An Indian businessman is suing Cathay Pacific for HK$1.94 million (S$340,000) to compensate his “mental agony” after the airline allegedly failed to attend to his 12-year-old son who was travelling alone.
Accusing the airline of extreme “deficiency of service and gross negligence”, Mr Ram Prasad Poosaala said his son, Raja Ram was picked up by a stranger after he flew alone from Hong Kong to Hyderabad on October 31 last year, the South China Morning Post reported.
His uncle was supposed to receive him at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, but could not find him at the arrival hall. He claimed that he then received a phone call from an unknown person, who said he had the boy and quickly hung up.
Two hours after the plane landed, Raja Ram showed up, reportedly accompanied by a man who hurried away as he saw the uncle.
The boy told his uncle the man had asked him to follow him when they had landed. He also said Cathay Pacific staff did not provide the “Meet and Assist” service as requested by his father.
Mr Poosaala, a Hong Kong resident and owner of a dried seafood trading company, said he had asked for travel assistance because his son was not familiar with India and only understood Chinese and English.
The boy wore a badge indicating he needed assistance upon arrival. His uncle claimed the airline did not call him to inform him that the boy had arrived.
He wrote to Cathay Pacific to complain and was offered US$75 in compensation.
After he told the airline that its negligence was “unpardonable” as it exposed the boy to potential kidnap or harm, Cathay Pacific increased the compensation to US$200.
South China Morning Post reported that the airline wanted to the settle the matter out of court, but the father insisted on taking legal action.
Wanting the airline to ensure such a situation would not arise again, he is demanding S$340,000 to make amends for his mental anguish in addition to legal costs.
Cathay Pacific stated on its website that children aged 6 to under 12 years, flying alone, must be registered as ‘Unaccompanied Minors’ unless they are travelling together with a person of 18 years of age or above.
It also said arrangements and services for ‘Unaccompanied Minors’ must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Booking fees and surcharges also apply.
Children passengers who require unaccompanied minor service may need to buy adult tickets and not all flights can accept ‘Unaccompanied Minors’, said the airline, which is not commenting on the case as it is now under the judicial process.
Whether his flight booking satisfies these conditions or not, the good thing is that the boy got to visit his grandmother in Telangana state after the ordeal.
chenj@sph.com.sg
