British Airways to pay Rs 10K for delay in refund of airfare

Pointing out to the UK flag carrier that it is contesting the case "unnecessarily" when the facts speak for themselves, the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum held the British Airways guilty of deficiency in service and also asked it to pay interest of nine per cent for the delayed period.

"OP (British Airways) is unnecessarily contesting the case when the fact speaks for itself. It is clear deficiency is made out on the part of OP. We direct OP to pay interest of nine per cent for the delayed period with a compensation of Rs 10,000 for harassment including litigation expenses," the forum said.

The forum's order came on the plea of Connaught Place resident Mridu Hari Dalmia, who had alleged that the airline took six months to credit back the airfare amount after he had cancelled his ticket purchased from it.

Dalmia had said he had purchased an air ticket from the airline on August 27, 2008 for Rs 1,46,569 and had later cancelled the same through a travel agent of British Airways on September 26, 2008.

He had alleged that the amount of Rs 1,46,569 was not actually credited in his card account till March 28, 2009.