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After dismantling nearly every aspect of his Air India 777 First Class flight, a popular Instagrammer claims Air India refunded the price of his ticket. Noting that his experience is hardly unique, is this one path to free or discounted flights on the Indian flag carrier…?
Air India Refunds Full First Class Ticket Price After Horrible Onboard Experience
Here’s how Anip Patel, who has almost 200K Instagram followers, described his recent 15-hour flight from Chicago (ORD) to New Delhi (DEL) onboard an aging 777-300ER in first class:
I recently endured a 15-hour non-stop flight from Chicago to Delhi, and it was far from pleasant. I had heard negative things about Air India in the past, but I was hoping the recent changes under new management would improve the experience — unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. There was no Wi-Fi, and the in-flight entertainment was down for the entire flight. First class was in poor condition — unclean, with leftover food and trash still in the cabin, and everything looked worn out or broken. It was a pretty frustrating experience overall. Be aware if you’re flying with them.
He also provided detailed video evidence:
Yesterday, a day after posting the video, he provided the following update:
I did not file any complaint with @airindia but through social media they saw this video – they called me today and refunded my entire flight they did make it right and it’s worth noting.
It is not clear if he paid in miles or dollars for the ticket, but I would guess miles if you listen to the video above…
First, kudos to Air India for making this right. Second, the cabin conditions were simply deplorable. Third, what does this say about the future of Air India? Fourth, can a first class traveler who does not have a large social media following expect similar compensation?
A Pattern For Air India, Even In The Tata Era
I’m not the only one who has this video pushed into my Instagram feed…it has gone viral and perhaps that alone explains why Air India purportedly issued a full refund. One Mile At A Time, who also wrote about this, suggests that even Air India’s new flagship Airbus A350 aircraft are aging poorly.
That’s the shocking part…I realize that Tata is in the midst of refreshing and revitalizing Air India and that will not be done overnight. I also realize that there won’t be wi-fi installed on 777s and the hardware will not be upgraded.
But it should be fixed! It should be maintained. There is no excuse for a dirty cabin or tape. Even leather that is discolored and worn away can be made to look more presentable with the right shampoo.
I’m Tempted To Fly Air India First Class…
I must admit, I’m tempted to fly Air India and see if I can get it for “free.” That’s because I don’t expect even this viral video to change anything. Those 777s are on their way out and it seems that Air India is done investing in them…
But offering no IFE on a 15-hour flight, a filthy cabin, limited food selections, and a seat that is literally falling apart seems to me like a big bait and switch…and maybe if more people complained, Air India would spend the money now to improve these cabins (or stop selling seats in them).
CONCLUSION
This review seems to be what everyone expects when flying Air India. It’s why my Indian-American clients flat-out refuse to even consider Air India and would rather make a stop in Europe or the Gulf before flying nonstop and having to endure Air India.
And while I hope that will totally change as Air India refreshes its fleets, if One Mile At A Time is correct, Air India is not even maintaining its brand-new A350 cabins…
Air India will never be trusted with big things if it cannot take care of small things.
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