No damages to latecomers at airport: Panel

Grouse of an air passenger not allowed aboard would not be entertained by the consumer fora if one failed to reach the airport on time mentioned in the ticket, the Delhi Consumer Commission has held.

"The appellant could not be taken on board because he reached there at 10:10 am while the conditions printed on the ticket mentioned that the passengers should report two hours before the flight scheduled for 10:20," the commission headed by president Justice Barkat Ali Zaidi said.

The appellant was, therefore, late and hence responsible for missing the flight, the commission said.

Appellant Puneet Tondon approached the commission seeking damages from Jagson Airlines on account of alleged mental agony undergone by him when he was not allowed aboard the flight despite having the ticket.

The commission also imposed a penalty of Rs 500 on him for falsely stating that his argument was not heard by the Delhi District Consumer Forum.

"Tondon has violated judicial dignity and decorum by alleging that the Forum prepared false records. In order that others may not venture to traverse this forbidden ground, he deserves to be penalised," he said.

Tondon had approached the Delhi District Forum after he was not allowed aboard the flight by the authority for being late in reaching the Kullu airport.

The Forum refused to give any relief to the passenger, who contended that the authority had not informed him about the preponement of flight departure by half an hour.