Air India has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs. 30,000 to a retired Vice Admiral as compensation for the airline's "casual attitude" towards in-flight services provided to him on an international flight to New York, USA.

Moreover, the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum pointed out to the national carrier that its "complacency" was there for all to see as compared to other airlines and it should address these issues in its own interest.

According to a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi, opposite party's (Air India) casual attitude to services in the flight needs to be addressed in opposite party's own interest an this is not the only complaint, the feeling of quiet pleasure and security is for all to see when compared to other airlines. In fact, the forum directed the airline to pay Rs. 30,000 to naval officer Vice Admiral (retd) Sukhmal Jain as compensation for the inconvenience suffered by him and his wife when they travelled to New York.

74-year-old Jain had said in his complaint that he had purchased first class tickets by paying Rs. five lakh for himself and his wife so that they could travel in comfort to New York as they were both aged.

Nevertheless, the flight took off late while the entertainment system in the plane was not functional and the air hostess bell was not functioning even the seats were uncomfortable and the top light and other facilities, were in disorder, he had alleged. He had protested to the cabin crew regarding the problems and had even written to the airline after he returned to India, but he received only an apology for the inconvenience faced by him, Jain expressed in his complaint.

Air India, in its reply to Jain's complaint, had struggled in opposition that none of the other passengers had complained.

Even though, the concluding fact remains that the argument was rejected by the forum on the ground that whether others suffered silently or not did not make a difference.

That,s a real blunder!

(AW:Samrat Biswas)