with all said and done, at least these small label airlines gives an opportunity to the middle class family to dream about flying; which was earlier only reserved for hi-fy people and politicians and cinemaheroes. there will be some hardships, which will reduce with the experience. So instead of discouraging thanks them for their efforts to accomodate all levels of people.
That was an excellent composition, Sidin. Purely considered in the light of being a satirical essay, it is a masterpiece. Then again, it is a shocking revelation of the appalling state of the Indian aviation industry. Cheerio.
RE:Bravo!!!
by Yogesh Randhawa on Sep 26, 2007 02:41 PM Permalink
Yeah I had an experience with Air Deccan, where the moment the attendent made the annoucement for boarding of flight, people were falling over each other to hoard the gate. It was a scene straight out of an inter state bus terminal. When I finally managed to board the flight, I actually saw some people sitting in the center seats and put both their hands on the adjacent seats to reserve them. I remember some kids in the school bus used to do that for friends. But not grown ups. cmon. I have travelled by no-reserved seat airlines in europe, but believe me, no one puts their hands on the adjacent seats to block them. :)
RE:Bravo!!!
by Arun Ganapathy on Sep 27, 2007 03:36 PM Permalink
Yogesh, You are right.. I've never seen such acts in Ryan Air or Easy jet who also have free seating system. People rush to board the aircraft but not reserve seats.
RE:Bravo!!!
by Yogesh Randhawa on Sep 26, 2007 02:40 PM Permalink
Yeah I had an experience with Air Deccan, where the moment the attendent made the annoucement for boarding of flight, people were falling over each other to hoard the gate. It was a scene straight out of an inter state bus terminal. When I finally managed to board the flight, I actually saw some people sitting in the center seats and put both their hands on the adjacent seats to reserve them. I remember some kids in the school bus used to do that for friends. But not grown ups. cmon. I have travelled by no-reserved seat airlines in europe, but believe me, no one puts their hands on the adjacent seats to block them. :)
i really enjoyed your article..you have maintained the humour in it till the end..my experience with such domestic airlines is quite th same. i purchased my ticket for Rs 1 and yes paid 999 for taxes on that 1 rs. i was to be flyinf from kolhapur to bombay. i had a connecting flight from bombay. my frnd ws travelling the day proior to me on the same route. his flight was cancelled, reason given that there wernt enough core members i.e. there werent even 7 passengers who were ready to take the risk. in anticiaption that my flight may be cancelled, i called their office to confirm my ticket, and as i had expected i was the first passenger calling to confirm and my flight was cancelled. i had to book a car and pay the extra driver to speed( yes the flyin machin on the highway that day was me!) and reach bombay in time. the only solace was i ws refunded the 1000rs. i ended up losing a lot..and lost trust in that airline.
Please correct the statement " Your PNR CVEKSX on Kingfisher Airlines has been cancelled as per your request."
This was precipitated by your sudden decision to withdraw the air services to Coimbatore from Ahmedabad, the fact of which was not deemed fit to be conveyed to the customer. This information came on light when i tried to book additional tickets on your website and when i was unable to get it done, my travel agent informed me that Kingfisher airlines has withdrawn the services to Coimbatore from ahmedabad.
The facts of the case are as under :
I had booked two return tickets for my aged parents (70 years) on 27th july,2007. The flying dates were Ahmedabad - coimbatore on 23rd October, 2007 and coimbatore-Ahmedabad on 2nd November, 2007.
On 17th September, 2007 i tried to buy a ticket from your website, for self to accompany them. The website would show the flight schedule, but would not allow booking!. When i talked to my travel agent, i was informed, that Kingfisher has cancelled it Ahmedabad - Coimbatore link.
The kingfisher website has no telephone numbers for Ahmedabad office, while the Poona help line is best shut down. On 18th September, 2007 while i contacted the poona helpline from kingfishers' ahmedabad office at about 10.45 am, they had the cheek to tell that they normally inform the passengers five days before the flight date! Imagine the hardship to the passenger especially during the festival time in India, when the flight discontinuan
RE:MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH KINGFISHER AIRLINES - This is intended to be a educative piece and not an item to grind my personal axe!
by natraj tanjore on Sep 25, 2007 10:26 PM Permalink
On 18th September, 2007 while i contacted the poona helpline from kingfishers' ahmedabad office at about 10.45 am, they had the cheek to tell that they normally inform the passengers five days before the flight date! Imagine the hardship to the passenger especially during the festival time in India, when the flight discontinuance is announced, out of the blue!
What is appalling is that no one cared to inform the passenger in advance the withdrawal of the flight, nor offered any alternate route / accommodation in another airline, and to add salt to the injury, coolly denied immediate refund and claimed it takes 21 days to make the refund!
I believed kingfisher was a professional airline, with sufficient financial back up! I am a firm believer of the saying, Each according to his own, Each according to his ability! In case kingfisher, sticking to its spirits business would have, precluded, the calamity befalling on hapless passengers, who, after an advance booking, find that the airline out of its swing in moods, decides not to fly, not to inform, not to refund immediately! Again, i am not the best judge about the spirits business too, as i am a teetotaler!
So, unless i am inebriated, i do not think i ever would fly kingfisher!
RE:MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH KINGFISHER AIRLINES - This is intended to be a educative piece and not an item to grind my personal axe!
by Dragon Cares on Sep 26, 2007 09:14 AM Permalink
Hello Natarajan: It's not the mistake/fault of (all the) airline companies and it's how the country India is being operated. Nobody (be it in Government or public sectors or private sector companies) hold any accountability / responsibility in providing the service but they are all good in collecting the money from the public. Delays/cancellations of flights/trains/buses are very common in India and common citizens should not complain about this bcoz it's the way we(Indians) work in our country. Government offices, banks, insurance companies, airlines are good only to collect the money from the public people but getting refunds from these Governemnt offices, insurance companies, airlines are really a himalayan task for an ordinary citizen like you and me. Basically none of the Indian carriers/airlines companies have good service to the consumers/customers; this includes Jet Airways too. All these so called great airlines companies (Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher, AirDeccon, etc) are only good in advertising thru the media but ground realities are exactly opposite; they dont inform the passengers about the delays/canceallations, nobody will respond even if we ask, no alternative measures will be taken, no services at all. So, we, Indian people need to understand this. Government is NOT for the public citizens; Citizens are for the Government, this is the unwritten law of our country. so, how do you expect good services to the citizens from airliens?
RE:MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH KINGFISHER AIRLINES - This is intended to be a educative piece and not an item to grind my personal axe!
by natraj tanjore on Sep 27, 2007 01:16 PM Permalink
After the receipt of the above letter by kingfisher, and after heckling over phone about the refund, they were gracious enough to refund the amount to my credit card company three days after the cancellation! Small mercies of God, keeps hopes alive!
RE:What is the purpose of this article ?
by vdai on Sep 25, 2007 07:06 PM Permalink
The article is about people who miss out on the funnier side of life.
RE:What is the purpose of this article ?
by Harish Manwani on Sep 25, 2007 08:28 PM Permalink
Do you have something called a 'sense of humour'? Or was it buried when you were delivered? If you do have the afore-mentioned sense, you would know what the article is about!
It's been quite a while since reading an article on rediff has made you laugh. This is a very funny one and manages to express the indian domestic travellers woes very neatly.
