Sheer bitterness and no "Spice"!. Review on SpiceJet

Long time I needed a vacation, finally it was here! Going to Punjab after a long time was indeed exciting (that’s where I belong to). I quickly booked my itinerary on my most favourite airlines “Spice Jet”, I am a frequent flyer and Spice always made me feel I was at home.

But things change fast, and sometimes it gets disappointing when it doesn’t change for good. My flight from Kolkata to Delhi was scheduled at 5:45 PM. I generally arrive at the airport much before time to avoid any confusions like traffic jams, rains etc… also I do prefer to sit in the front row, and Low Cost airlines do not give the option of Web Check-in if we have a check-in baggage.

4:15 PM and I was through with the security check, luckily I got an aisle seat in the third row from front. Hurray! That made my day. But Alas!! I get a SMS at 5:00 PM that my flight has been rescheduled at 6:15 instead of 5:45. Ahem!! Happens some times :-)

I patiently waited in the waiting area stuffing myself with some confectionaries. The crowd kept on increasing. The watch ticked to 6:00 PM and still no announcement about boarding :-( finally, it starts at 6:15 PM (huh… wasn’t that the departure time)

I prefer to board with the last lot, thanks to computerized check-in systems, our seats are secured. I get in to the aircraft and oops…. Did I board in the wrong flight?? I get back to the hostess who is quite efficient wearing that plastic smile and ask her whether this aircraft is heading to Delhi… when she replied in the affirmative, I asked her to help me as someone else had occupied my seat. She replies “Maam, today it’s a Free Seating as our systems are down… kindly sit anywhere you like”… Good Gracious!! Is this an airline or a State Transport bus, I pondered. Not to forget she ended with the 1001 times heard statement “I am really sorry Maam” Realizing I had no option, I occupied myself in some unfavorable place.

As per Murphy’s Law, once late it becomes more and more late :-) A/C’s weren’t working as the flight still had to take off. There was a complete chaos around as some were issued duplicate seats… luckily I wasn’t one of them. The crew had absolutely no idea what was going on… All of them looked so apologetic and helpless. After some adjustments and heated arguments the aircraft was ready to take off…

Phew! That was an experience. I wondered whether Spice Jet has come up with this new corporate slogan… “We really apologize”

We really apologize for the delay in aircraft due to heavy rains (now why blame the rain Gods!)

We really apologize for the confusion in seating arrangements (Yeah! Thanks to your system)

We really apologize for the a/c’s not cooling at the moment

We really apologize for the “further” delay as we are not getting clearance (Yes, I remember Murphy’s Law)

And last but not the least… We really apologize as we are not getting a parking bay at the Delhi Airport (I am speechless now…)

At the end of this ordeal I thank God I reached my destination, so what if it’s just 2 hours late :-)

Well, it’s sad as my Favorite airline is falling short of perfect management. I really do hope this is only for a short time. One more interesting thing I would like to share with you all… every aircraft of Spice Jet is named after a spice… like Fennel, Thyme, Cardamom, Saffron etc… Next time you travel by Spice Jet please do watch out for that :-) while I take a break from this not so spicy airline for some time and explore other options :-)

Happy Flying :-)