Gujarat Consumer Court Rules in Favor of Indian Student After Lufthansa Oversight Causes Financial Loss and Mental Distress

In a notable case that could set a precedent for accountability among airlines, the Gandhinagar District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission ruled in favor of a student traveler from Gujarat, Maharshi Yadav. The court ordered Lufthansa, the German airline, to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation for emotional distress and a refund of Rs 67,612 for an unused flight ticket after the airline failed to inform Yadav about the need for a Schengen visa during a layover in Germany en route to Canada.

Yadav, 25, was traveling from Mumbai to Toronto for higher studies in April 2022. He was stopped at Mumbai airport for not having a Schengen visa, which is required to transit through Germany. Lufthansa had not informed him of this requirement during the ticket booking process. As a result, Yadav had to purchase a last-minute ticket on Emirates Airlines, costing him Rs 1.70 lakh.

Yadav’s complaint to the consumer court argued that Lufthansa’s failure to notify him of the visa requirement constituted unfair trade practices. After months of legal back-and-forth, the court ruled that Lufthansa should compensate Yadav for the mental anguish caused and refund the cost of the unused ticket. The airline was also instructed to pay 8% interest on the refund from the date of complaint filing.

The ruling highlights the importance of airlines ensuring passengers are fully informed of visa requirements to avoid costly mistakes and emotional distress.