BEFORE THE TELANGANA STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION : HYDERABAD.

F.A.No.379 OF 2022 AGAINST ORDERS IN C.C.234/2020 DISTRICT CONSUMER COMMISSION, RANGA REDDY Between:

1. C.Anil Kumar, S/o C.Krishnaiah, Occ.: Retired, Age : 63 years.

2. V.Suryalatha, W/o C.Anil Kumar, Aged about : 57 years.

Both Resident at Surya Meadows, Plot 227, Road 9, Vasavi Colony, Kothapet, Hyderabad-500 035; Mail id : chavvaanil@yahoo.co.in ;9949996986.

…….Appellants/Complainants And:

1. Managing Director, M/s Air India Ltd., GSD Complex, IGI Airport, Terminal II, New Delhi-110 037, Mail id : 1. contactus@airindia.in and connectd@airindia.in

2. Manager, M/s Air India Ltd., MRO Complex, Shamshabad, RGI Airport, Near Gate 03, Hyderabad-500 108.

3. C. Patel, Manager, Air India Limited, O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL, 60666, USA, Mail id : ord@airindia.in ……..Respondents/Opposite Parties Counsel for the Appellants/Complainants : Party-in-persons Counsel for the Respondents/Opposite Parties No.1 to 3 : M/s KVR Suresh.

QUORUM :

HON’BLE SMT. MEENA RAMANATHAN, I/c PRESIDENT &

HON’BLE SRI. V.V.SESHUBABU, MEMBER – (JUDICIAL)

WEDNESDAY, THE 08 ^th DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY FIVE **********

Order : (PER HON’BLE SRI. V.V.SESHUBABU, MEMBER – JUDICIAL)

1. The unsuccessful complainants filed the appeal u/s 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, aggrieved by the order dated 22.03.2022 in CC 234/2020 passed by District Consumer Commission, Ranga Reddy, where under, the complaint filed in all claiming Rs.11,51,800/- was dismissed.

2. The brief averments of the complaint are that the complainant No.2 is the wife of the complainant No.1 and they went to United States of America in the year 2020 and stranded there due to COVID 19; that the opposite parties announced return flights to Indian Nationals; that the complainants having agreed to the terms and conditions, travel restrictions and by giving self- declaration booked the tickets from Chicago to New Delhi by pay Rs.2,07,076/- for the scheduled travel, dated 15.05.2020; that their return journey was booked in Air India Flight No. AI 126 in which seat 48E was booked to the complainant No.1 and 48F to the complainant No.2; that after entering into the flight, the complainants were astonished to observe that without following protocols, the seats were allocated; that only protective face mask, plastic face shield, 2 or 3 packets of sanitizers was arranged, without personal protective equipment as given to the members of its crew; that social distancing was not maintained in the allocation of seats; that too, to his left another co-passenger was seated and to his right 2^nd complainant was seated; that toilets were soiled and no up-keep and no disinfection was done; that no vegetarian meal was supplied as promised but, only dry snacks with insufficient quantity was supplied and due to the same, they were starved; that the cabin crew not paid any attention and only made supplies by maintaining lot more distance; that the flight tickets are abnormal on high side, when compared with fares collected by Etihad Airlines and American Airways; that the flight was not properly cleaned and disinfected before allowing the passengers; that proper queue lines are not maintained, while passengers entering into the flight; that during the entire journey, the complainants were in fear of contacting the COVID from co- passengers; that the Director General of Civil Aviation, Circular, dated 23.03.2020 was not maintained in the allocation of seats; that after de-boarding at Delhi, they reached Hyderabad in another domestic flight of Air India, in which also the situation is almost similar in maintaining the social distancing, cleanliness etc., that the complainant No.1 & 2 are allotted seats at different place, despite their request to allot seats at one place; hence, the compliant with a demand to refund Rs.1,51,800/- which was excessively charged from them with interest at 18% and compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- each to the co