Air India......No Thank You!

goangoangone · Aug 1st, 2005, 23:10

Air India emergency landing,
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050801/main4.htm
I was on Air India Flight A131 Mumbai to London on June 2nd and we had an emergency landing in Bucharest, Romania around 4pm. They left us in the transit lounge without looking after us. Only bottles of water and stale sandwiches. I finally got to an hotel at 2am, first meal was breakfast in the hotel. We took off again approx 24 hours after landing....without any baggage.
Air India........never again

still waiting for a reply to my complaint.

john.sw · Aug 1st, 2005, 23:19

There are horror stories about every airline... Air India is no different.

But Air India has its own charm. I love the old, shabby wallpaper in the cabins, and the way that somewone always has to hit something with a hammer to try to mend it before take off, and ends up using sticky tape to fix it!

Rob_The_Pom · Aug 1st, 2005, 23:26

I must admit I thought they were fine when I flew from Japan to Delhi, they're not in the same league as Cathy Pacific or Malaysian but they're not a dry airline which automatically qualifies them as better than Kuwait Air.

torryquine · Aug 1st, 2005, 23:35

Has anyone else had the Air Sahara experience? We've had a couple of them. It's kind of summed up in their by-line "Emotionaly Yours".

tavaman · Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:06

Ten years ago my wife and I were travelling with AI from Delhi back to London. Two hours into the flight we were told that we must return to Delhi as there may be a bomb on board. During the return flight the aircraft jettisoned most of it's fuel and we landed safely.

As it was late at night Ai transported us to a 4/5 star hotel and gave us food and drink vouchers to use. The next morning we were transported back to the airport and we flew home without any further incident.

Quite frankly I couldn't expect any better treatment from any airline under the circumstances.

andygoodyear · Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:26

Although all airlines have their down-sides, a travel company that I used to work for would not book Air India at all. They booked virtually every other airline in the world (over 400). This was because of the volume of complaints about AI. Seems a shame that India could not improve the national airline.

Merchant · Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:30

I have flown Air India many times without any problem. It's an airline just like any other. It's fashionable to beat up on Air India (Indians do it all the time, especially in the pages of "India Abroad"), but it's really no different from Delta or KLM or Lufthansa or Continental or whatever. You just get Indian food on board and sit among Indians.

If you experience a problem with the service, the staff, the equipment, or the flight, call and complain--just as you would with any other airline. If they don't respond, write a letter to "India Abroad."

crvlvr · Aug 2nd, 2005, 01:56

Quote:

Indians do it all the time, especially in the pages of "India Abroad"

May be they treat indians differently?

I am sorry, but most on the online reviews for Air India have been dissapointing. My own experience, although a shport flight from singapore to Bangalore, was horrendeous.

users on epinions.com rate Air India 2.5 stars (out of 5) http://www.epinions.com/trvl-Airline...ific-Air_India

Skytrax rates Air India 3 stars (out of 5) http://www.airlinequality.com/2005/airline-05-ent.htm

You can visit their website for customer reviews.

cyberhippie · Aug 2nd, 2005, 01:59

I enjoyed my flight with AI, the areoplane was a bit of a clunker but the service was as good as I've had anywhere. When there was a mix up with my return flight is was resolved speedily and amiacably by the AI staff.
I'd use them again!!

getgopi1 · Aug 2nd, 2005, 02:10

My first flight to the US was with AI. My Dad flew with AI several times before he changed to Lufthansa. My family now prefers Lufthansa (like a lot of Indians that I know of). I am quite sure that the AI flight crew is fine but we have firsthand experience of the ground crew (airport security officers and all) treating us like second-rate people. But they were always courteous to foreigners. Somehow I am not surprised at this biased behavior (no, I am not going to sit down and analyze it

). On a side note, I can't wait to check out Continental Airlines direct flight to India from Newark starting this November ($499 one way)

charlotte · Aug 2nd, 2005, 03:51

Many years ago flew AI to Bombay and vowed never, ever to fly with them again, for various reasons. Earlier this year we had no option but take a flight from Mumbai to Heathrow and frankly I was dreading it. I need not have bothered - there was nothing wrong with it - it was on time - the food was good - the staff polite and they even asked me if I wanted some more alcohol as I could not sleep!!!
Have booked with them again in October.

Dr Funkenstein · Aug 2nd, 2005, 03:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlotte

the staff polite and they even asked me if I wanted some more alcohol as I could not sleep!!!

That's it. I'm sold.

I rate airlines purely on the amount of free booze they ply you with. So far, British Airways are clear winners with 4 truly enormous vodka and oranges poured by a presumably dipsomaniac air hostess. I was off my face before we'd even got to France.

God bless you BA.

Mandsaur · Aug 2nd, 2005, 04:28

I think like many state-owned enterprises in India, you take your chances with Air India.

My experiences have been great--flights were on time, food was better than most airline food, staff and flight crew were nice (they were very accommodating in reassigning a seat for an old woman near me who was uncomfortable in a center seat, in spite of the flight being nearly full). Also, they tend to have the cheapest fares from the US, which makes enduring little annoyances a little easier for me.

At the same time, many people have bad experiences and swear off the airline forever. I think it's really a crap shoot, and I would actually suggest that people fly them at least twice before making any rash "never more" decisions...

andygoodyear · Aug 2nd, 2005, 04:36

I find it no way fashionable to beat up on Air India and certainly do not do things for those reasons Merchant!!!

I am going by what people have said and the fact that my last company (one of the biggest in the whole of Europe) would never book them at principle.

I read one story of a flight diverting to somehwhere else and having to stop for the night, which in itself is a hassle but could easily happen to any airline. But then a customer being given a hotel voucher and told he had to share a room (with just 1 double bed in it) with a complete stranger. Or the many reports of blocked toilets and faeceas running down the aisles!! Or being left in an Airport after a diversion with no information orstaff on hand and sitting around for hours knowing nothing.

I am always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, but you have got to start wondering....

sudheer poppa · Aug 2nd, 2005, 10:53

Its all due to the grandmotherly air hostess

I have had a lot many experiences in different airlines. My end take is simple, it all depends on the humans with whom you intereact. I prefer the worst airline with best staff than the best airline with the worst staff..

Aug 1st, 2005, 23:10	#1
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,561	Air India......No Thank You! Air India emergency landing, http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050801/main4.htm I was on Air India Flight A131 Mumbai to London on June 2nd and we had an emergency landing in Bucharest, Romania around 4pm. They left us in the transit lounge without looking after us. Only bottles of water and stale sandwiches. I finally got to an hotel at 2am, first meal was breakfast in the hotel. We took off again approx 24 hours after landing....without any baggage. Air India........never again still waiting for a reply to my complaint. __________________ GoanGoan......here

Aug 1st, 2005, 23:19	#2
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	There are horror stories about every airline... Air India is no different. But Air India has its own charm. I love the old, shabby wallpaper in the cabins, and the way that somewone always has to hit something with a hammer to try to mend it before take off, and ends up using sticky tape to fix it! __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

Aug 1st, 2005, 23:26	#3
Rob_The_Pom offcourse essentric Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 1,308	I must admit I thought they were fine when I flew from Japan to Delhi, they're not in the same league as Cathy Pacific or Malaysian but they're not a dry airline which automatically qualifies them as better than Kuwait Air. __________________ There is no God but Dawkins and Hitchens is his prophet.

Aug 1st, 2005, 23:35	#4
torryquine Oilfield Trash! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 700	Has anyone else had the Air Sahara experience? We've had a couple of them. It's kind of summed up in their by-line "Emotionaly Yours". __________________ http://werenotafraid.com/

Aug 2nd, 2005, 02:10	#10
getgopi1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 105	My first flight to the US was with AI. My Dad flew with AI several times before he changed to Lufthansa. My family now prefers Lufthansa (like a lot of Indians that I know of). I am quite sure that the AI flight crew is fine but we have firsthand experience of the ground crew (airport security officers and all) treating us like second-rate people. But they were always courteous to foreigners. Somehow I am not surprised at this biased behavior (no, I am not going to sit down and analyze it ). On a side note, I can't wait to check out Continental Airlines direct flight to India from Newark starting this November ($499 one way) __________________ - Gopi

Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:06	#5
tavaman Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aubterre, France. Posts: 9	Ten years ago my wife and I were travelling with AI from Delhi back to London. Two hours into the flight we were told that we must return to Delhi as there may be a bomb on board. During the return flight the aircraft jettisoned most of it's fuel and we landed safely. As it was late at night Ai transported us to a 4/5 star hotel and gave us food and drink vouchers to use. The next morning we were transported back to the airport and we flew home without any further incident. Quite frankly I couldn't expect any better treatment from any airline under the circumstances.

Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:26	#6
andygoodyear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 275	Although all airlines have their down-sides, a travel company that I used to work for would not book Air India at all. They booked virtually every other airline in the world (over 400). This was because of the volume of complaints about AI. Seems a shame that India could not improve the national airline.

Aug 2nd, 2005, 00:30	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	I have flown Air India many times without any problem. It's an airline just like any other. It's fashionable to beat up on Air India (Indians do it all the time, especially in the pages of "India Abroad"), but it's really no different from Delta or KLM or Lufthansa or Continental or whatever. You just get Indian food on board and sit among Indians. If you experience a problem with the service, the staff, the equipment, or the flight, call and complain--just as you would with any other airline. If they don't respond, write a letter to "India Abroad."

Aug 2nd, 2005, 01:59	#9
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	I enjoyed my flight with AI, the areoplane was a bit of a clunker but the service was as good as I've had anywhere. When there was a mix up with my return flight is was resolved speedily and amiacably by the AI staff. I'd use them again!!

Aug 2nd, 2005, 03:51	#11
charlotte Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Spain/Goa or where I happen to be Posts: 176	Many years ago flew AI to Bombay and vowed never, ever to fly with them again, for various reasons. Earlier this year we had no option but take a flight from Mumbai to Heathrow and frankly I was dreading it. I need not have bothered - there was nothing wrong with it - it was on time - the food was good - the staff polite and they even asked me if I wanted some more alcohol as I could not sleep!!! Have booked with them again in October.

Aug 2nd, 2005, 04:28	#13
Mandsaur Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 140	I think like many state-owned enterprises in India, you take your chances with Air India. My experiences have been great--flights were on time, food was better than most airline food, staff and flight crew were nice (they were very accommodating in reassigning a seat for an old woman near me who was uncomfortable in a center seat, in spite of the flight being nearly full). Also, they tend to have the cheapest fares from the US, which makes enduring little annoyances a little easier for me. At the same time, many people have bad experiences and swear off the airline forever. I think it's really a crap shoot, and I would actually suggest that people fly them at least twice before making any rash "never more" decisions...

Aug 2nd, 2005, 04:36	#14
andygoodyear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 275	I find it no way fashionable to beat up on Air India and certainly do not do things for those reasons Merchant!!! I am going by what people have said and the fact that my last company (one of the biggest in the whole of Europe) would never book them at principle. I read one story of a flight diverting to somehwhere else and having to stop for the night, which in itself is a hassle but could easily happen to any airline. But then a customer being given a hotel voucher and told he had to share a room (with just 1 double bed in it) with a complete stranger. Or the many reports of blocked toilets and faeceas running down the aisles!! Or being left in an Airport after a diversion with no information orstaff on hand and sitting around for hours knowing nothing. I am always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, but you have got to start wondering....

Aug 2nd, 2005, 10:53	#15
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	Its all due to the grandmotherly air hostess I have had a lot many experiences in different airlines. My end take is simple, it all depends on the humans with whom you intereact. I prefer the worst airline with best staff than the best airline with the worst staff.. __________________ We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK Pic Page 1 Pic Page 2 When my life changed over a week

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