‘Denied’ boarding on flight to Canada, Punjab man wins Rs 1.53 lakh payout from airlines

A passenger from Punjab has been awarded Rs 1.53 lakh by a consumer commission after the airline was found liable for refusing boarding without justification. The consumer commission directed the airline to refund the ticket price of Rs 1.23 lakh and pay an additional Rs 30,000 for mental anguish and inconvenience. The complainant, who had booked a ticket through an agency for travel from New Delhi to Toronto via Warsaw, claimed he was asked to wait for an hour before being denied boarding despite having a valid passport and visa.

The airline argued that the passenger was a "No Show" and that the ticket was non-refundable, except for applicable taxes. However, the commission found the airline's version less probable than the complainant's and directed the airline to pay Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses.