A Nelson lawyer has failed to lift her travelling ban with Air New Zealand after a dispute over entry into the Koru Lounge.
Anjela Sharma sought an interim injunction from the High Court at Auckland to overturn a one-year ban imposed by Air New Zealand.
In a judgement released on Monday, Justice Paul Davison dismissed the application and also declined the proceeding to be transferred to Nelson.
Sharma said she and her family were travelling to India from Nelson in December 2018, when an Air New Zealand staff member asked for proof they were allowed to be in the Koru Lounge.
The family had flown domestically from Nelson to Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight, and were flying with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to India on business class.
Sharma said, on her understanding, their business class tickets entitled the family to use the Koru Club Lounge at Nelson Airport.
While Sharma and her husband were Koru members, none of their children were. The Koru Club policy allows for members to bring a maximum one guest.
Sharma said they were permitted to enter and remain in the Koru Lounge during a two-hour wait until their departure, after they showed a hostess their travel documentation to India.
However, while in the lounge, Sharma said her family was challenged on their eligibility.
Air New Zealand staff who dealt with Sharma and her family said she'd acted in an "intimidatory and bullying manner".
Management then sent a report of the behaviour which described Sharma and members of her family being "very loud and disruptive" during their dealings with the lounge hostess.
"The report said that members of the applicant's family called the lounge hostess stupid and racist, and mocked and loudly mimicked her voice when she greeted other passengers entering the lounge," the judgment said.
At one point a member of security was called to the Koru Lounge and offered to call police.
"I feel Mrs Sharma uses bullying tactics to gain her own way every time she travels, we are always courteous and helpful to her, but she pushes the boundaries of decency every time she travels, and I would like to put a stop to her countless demands with us," the report said.
The staff member said in the report Sharma and her family were not welcome in the Nelson Koru Lounge in the future and sought action to prevent this type of action happening again.
Sharma claimed Air New Zealand wrote to her and alleged she and her family had been refused entry, entered the lounge without permission, and the family was loud and aggressive.
She said the airline issued a warning that she'd be banned if she didn't follow the rules.
In March 2019, Sharma sent an email to former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxton disputing there was any justification for the warning letter.
Sharma continued to send communication and tried to check-in on a flight and accused a Nelson staff member of lying and being "on a venomous mission" against her, the court decision stated.
An email was sent to Sharma on behalf of Luxton stating her correspondence had been "distasteful and insulting".
Air New Zealand imposed a one year ban on July 2, 2019. Later that month, Sharma filed the proceeding to the High Court stating the airline was in breach of its contractual obligations to her as a passenger who had booked and paid for several flights she had not yet flown.
24/02/20 Catrin Owen/Stuff
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Anjela Sharma sought an interim injunction from the High Court at Auckland to overturn a one-year ban imposed by Air New Zealand.
In a judgement released on Monday, Justice Paul Davison dismissed the application and also declined the proceeding to be transferred to Nelson.
Sharma said she and her family were travelling to India from Nelson in December 2018, when an Air New Zealand staff member asked for proof they were allowed to be in the Koru Lounge.
The family had flown domestically from Nelson to Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight, and were flying with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to India on business class.
Sharma said, on her understanding, their business class tickets entitled the family to use the Koru Club Lounge at Nelson Airport.
While Sharma and her husband were Koru members, none of their children were. The Koru Club policy allows for members to bring a maximum one guest.
Sharma said they were permitted to enter and remain in the Koru Lounge during a two-hour wait until their departure, after they showed a hostess their travel documentation to India.
However, while in the lounge, Sharma said her family was challenged on their eligibility.
Air New Zealand staff who dealt with Sharma and her family said she'd acted in an "intimidatory and bullying manner".
Management then sent a report of the behaviour which described Sharma and members of her family being "very loud and disruptive" during their dealings with the lounge hostess.
"The report said that members of the applicant's family called the lounge hostess stupid and racist, and mocked and loudly mimicked her voice when she greeted other passengers entering the lounge," the judgment said.
At one point a member of security was called to the Koru Lounge and offered to call police.
"I feel Mrs Sharma uses bullying tactics to gain her own way every time she travels, we are always courteous and helpful to her, but she pushes the boundaries of decency every time she travels, and I would like to put a stop to her countless demands with us," the report said.
The staff member said in the report Sharma and her family were not welcome in the Nelson Koru Lounge in the future and sought action to prevent this type of action happening again.
Sharma claimed Air New Zealand wrote to her and alleged she and her family had been refused entry, entered the lounge without permission, and the family was loud and aggressive.
She said the airline issued a warning that she'd be banned if she didn't follow the rules.
In March 2019, Sharma sent an email to former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxton disputing there was any justification for the warning letter.
Sharma continued to send communication and tried to check-in on a flight and accused a Nelson staff member of lying and being "on a venomous mission" against her, the court decision stated.
An email was sent to Sharma on behalf of Luxton stating her correspondence had been "distasteful and insulting".
Air New Zealand imposed a one year ban on July 2, 2019. Later that month, Sharma filed the proceeding to the High Court stating the airline was in breach of its contractual obligations to her as a passenger who had booked and paid for several flights she had not yet flown.
24/02/20 Catrin Owen/Stuff
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