Ticket Refunds: NCAA Addresses Passengers’ Rights

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised airline massagers and other regulatory agencies interested in consumer-related issues in aviation to study and understand the NCAA regulatory provisions governing consumer protection in order to know their rights.

The director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, who made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a media briefing, said with more informed passengers and stakeholders, issues around passengers’ rights will be better understood.

According to him, airlines risk up to N5 million fine for failure to resolve refund issues within regulatory stipulated time.

Achimugu provided the following timelines for the below complaints, noting that for delayed luggage, passengers are entitled to a First Needs payment of N10,000 for domestic flights and USD170 For international flights while the baggage is being searched for. However, the USD170 will only apply if the airlines fail to implement their own conditions for baggage delays.

He further explained that the airline has up to seven days to search for the delayed baggage for domestic flights and 21 days for international flights.

The director further explained that if your baggage is confirmed missing, the liability limit is $1,000 for local airlines. However, passengers can get additional compensation if they declare their valuables whilst checking in their baggage.

“For international passengers, it is $1,288 special drawing rights (SDR) which you can access in currency,” he said.

On ticket refunds, he explained that refunds shall be made immediately if paid with cash or within 14 days if by bank transfer.

“Refunds via means other than cash must be made within 14 days.

However, some delay might be experienced from submission of required documents to passengers,” he emphasised.

The director also warned passengers against false claims as they could be liable.

“We are warning passengers against false claims.  For instance, a passenger recently arrived in Nigeria, and claimed an airline staff stole his bag, and even assaulted the staff. We requested the CCTV footage from the airport he transited from, which showed he left his baggage in a lounge. We also had a case somewhere that claimed that her missing baggage had seven Rolex wristwatches, designer bags, designer shoes, designer wigs, and so on. In her mind, the case would be concluded, and the airline would be indicted. Her bag was found intact but the bag had none of the items she claimed she had in it. She didn’t even apologise for lying,” he explained.

He also said there is a punishment between N1 million and N10 million for unruly behaviour, adding that the passenger also risks a jail term of between six months to one year.