City consumer court asks IndiGo to pay Rs 1.6 lakh to B’luru teen for missed trip to NASA

Bengaluru: IndiGo airline was made to pay a compensation of Rs 1.6 lakh to a Bengaluru teenager who missed a dream trip to NASA in the US due to ticketing issues, reports Petlee Peter.

On August 10, 2019, Munnekolala resident Kevin Martin reached Chennai airport to board a 6.30am IndiGo flight to Delhi. But IndiGo ground staff refused to let him board, despite the 18-year-old holding a confirmed ticket, saying the flight was overbooked.

Martin, who was the 2019 JEE topper in Karnataka and had bagged the trip after winning IIT Guwahati’s technothlon, was to fly out of Delhi on another flight.

Following the incident Martin moved the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in December 2019.

In its verdict which came out recently this year, the court ruled IndiGo must pay him Rs 1 lakh as compensation and Rs 50,000 for causing mental agony.

The airline was also told to pay Rs 10,000 towards his litigation and Rs 8,605 with interest towards refund of ticket.