Luggage missing, Air India told to foot family’s Singapore trip shopping bill

Ahmedabad: A family’s seven-day Singapore holiday turned into a nightmare after Air India allegedly left their luggage behind at Ahmedabad airport, forcing the family to purchase new clothes and other essentials. More than a decade later, the airline has been ordered to pick up a substantial part of their shopping bill, along with compensation for the mental agony caused by the ordeal.

The Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed Air India to reimburse Rs 1.5 lakh towards the family’s emergency purchases, after making deductions from the shopping bill of Rs 2.2 lakh. It also ordered the airline to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation for deficiency in service.

Dayal Wadhwani, a resident of Bhat, had travelled to Singapore with four family members in Jan 2015. On reaching Singapore airport, the family waited in vain for their checked-in luggage.

They were eventually informed that the baggage had not been loaded onto their flight from Ahmedabad and would arrive on the next flight that evening. But the luggage never arrived during the entire seven-day trip.

With their belongings missing, the family had little choice but to buy clothes and other essentials, spending 4,439 Singapore dollars, equivalent to around Rs 2.2 lakh at the time. Upon returning to India, Wadhwani sent a legal notice to Air India.

When the airline failed to respond, he approached the Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad, which awarded Rs 1 lakh in compensation but rejected his claim for reimbursement of the shopping expenses. It reasoned that the family had brought the purchased clothes back to India and subsequently used them.

Unwilling to accept the decision, Wadhwani appealed to the state commission, arguing that the purchases were forced upon the family solely because the airline had failed to deliver their luggage. Air India opposed the claim, contending that the family should hand over the purchased articles to the airline if they wanted reimbursement, to prevent unjust enrichment or double benefit.

The state commission, however, recognised that missing baggage can take away much more than a traveller’s personal belongings.“If the luggage containing such articles does not reach the destination, a traveller is deprived not only of essential belongings but also of articles intended for enjoyment and recreation. Consequently, the non-availability of such articles can materially affect the traveller’s ability to enjoy the holiday as planned,” it observed.

The commission further said shopping under such compulsion cannot be said to be ordinary holiday shopping, for a person may not necessarily get articles of his preferred colour, size, design or choice. “Moreover, such spending would also reduce their ability to spend on other planned activities like sightseeing, recreation and enjoyment.”While ordering reimbursement, the commission deducted 25% of the shopping bill because the family had continued using the clothes after returning to India.

It also subtracted 375 Singapore dollars already paid by Air India, arriving at the reimbursement amount of Rs 1.5 lakh. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ahmedabad | Silver Rate in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Petrol Price in Ahmedabad | Diesel Price in Ahmedabad | CNG Price in Ahmedabad | LPG Price in Ahmedabad Stay updated with the latest Ahmedabad news.

Key quotes

• “Moreover, such spending would also reduce their ability to spend on other planned activities like sightseeing, recreation and enjoyment.”