Air India

✅ Trip Verified | Recently I traveled with Air India and experienced a worst experience with this airline. We were travelling from Mumbai to Goa and due to congestion in traffic it almost took us 2 hrs for travelling a distance of 8 KM to Terminal 2. The flight was at 9 PM and we reached at the desk at 8.15 PM. The Air India Personnel rudely told that we cannot be allowed to board the flight as we are late and have not done the web check in. It was surprising that though we had done the web check in it was not showing on their portal. Later I have checked with many passengers who informed me that the Airline Portal always had some issues while web check in and though you complete web check in it will not show in their portal. Finally, all the personnel to whoever I spoke instead of helping me out from this situation was blatantly blaming me for my delay in reaching the airport, and made sure that I should not board in the flight. Another harassment started when I went to the booking office to book the tickets for another flight of Air India. The booking officer on other side of the glass/window was asking me to speak loudly as he was not able to hear my requests made. I kept on shouting and informed him of my desire to book a tickets to Goa. He somehow understood my requests and started browsing the portal for five minutes and got up to make some phone calls. I asked him what is happening ? to which he replied that he is enquiring with his superiors for booking tickets. After five minutes I lost my patience and left the window. Secondly, their call centres are closed after 18:00 Hrs. A recorded message will be heard continuously after 18:00 HRs that you are in queue, but no one will respond from the other side nor the IVR facility will be available. I travelled with Indigo so many times but the way they help me out during the distress is commendable. In similar situation at Chandigarh airport when I reached just before 30 minutes of scheduled flight, they made sure that I boarded in the flight with my family. Their personnel accompanied me from entrance of the airport up to the flight. Now I can understand why this airline is in losses from so many years. The attitude of the staff is sinking this boat.

Flight departure time was 11.55am which was delayed to 1.55pm. Passengers were allowed to board flight at 1pm. Pilot found some technical issue at the last moment and could not be fixed in 9 hours. It is 9.15pm, I am still on the flight which has not taken off. Passengers were provided a meal once only and status updates were not given frequently which left people clueless and frustrated. In terms of interior, seats can't be pushed back more than an inch, screens not functioning properly, provided meal was also tasteless. Overall the worst experience. When I asked an attendant to provide water, she said it was kept in the galley, get it from there. Blanket and cushion is not provided in flight. I would be inclined towards zero rating for all criteria.

✅ Trip Verified | I am Extremely disappointed with the ground crew staff of Air India at Ahmedabad airport. I was travelling on 12th Nov 2021 from Ahmedabad to Chicago via Delhi. My flight was at 7:35 PM and I was inside airport at 5:30 PM. The Airport ground crew of Air India, stopped me and said we can not travel to USA as my infant child is holding Canadian passport and so she can't travel USA without valid B1/B2 VISA. They didn't even know that Canadian passport holders gets on arrival visa to enter USA. When I showed both of them the proof of USA & Canadian federal website and rules about the same that Canadian passport holders are allowed to travel USA and get on arrival visa. That supervisor told me "people can write anything in their website, so we don't consider federal website as a proof" I was shocked knowing they were not aware about the rule. When my travel agent directly contact to higher authorities from Air India and explained that they are wrong, I was issued board passes after 2 hours of harassment by Air India. The aircraft was so dirty and unhygienic to even fly. This was very old aircraft and there was food stuck in side the TV remote and all inside the seat corners. The seats were even damaged and broken joints for food tray.

✅ Trip Verified | I have taken Air India TVM-BLR flight. They cancelled the flight at the last moment, after I reached airport and redirected via BOM and ended up flying more than 4 hrs to reach Bangalore from Trivandrum (Which is just 1 hr). The assigned seat numbers were so messed up that I have seen at least 4 such cases were multiple people are assigned same seats, including mine. I am appalled by the lack of processes and untrained ground staff who are completely helpless most of the time.

✅ Trip Verified | Air India repeatedly disappoints. This trip on 14 November left me speechless and hugely disappointed. Food Tray was broken and I asked for a change of seat - Flight attendant's answer no seats available and I have to adjust with Food tray as he can't do anything until the flight reaches London. I have to use my own lap to eat the food. I have asked for Non-Veg, as I have already eaten Veg first time - Flight attendant answer - Sorry no options and Veg is the only option. My next seat customer has got the Non-Veg after some heated discussion, still no luck for me. Seat recliner push-button broken hence can not push back. Flight attendant response - Cant do anything, we will check and sort this in London. Forget about charging ports, as all the USB ports are broken and inhouse media needs to reboot twice to work the Multimedia. I request to provide me with a blanket as I have seen few customers were offered. Flight attendant said we don't have enough in stock.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst experience in my life time. The flight was supposed to be a direct flight from Bangalore to Hyderabad at 6.50pm on 13th Nov 2021. Suddenly a text message on the morning of the 13th that the boarding time is at 03.10pm. It's the first shock, reached airport leaving all my day plans. Later the flight started around 4.00pm. One more shock on the plane is its via Kolhapur. In a very bad mood we reached Kolhapur at 5.40pm, its suppose to leave by 5.50pm, the Kolhapur staff were informed by the airline staff that they have to take off on or before 5.50pm. Again it got delayed and the flight was not started till 6.15pm. Suddenly an announcement that the flight can't take off due to bad weather when we can see the stars and the moon clearly. So many people had connecting flights to travel abroad. They have given back our luggage and not said anything. I waited till 8.30pm with no update, at least on next day timings. Then I left to catch a bus to Hyderabad, couldn't and had to come back to Bangalore. My return from Hyderabad is on 14th Nov 2021 at 08.15pm. I have planned for a day to attend my clients place. Everything has gone in vain. I never recommend Air India to anyone.

✅ Trip Verified | I had my first experience with Air India recently, and I have to say it has been up there as possibly the most disappointing experience I have ever had. In summary, if you have a choice - please choose another proper airline. This was a flight long haul from London to Bombay. The ticket was booked in economy and upgraded to Business Class using FR miles. Prior to flying I needed to contact customer services and this was a nightmare. I wasted hours of my time trying to call them. I managed to get through to one person, who when I explained the problem just shouted back what’s the problem, what’s the problem. Then he put me on hold and a different man who was more well spoken answered and then lied to me that he was going to arrange a video call back in 2h. Very confusing that he would say that, and not try to help me, and not collect any of my personal details. I never did receive any support and when calling back the telephone queue was like a prank call, with the queue position going up and down like a yo-yo. Shocking, beyond terrible but the worst part is those lies from customer services, that really damages Air India’s credibility with me. Anyway I went to the airport, I was concerned about extra check during COVID times so I arrived 3.5 hours before departure. Air India refused to allow me to check in early, despite the Business Counter being in use by economy passengers. Now I know I was early, so partially my fault. However at one stage other BOM passengers were being allowed to join the economy queue while I had to wait for be allowed to go to the Business Class check-in. By the time I checked in, there was one BOM economy passenger I recognised that reached the counter before me. Business Class is meant to be a premium product to take the hassle and stress out of travelling, or add a little luxury. I travel in economy for personal travel about 99% of the time, as we all have bills to pay. However when I upgrade to business class, I expect to enjoy it and see the benefit. After this ordeal I was able to enjoy at the lounge facilities at London Heathrow, luckily it was a Star Alliance lounge run by another airline, phew! I’m glad it wasn’t an Air India lounge, lest I would be subjected to further torture. At the boarding gate more fun and games I’m afraid. One giant mess of a queue to have temperature readings before going to the boarding desk. This meant there was no discernible difference between economy and business class passengers, just one big line to wait in. More stress and hassle which was supposed to be avoided. On the plane, as expected a tired cabin, outdated infotainment. The seat was comfortable but lacking some adjustment options. The infotainment screen was low resolution, and difficult to use compared with modern equivalents on proper airlines such as Etihad. The Business Class cabin is what you would expect on a shorter haul flight, such as 4-5h, not a 9+h flight. I will write a complaint to Air India. I don’t expect to receive anything back.

✅ Trip Verified | Services have downgraded tremendously. They made all the passengers sit in the flight for about 30-40 mins without switching on the Air Conditioner. When customers asked they did nothing about it. People were using papers to fan themselves. The flight didn’t take off on time or land on time. My seat was also changed post boarding while entering the flight manually without my consent like it was a local train. When I asked for a reason later they stated it was because I was a solo traveller. The staff was also very aggressive in their tone and behaviour.

✅ Trip Verified | I hold a business class ticket for this flight and I was told in the counter of check-in I am the only passenger in business class. When I board I see it's occupied by the crew members and I don't have space in cabin to put my luggage.

Not Verified | Flight got delayed for 2 times. All the passengers who booked for this flight were very upset including me. There was no proper announcement when the gate was changed. I’ve never seen this kind of bad experience with any airline.