A Shanghai passenger has won a lawsuit against an airline over their English-language ticket.

Ms. Yang bought an air ticket to Xiamen from an airline early this year. However, when she arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, she was told that she should board at Pudong Airport. Yang then had to buy a ticket from Hongqiao Airport to Xiamen.

Yang said she made the mistake because she could not understand the English instructions on the ticket. She later asked the airline to give her a refund on the unused ticket but was refused.

Yang then sued the airline for failing to provide adequate information to the customer, demanding a full refund of the 770-yuan (US$94) ticket and 700 yuan (US$84.68) in compensation. Meanwhile, she suggested the airport names should be on the ticket in Chinese.

The airline said its printing system could print only English and all airline companies used PVG and SHA to distinguish Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport.

The Xuhui District court ruled that the airline should clearly specify the name of the boarding airports on its tickets and ordered the company to pay the refund as well as the compensation demanded by Yang.

The court also advised airlines to regulate ticket labels.
 
(Shenzhen Daily November 18, 2003)