Delhi consumer commission orders American Airlines to compensate couple for ripped baggage

A Delhi district consumer commission ruled that American Airlines is responsible for the damage and loss of two bags belonging to Indu Jain and Rajeev Prakash Jain, who traveled from Miami to Toronto in June 2017. The bench, chaired by President Divya Jyoti Jaipuriar and including members Harpreet Kaur Charya and Ashwani Kumar Mehta, noted the couple reported the issue immediately and that the airline failed to produce any investigative report.

Although American Airlines cited the Carriage by Air Act’s liability limits, the commission invoked a Supreme Court precedent to affirm that consumer protection remedies apply. It ordered payment of the original US$1,800 claim, calculated at Rs 1,11,600, plus Rs 2 lakh for mental anguish, Rs 50,000 for legal fees, and 9 percent annual interest from October 5 2018. British Airways and the travel insurer were dismissed without costs. American Airlines must settle within 45 days or face a higher interest rate.