Kingfisher airlines experience (today's flight...)

Hi guys,

This post might be useful for anyone considering a ticket with Kingfisher Airlines, India's famous "ailing airlines".

A few weeks back, when routinely checking for flight deals on Cleartrip, I got a good deal for a Kingfisher ticket [Chennai-Mumbai-Chandigarh]

I was ok with taking the chance of the flight being rescheduled or even canceled (was not going on any fixed schedule, just for a personal summer adventure, few treks, chill out etc), so I rolled with it & got myself the ticket:

Chennai - Mumbai Flight: IT-182
Departure: 09:05 AM, Apr 30, 2012

Mumbai - Chandigarh Flight: IT-185
Departure: 12:50 PM, Apr 30, 2012


Sure enough, 9 hrs before the flight, I got an email from Cleartrip (midnight, Apr 29) as follows:

Dear Cleartripper,


This is to inform that there have been some changes in your trip ID xxxxxx for MAA-BOM segment.

PNR xxxx | IT-182 | MAA-BOM | Departure time: 0905 on 30APR

The flight has been cancelled by the airline.

Alternate flight option given by the airline:

IT-182 | MAA-BOM| Departure time: 1350, Arrival time: 1540 on 30APR

<EOM>

And sure enough, the alternate flight provided ensures that it would be impossible to make the connecting flight.

So, I called Cleartrip. They in turn gave me a number for Kingfisher. I called Kingfisher. The operator on phone was very polite, pretty smart and saw what the issue was rather immediately.

I was offered an alternate flight that connects Chennai-Bangalore-Delhi-Chandigarh all on same day. I declined.

I was asked if I'd be willing to fly the next day on the same itinerary.

I asked him how many times the airline had canceled the same two flights (Chennai-Mumbai & Mumbai-Chandigarh) in the past 5 days. He took some to check this information for me & told me this was the first time in the past 5 days for the first sector. The second sector has been operational all week.

So, I took my chances & asked to be confirmed for the next day, same flights. Some more hold-time later, I was told that a request has been made. Could I please call again tomorrow to receive the confirmation? Sure.

So far so good for an "ailing airline". My standards are pretty low as of now - As long as they do not strand me at an airport for hours on end without reprieve, I am willing to fly with them & give them good points for trying to dig themselves out of the mess.

I am overall ok with how effectively they have handled the situation - all changes taken care of via emails/phone calls without any annoying waits at the connecting airport.


I haven't yet made it to Chandigarh yet. Nothing is quite certain until I reach there - I kinda like it! that's what an adventure is all about, isnt it? So, thanks to Kingfisher for keeping the adventure spirit alive!

I am sure there are dozens of other fliers with tight schedules who are probably frothing in their mouths as of this moment because of the last minute cancelation. My sympathies to you guys.


[I called and canceled the call-taxi for my tomrrow's airport pickup and turned off my bedside alarm. Otherwise, it is life as usual. Will report tomorrow on how & when I manage to reach Chandigarh]

Interesting! Let us see what is in store tomorrow...

ha ha!

Sorry for the late reply. Kingfisher, for all their woes with running the airlines, are excellent in running the call-centers/help-lines. Was truly impressed.

The next day (as per the OP), I called the Kingfisher callcenter in Pune 5 hrs before the flight and the line was answered within just one ring! No hold, no annoying BGM! Kudos!

Anyways, they checked the flights and informed that it was running all the way thru to CHD. Sure enough, I was in CHD as promised without any delays, missing luggage or any inconvenience.

So, to Kingfisher I give some credit for trying to dig themselves out of their mess and for having excellent call-center/help-line service. Rest, only time shall tell.

Hope this was helpful to others trying to consider KF for last-minute budget deals this summer.

Regs,
PM

Kingfisher's problem were that of Icarus. If the sponsor of IT had read his Greek Mythology, he'd never by in such a mess. Needless to say, another greek mythology comes to mind - The story of Sisyphus

Crap airline I tried to cancel a ticket with them, their online cancellation service wouldn't work nor their helplines....I was told by several agent this had been the story for them too, no one was picking up the phone

Huh just seen Peregrinmonk's post, well well lucky you I tried for hours and on four separate days....

Nada

I eventually got a e mail from them after some days, after I informed them their call centers and online cancellation service wasn't working, via a contact mail addy

They advised me to call their call center or use the online cancellation service