HYDERABAD: Budget carrier SpiceJet and Indian online travel agency Yatra.com have been directed by a consumer forum in Hyderabad to pay Rs 10, 000 as compensation to a passenger, apart from the other expenses, for failing to inform him about the cancellation of a flight in advance.
DV Prasad Rao had booked two air tickets from Kolkata to Hyderabad, through Yatra.com on Nov 5, 2010 by paying Rs 6,202.19. The scheduled journey was on November 29 at 5 p.m. On the day of the journey, when the complainant and his wife submitted their tickets at the airport counter in Kolkata, to their surprise, the executive informed that the scheduled flight was cancelled and the entire amount would be refunded. When Prasad questioned the executive for not being informed about the cancellation of scheduled flight, she did not respond and when asked for alternative arrangements, she simply replied that no alternative arrangements were made since there is no interlink with other airlines.
Due to the sheer negligence of the opposite parties, Prasad was forced to make some last minute arrangements. He booked tickets in Jet Airways, which was the cheapest flights available by paying Rs.11,064 and boarded the flight at 9 p.m. and reached Hyderabad at 11p.m. Originally the schedule time of the Spicejet was 5:05 p.m. and it was supposed to reach the destination by 7:05 p.m. Prasad claimed that he had a business appointment at 9:30 p.m. in Hyderabad and in view of the latches on the part of the Spicejet, he could not attend the scheduled appointment and thereby suffered loss of Rs one lakh.
Though Prasad has spent a considerable lot of money to reach Hyderabad, the opposite party has credited the ticket fare only (an amount of Rs.6,072 against Rs.6202.19 that Prasad paid). On, December 15, 2010 the complainant sent a registered legal notice, asking the opposite parties to pay the excess amount paid by him to get a Jet Airways ticket at the 11th hour, and other amount that he spent. As the opposite party failed to refund the amount, Prasad approached the consumer forum.
The Hyderabad III District Consumer Forum, comprising president Y Chandrasekhara Reddy and members D Mahesh Kumar and C Nirmala, observed that there was deficiency in the service and passed an order in favour of Prasad directing the opposite parties to refund Rs 4,862 along with interest at 9 pc from Nov 29, 2010 till realization, to pay Rs 10,000 towards compensation, Rs 130 with interest at 9pc from Nov 29, 2010 till realization and Rs 1,500 as taxi fare besides Rs 2,000 as cost of the complaint.