Passenger Loses Rs 45,000 Worth of Belongings on IndiGo Flight, Offered Rs 2,450 Compensation

Travel mishaps are never pleasant, but the loss or damage of luggage can be particularly infuriating for passengers. One such incident has recently come to light, involving Monik Sharma from Assam, who lost his luggage while traveling on IndiGo’s domestic route from Kolkata to Guwahati. According to reports, the bag, containing items worth Rs 45,000, was never recovered, and to make matters worse, the airline offered a meager compensation of just Rs 2,450.

The issue gained attention after one of Sharma’s friends shared the ordeal on social media. The friend detailed how Sharma’s checked-in luggage went missing during a major Crowdstrike outage, which had severely disrupted airline operations. Among the lost items were essential documents such as a driving license, PAN card, and Aadhaar card, along with personal belongings valued at Rs 45,000.

Check out the Viral Post:

“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 ₹2450. 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 ₹350 / kg in case they lose the bag. That is just adding insult to injury,” the friend wrote in his post.

Following this, Sharma's friend reached out to IndiGo via social media, urging the airline to reconsider its response. He also shared an image of Sharma’s boarding pass as evidence. While it remains unclear if the lost luggage has been located, the friend later tweeted that IndiGo's social media team had contacted him, promising a further investigation into the matter.

He wrote, “Got a call from Kritika from @IndiGo6E's social media team. They will look into it further. Hoping @nik1220  gets some resolution.  Thank you for the call.”

User Reactions to the Post:

The incident has sparked a debate online, with many social media users expressing their frustration and offering advice. One user commented, “The airlines ask you not to keep any valuables (cash and jewellery especially) in the checked-in luggage. Even important documentation like DL, PAN etc. Even a consumer court can’t help here, move on.” Another user pointed out, “IndiGo was not being truthful there, 350/kg is the liability for cargo, not baggage.”

Some users suggested practical steps to potentially recover the lost luggage, with one advising, “It’s better to try and locate the bag in lost and found (both airports). It’s worth the effort for the hassle of documents your friend will have to go through. It’s painful though. Unless someone else has mistakenly taken his luggage (also a possibility).”

This incident raises significant concerns about the responsibility airlines have towards their passengers, especially when dealing with lost luggage. As passengers increasingly voice their dissatisfaction online, the pressure mounts on airlines like IndiGo to address these issues more effectively and offer fair compensation for losses.