Imagine boarding a flight with your luggage checked in, only to realize later that your bag—containing valuables worth Rs 45,000 and important documents—has disappeared. This nightmare became a reality for Monik Sharma, a passenger from Assam, who traveled from Kolkata to Guwahati only to discover that his luggage had gone missing.
The incident was highlighted by Ravi Handa in a viral social media post, expressing frustration at IndiGo's response to the situation.
— Ravi Handa (@ravihanda) August 24, 2024
Handa in his post wrote, "Every day you learn how the system can mess you up in a new way. @IndiGo6E lost my friend's @nik1220's baggage on a domestic flight (Kolkata-Guwahati). The bag had stuff worth 45k in it along with important papers like Driving License, PAN, Aadhar, etc."
He continued, "It was checked in at Kolkata airport. It never reached Guwahati. How can it vanish mid-air? Was the plane leaking bags? Around a month later, IndiGo has come back offering 'compensation' of Rs 2,450. It is ridiculous. Just the bag would cost more than that. Apparently, there is a rule that the airline is liable for a maximum of Rs 350/kg in case they lose the bag."
Handa concluded his post by stating, "That is just adding insult to injury. If someone from the IndiGo social media team is reading this, please help him out. Rs 2,450 isn’t going to fix it."
IndiGo's Response The post gained significant traction, amassing over 3 lakh views, as netizens shared their opinions on the matter. In response, IndiGo’s social media team assured Handa that they would further investigate the issue.
Public Reactions Handa's post sparked a range of reactions. While some sympathized with the passenger, others pointed out the risk of carrying valuables in checked-in luggage, emphasizing that such items should remain in carry-on bags.
One user commented, "Rs 350 per kg is for cargo. For loss, delay, or damage to baggage on domestic flights, the maximum liability is Rs 20,000 per passenger. Refer to page 8 of the DGCA Passenger Charter."
Another user advised, "Airlines recommend against placing valuables such as cash and jewelry in checked-in luggage, as well as important documents like driving licenses and PAN cards. Even a consumer court may not be able to help here. Time to move on."
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