M. Shreesha, Member—Aggrieved by the order dated 30.01.2017 in CC No. 288 of 2014 passed by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Bengal (for short the “State Commission”), the Opposite Parties (hereinafter referred to as “Air India”) preferred this Appeal under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (for short “the Act”). By the impugned order, the State Commission has allowed the Complaint in part directing Air India to pay a sum of Rs.15,00,000/- to the Complainants within 30 days together with costs of Rs.10,000/- with default interest of 8% p.a.

2. Briefly stated, the facts material to the case are that the Complainants purchased round-trip tickets to travel to USA by Air India at a consolidated price of Rs.1,45,396/-. The travel particulars with sitting options were given by the Complainants and agreed upon by Air India and E-Ticket Itinerary Receipt was issued. It is averred that seat No. 10-E and 10-F in Flight No. AI23 for the journey from Kolkata Airport to Delhi and seats No. 20H and 20J in Flight No. AI 127 for the journey from Delhi to Chicago were allotted to them. Those seats were agreed for by the Complainants only to avoid discomfort