The passenger claimed that he had spent the said amount on travelling to his destination. The court ordered the airline to pay him the amount along with 12 per cent interest from the time he incurred the expense.

According to the forum’s judgment, JA failed to provide services to Deepak Rajaram Patodkar who had booked a return ticket for his wife and himself from Leh to Pune via Delhi. The forum said as the airline failed to inform Mr Patodkar of the change in flight timing, the complainant had to incur additional expenses to reach his destination and hence, the airline was liable to pay him the amount.

A JA spokesperson said they would not like to respond to the judgment. Meanwhile, the complainant said he had booked a June 5, 2012, flight for his wife and himself from Leh to Pune via Delhi for Rs 16,532. However, when he reached the airport well before the scheduled departure at 11.15 am, he was informed the flight had left at 8.15 am itself, due to which he was left stranded. Mr Patodkar said JA officials did not help him and he had to make alternate arrangements for himself.