Poor service: Air Deccan

Eopperman · Dec 31st, 2006, 15:49

Hi guys. I just returned from my second trip to India and had the unfortunate pleasure to travel on Air Deccan from Baghogra to Delhi to catch my connecting flight home. First of all: Air Deccan is a low cost airline and that is exactly what you get: nothing! I was disgraced at about everything of that airline - apart from the terror touchdown at Delhi airport, I was pretty much glad to be in one piece. Expect at least a 2 hour delay when flying with them - they are never on time. The worst is that they have a 15kg limit on check-in baggage whereas all other airlines at least have a 20-25kg allowance - and do not think that they will budge even if you are 1kg over! The service rating on a scale from 1 to 10 would be at least -6 (minus 6). The ground personnel are rude and unfriendly and not helpful to any foreigners: just pay the extras and get on the place once it arrives. The plane cabin was dirty and was obviously not cleaned during the past 6 months and you had to pay for all drinks and food - something they chose not to disclose when you book your ticket. My advise to all: change your itinerary or get on another flight, I would. Apart from the stinking service (or lack of service at all) from Air Deccan, we still enjoyed our 3 week trip and would most certainly return next year and yes, you guessed it, I would skip Air Deccan and give them the thumbs down in all aspects.

Spirit of Havelock · Dec 31st, 2006, 16:04

Thanks for the warning!I hope market forces will put them out of business, then again, unfortunately, maybe not, Indians are probably so used to poor service that they see it as normal.

Annett · Dec 31st, 2006, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eopperman

...Apart from the stinking service (or lack of service at all) from Air Deccan, we still enjoyed our 3 week trip and would most certainly return next year and yes, you guessed it, I would skip Air Deccan and give them the thumbs down in all aspects.

I doubt that...

You must be seriously pissed off if you’re posting your article in about 3 threads! Welcome to the funny world of low cost airlines, if you pay less – you’ll obviously get less. It doesn’t makes any airline better or even worse if you’re posting your opinion 3 times.

I flew quite a few times with Air Deccan and never had any probs!

Like in every contract: Read the smallprint and you won't be surprised by any extra charges.

machadinha · Dec 31st, 2006, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eopperman

First of all: Air Deccan is a low cost airline

Isn't this the key phrase here though? I don't know about India but generally low luggage allowances and no freebie drinks or food are quite common with such airlines these days. Them's the breaks I guess.

Glad you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

Digital Drifter · Dec 31st, 2006, 16:22

As one wag put it, it's a low cost airline and passengers are supposed to make it a costly one. That means, you pay for things you do and do not use.

For Rs 500, they get the pleasure of you paying for all the expenses they have.

Now, is that difficult to do?

steven_ber · Dec 31st, 2006, 17:27

Delhi (and all flights to & from) is very badly affected by fog from the first week of December till mid-January, even on days when there is no fog, the delays of previous days have a knock-on effect, particularly the budget airlines. (the other airlines have sent their pilots on the training course needed for using the special fog-landing safety systems (can't remember the name), so these pilots are given priority)

Glad you enjoyed the rest of the trip, did the trains work out?

capt_mahajan · Dec 31st, 2006, 19:57

After a first time experience when they cancelled my flight a day earlier with no reasons given, and refused a rescheduling of my return flight (also with them), I decided never to travel with them.
(I cancelled all my flights with them that first time too)

I have happily flown Spicejet and Go air since, and intend to continue to give Air Deccan a miss. They have a billion other customers they can treat badly.

manojb · Dec 31st, 2006, 20:43

There is no choice on many of the routes that Air Deccan flies. For e.g., they are the only ones that fly Bangalore-Calicut, so I have to put up with their bad service.

Eopperman · Jan 1st, 2007, 15:39

Funnily enough the costs of Air Deccan (being a low cost airline) was about Rs300 less than Jet Airways - but I guess one learns from our own mistakes. Do not get me wrong: although we had to endure the stinking service of Air Deccan, the rest of our trip was great.
Steven_ber: As on our previous trips we enjoyed the AC Two Tier trains very much: definately the way to travel. Unfortunately we had to take a plain out of Bagdogra to cath our early flight out of Delhi the next morning. I would recommend to all to rather take overnight trains as they seem to be more reliable than the airways.

rangss · Jan 1st, 2007, 16:43

How is Ryan Air's service? Just checking...cos the man heading the operations of Air Deccan is an ex-Ryan Air executive.

himmat01 · Jan 1st, 2007, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spirit of Havelock

Thanks for the warning!I hope market forces will put them out of business, then again, unfortunately, maybe not, Indians are probably so used to poor service that they see it as normal.

Air Deccan apart, the level of service in all full service airlines in India is of a much higher standard than any domestic airline in th US or EU.

cyberhippie · Jan 1st, 2007, 17:20

Ryan Air, Easy jet, all get similar bad press for pretty much the same reasons.
I usually arrive at the same conclusions as others, you get what you pay for!!

lisbethaliasgita · Jan 1st, 2007, 17:21

hoops i just booked a flight from trivandrum to delhi with them because it was so cheap and also the only direct flight ... do you think i should cancel it and change it ? i really need to be in delhi that day as my flight back to europe leaves the next day...
happy new year !

capt_mahajan · Jan 1st, 2007, 17:24

News item a few days ago: Airlines to pay Rs 10,000 to passengers for flight delays

" In a relief to passengers, who are left stranded at airports owing to flight cancellation and delays due to technical snags, State Consumer Commission has held that airlines operating from Delhi will have to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 each to domestic travellers if the delay exceeded two hours. "

This I would like to see.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...how/912550.cms

Nick-H · Jan 1st, 2007, 17:30

It's not as if one has to put up with the conditions for long on a domestic flight...

Dec 31st, 2006, 15:49	#1
Eopperman Dedicated world traveller Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 109	Poor service: Air Deccan Hi guys. I just returned from my second trip to India and had the unfortunate pleasure to travel on Air Deccan from Baghogra to Delhi to catch my connecting flight home. First of all: Air Deccan is a low cost airline and that is exactly what you get: nothing! I was disgraced at about everything of that airline - apart from the terror touchdown at Delhi airport, I was pretty much glad to be in one piece. Expect at least a 2 hour delay when flying with them - they are never on time. The worst is that they have a 15kg limit on check-in baggage whereas all other airlines at least have a 20-25kg allowance - and do not think that they will budge even if you are 1kg over! The service rating on a scale from 1 to 10 would be at least -6 (minus 6). The ground personnel are rude and unfriendly and not helpful to any foreigners: just pay the extras and get on the place once it arrives. The plane cabin was dirty and was obviously not cleaned during the past 6 months and you had to pay for all drinks and food - something they chose not to disclose when you book your ticket. My advise to all: change your itinerary or get on another flight, I would. Apart from the stinking service (or lack of service at all) from Air Deccan, we still enjoyed our 3 week trip and would most certainly return next year and yes, you guessed it, I would skip Air Deccan and give them the thumbs down in all aspects.

Dec 31st, 2006, 16:04	#2
Spirit of Havelock Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 98	Thanks for the warning!I hope market forces will put them out of business, then again, unfortunately, maybe not, Indians are probably so used to poor service that they see it as normal. __________________ Neither worry about, nor rejoice in the future (Ancient Egyptian saying)

Dec 31st, 2006, 16:22	#5
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	As one wag put it, it's a low cost airline and passengers are supposed to make it a costly one. That means, you pay for things you do and do not use. For Rs 500, they get the pleasure of you paying for all the expenses they have. Now, is that difficult to do? __________________ Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF

Dec 31st, 2006, 17:27	#6
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,198	Delhi (and all flights to & from) is very badly affected by fog from the first week of December till mid-January, even on days when there is no fog, the delays of previous days have a knock-on effect, particularly the budget airlines. (the other airlines have sent their pilots on the training course needed for using the special fog-landing safety systems (can't remember the name), so these pilots are given priority) Glad you enjoyed the rest of the trip, did the trains work out? __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Jan 1st, 2007, 16:43	#10
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,838	How is Ryan Air's service? Just checking...cos the man heading the operations of Air Deccan is an ex-Ryan Air executive. __________________ ...and I took the road less travelled.

Dec 31st, 2006, 19:57	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	After a first time experience when they cancelled my flight a day earlier with no reasons given, and refused a rescheduling of my return flight (also with them), I decided never to travel with them. (I cancelled all my flights with them that first time too) I have happily flown Spicejet and Go air since, and intend to continue to give Air Deccan a miss. They have a billion other customers they can treat badly.

Dec 31st, 2006, 20:43	#8
manojb Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 423	There is no choice on many of the routes that Air Deccan flies. For e.g., they are the only ones that fly Bangalore-Calicut, so I have to put up with their bad service.

Jan 1st, 2007, 15:39	#9
Eopperman Dedicated world traveller Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 109	Funnily enough the costs of Air Deccan (being a low cost airline) was about Rs300 less than Jet Airways - but I guess one learns from our own mistakes. Do not get me wrong: although we had to endure the stinking service of Air Deccan, the rest of our trip was great. Steven_ber: As on our previous trips we enjoyed the AC Two Tier trains very much: definately the way to travel. Unfortunately we had to take a plain out of Bagdogra to cath our early flight out of Delhi the next morning. I would recommend to all to rather take overnight trains as they seem to be more reliable than the airways.

Jan 1st, 2007, 17:20	#12
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Ryan Air, Easy jet, all get similar bad press for pretty much the same reasons. I usually arrive at the same conclusions as others, you get what you pay for!!

Jan 1st, 2007, 17:21	#13
lisbethaliasgita Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: france Posts: 18	hoops i just booked a flight from trivandrum to delhi with them because it was so cheap and also the only direct flight ... do you think i should cancel it and change it ? i really need to be in delhi that day as my flight back to europe leaves the next day... happy new year !

Jan 1st, 2007, 17:24	#14
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	News item a few days ago: Airlines to pay Rs 10,000 to passengers for flight delays " In a relief to passengers, who are left stranded at airports owing to flight cancellation and delays due to technical snags, State Consumer Commission has held that airlines operating from Delhi will have to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 each to domestic travellers if the delay exceeded two hours. " This I would like to see. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...how/912550.cms

Jan 1st, 2007, 17:30	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,862	It's not as if one has to put up with the conditions for long on a domestic flight... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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