Lufthansa Ordered to Compensate Student for Visa Information Oversight
In a significant ruling, a consumer court in India has directed Lufthansa to compensate Maharshi Yadav, a student who was not informed about the Schengen visa requirements for transit through Germany. The court’s decision highlights the importance of clear communication regarding visa regulations, reported schengen.news.
Yadav, 25, had purchased a Lufthansa ticket for a journey from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with a layover at Munich Airport (MUC). However, on April 13, 2022, Yadav was denied boarding at Mumbai Airport because he did not possess a Schengen visa, a requirement for Indian travelers transiting through Germany.
Due to this oversight, Yadav had to buy an Emirates ticket for the same route but with a layover at Dubai International Airport (DXB), where a transit visa is not required for Indian passport holders.
Yadav filed a complaint with the Gandhinagar District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission against Lufthansa, accusing the airline of unfair trade practices for failing to inform him about the necessary visa. The commission found in Yadav’s favor, ruling that Lufthansa must pay him compensation totaling €2,000 (approximately Rs 1,00,000).
The compensation includes €729.29 (Rs 67,612) for the cost of the original tickets and an additional €1,078 for emotional distress caused by the situation. Lufthansa is also required to pay 8% interest on the refund amount from the date of the complaint’s filing in March 2023. The airline must provide the compensation within 30 days of receiving the certified copy of the judgment.
This case is part of a broader pattern of issues faced by Indian students traveling with Lufthansa. In April 2022, another student heading to London from Bengaluru Airport (BLR) encountered a similar problem, being denied boarding due to the lack of a required Schengen visa.
The ruling underscores the need for airlines to provide clear and comprehensive information about visa requirements to avoid such complications for travelers.
Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=Lufthansa
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, schengen.news