BA to pay Rs. 1 lakh for baggage loss

British Airways has been directed by a consumer forum to pay Rs. 1 lakh to a passenger for the loss of his baggage when he had travelled to London from New Delhi in 2008.

British Airways has been directed by a consumer forum to pay Rs. 1 lakh to a passenger for the loss of his baggage when he had travelled to London from New Delhi in 2008.

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The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed payment of the amount to Ramesh C Bhargava, saying the deficiency was admitted by the airline, and therefore the complainant should be compensated.

"The complainant has been coming from Shimla for the case for last five years. The loss of bag caused him loss of belongings, besides stay in hotel for five days without address of anyone in London with him.

"In our view, once the deficiency is admitted in loss of baggage, the complainant should be adequately compensated. We award Rs one lakh and the opposite party's offer of Rs. 65,000 is raised to Rs. 1 lakh," the bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

The forum's order came on the plea of Bhargava, a resident of Shimla, who had alleged that his baggage was lost in transit when he had travelled to London from Delhi on June 7, 2008.

He said he had immediately informed airline officials, but his baggage could not be traced and he had then sent a legal notice to British Airways.

Bhargava also alleged that on sending the legal notice, the airline paid Rs. 20,000 to his counsel. During the proceedings, the airline had also offered Rs. 45,000 to Bhargava, but he had refused to accept it.