Jul 27, 2004 09:45 AM
3073 Views
(Updated Jul 27, 2004 09:45 AM)
No seat belt
I few from Singapore to hyderabad on a Air India/Indian Airlines flight. This was the last leg of my tiresome journey from San Francisco to Hyderabad via Hongkong & Singapore. This was a flight from Singapore to Mumbai via Hyderabad. I know most of the people here know this flight.
Anyways, I had my tickets confirmed about 20 days earlier to the travel date, re confirmed the tickets by calling the travel agent & airline 36 hours prior to flying. I was travelling with a infant(about 7 months).
The flight (Cathay Pacific) was good from San Francisco to Honkong and onto Singapore by the same Cathay pacific. I had only 40 min to transfer to Air India flight. So hurried and got onboard the Air India to Hyderabad. the flight is pretty full.
The problems started then. First I did not get the crib that was confirmed. the flight attendant said that I had to check in early to get a crib. I said I was confirmed for it. But she still said that I have to kind of grab it first.
Chalo apni airline hai... so took it easy and decide to carry the kid on lap. There came the biggest surprise of my life. The seat that was allocated to me did not have a Seat Belt. NO SEAT BELT. comon....guys that is the most important thing in a flight. It is the Aviation rule. Basic neccessity. So I told the air hostess (about 40 yrs old marathi lady) and asked her to change my seat. So she said, ok sir, i'll let the manager know. WHAT ?. I dont want to talk to the manager. All she had to do was change my seat or give me a belt.
The so called manager comes by and saya, that there are only 3 seats vacant and all of them are in the back. So said if I want I can go and sit in the back. I said I dont mind back or front. So went to the back of the flight leaving my kid and wife in the front. one more surprise....
First of the 3 seats had no base for the seat. Meaning no seating pad but has seat belt. Second (middle) of the 3 seats does not have the seat belt either, the last has base, has seat belt but does not have the left arm rest.
I was so embarassed and pissed off, I stood up and walked by to see if there were any seats. finally in the front section of the flight I found a seat perfect. I told the hostess that I was going to sit there. she say ''NO''.
NO ?. That is the manager's seat. he will sit there during take off & landing. Then what about me, then one other hostess suggested that I be given a child seat belt (detachable seat belt used to hold children tied to your lap). then the hostess said that I should return to my original seat and she will find me a detachable seat belt.
OK> went back to my seat, and 5 min later she comes back and says that she found only one seat belt and I should put that on and hold my kid tight in my arms since they dont have another seat belt.
I was speechless, helpless, cant abuse anyone. Just sat there and did what she said. I put the belt on for myself and was holding my kid in my arms tight. WORST flight ever.
Since then I flew back & forth between india and US but never Air India/Indian airlines.
