Flight rescheduled but check-in ‘denied’, Delhi man wins Rs 68,000 payout from airline

A Delhi man who was set to begin a new career won Rs 68,000 from an airline after it allegedly denied him check-in and then ordered him to pay for a more expensive flight and hotel costs. The Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled against the airline, finding it deficient in service. The complaint was filed after a flight from Delhi to Bengaluru was rescheduled from 1 pm to 4 pm on February 3, 2019.

The passenger, who had booked the ticket for his new job, reached the airport on time but was denied boarding due to the flight's rescheduling. The airline claimed that the passenger had arrived late and had not checked in, but the man insisted he had arrived within the new check-in window. The airline offered an alternative flight at a higher cost and refused to refund the original fare or hotel charges.

The commission ordered the airline to refund Rs 12,713 for the replacement flight, Rs 334 for hotel charges, and pay Rs 55,000 in compensation for mental anguish and harassment, plus Rs 5,000 for litigation costs.