(Image source from: CCN.com)

Low-cost airline AirAsia has been ordered to pay Rs 1.54 lakh to a family which had alleged that they were harassed by the airline staff and one family member was served non-veg food.

According to The Indian Express, the incident happened in October 2018 when the family of five was returning to Amritsar from Kuala Lumpur.

In his complaint, Vijay Kumar Trehan alleged that the family had reached Kuala Lumpur airport on time and got their baggage clearance and boarding passes by 5.15 p.m. for the flight which was scheduled for 7.20 p.m.

However, due to the huge rush at the immigration counter and nearly 1 km distance to the exit gate, they reached late, citing which the airline staff refused them to board the flight which was still on the runway.

In his complaint, Trehan alleged that the family had to spend one more day in the county in a Hotel and buy new tickets for the next day.

The family returned to India on the same flight the next day, but while they were onboard, Trehan alleged he was served non-veg food, despite him ordering vegetarian food as he is from a Hindu family and is a devotee of ISKCON sect.

In his complaint, Trehan alleged that “he was robbed of his religious sentiments by the flight attendants that too in the sacred days of Navratras”.

Based on the complaint, the Consumer Court in Panchkula, Haryana issued a notice to Air Asia which did not respond. Following this the airline was declared ex-parte and was ordered to pay Rs 1,19,213 for the expenses on new tickets, hotel room rent, food with interest at 9 percent, and Rs 30,000 for physical harassment, pain, and mental agony, Rs 5,500 as court fees.

By Sowmya Sangam