National Carrier No Pride. Review on Air India

I had last week gone on a 4 day pilgrimage to Vaishnodevi. I chose to fly Air India(formerly Indian Airlines in the domestic sector).The call center replies promptly though it was quiet an effort getting a nunber to call from the cell phone. Took me 15 munites as I had no access to a landline to call the toll free number. Mumbai to Delhi and Delhi to Jammu and back. For people who frequently fly Kingfisher, Air India is a poor choice. But it’s not that bad either. All flights were on time.

One cause of complaint was an old gentleman at the waiting list counter in Delhi airport who ignored me as he was busy having a social chat with a young man who was not there to inquire abt the flight. When I asked him abt the impending flight he said rudely “ Bahut jaldi hai? Kabhi beech mein Na bole!” than he said no seats were available .I’d have to wait 2 more Hrs till the next flight. I knew why no seats were avbl and went to counter 1 and the gentleman there gave me a seat just like that!

The first thing you look for in a plane are pleasant faces serving u food. Air hostesses and the flight stewards were all young and good looking. They give the sari a good name.

The food it self is adequate(I flew economy) and nice(a cheese sandwich, Pulao, and tea/coffee).

Onwards there was no flight entertainment. They forced you to listen to the instrumentals of old Hindi songs. On the way back I was pleased with the inflight entertainment. Each passenger has a LCD monitor. 12 channels(one movie(Bhootnath) English documentaries and comedy serial reruns) also you could see the location of the plane on the map(GPS) and Altitude outside temperature and speed of the aircraft also you could see the time left to land. Lovely feature. I could see when the plain took a detour at Mumbai due to ATC scheduling issues.

Staff was friendly and practical(they do not waste smiles) Pilots keep u informed abt reason for delay and the Sequence of landing.

I hate to be taken to the airport in a bus and only wish all Airindia flights had direct exit into the airport.

You do not get the exclusive treatment that other airlines manage to create. Its more like traveling a govt run public transport(I guess that is what it is). Also on the flight from delhi to Mumbai the plane was understaffed. One poor air steward managed the entire supper ritual all by himself, serving offering tea and cleaning up all by himself all with a smile on his lips and sweat on his brow. If u were there your heart would go out to him.

It may have been a coincidence I experienced Turbulance on all flights. Jammu to delhi the aircraft made an embarassibg cracking noise constantly(lots of foreigners on board the connecting flight)

Pratyush