- Petitioner
- Philippine Airlines
- Respondent
- Vicente Lopez, Jr.
- Citation
- G.R. No. 156654
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Second Division
- Ponente
- Quisumbing, J.
- Decided
- November 20, 2008
Summary
This case involves Philippine Airlines' (PAL) liability for downgrading passenger Vicente Lopez Jr.'s confirmed business class seat to economy class on his November 30, 1991 Bangkok-Manila return flight. Lopez filed a civil case seeking damages for PAL's breach of contract of carriage. The Regional Trial Court found PAL liable, ruling that its employees' negligence in not examining Lopez's actual ticket during booking validation and check-in constituted bad faith under Civil Code Articles 1733 and 2220. The Court of Appeals affirmed this decision in toto. The Supreme Court likewise affirmed, emphasizing that the issues were questions of fact and that the uniform findings of PAL's negligence amounting to bad faith were well-supported. PAL was ordered to pay P100,000 moral damages, P20,000 exemplary damages, and P30,000 attorney's fees. The case establishes that airline carriers' inattention and lack of care in passenger accommodation can constitute bad faith, making them liable for damages beyond the contract price.