indian airtravel and us air travel
For us Indian, anything Foreign should be excellent, while our Indian products and services will not be anything to compare against at all.
What a wrong notion. Take for instance the air travel. yes because of late, I have been so much flying (one of my family members commented that I would be logging more air miles than even a senior pilot in our domestic airlines!!!!)I am taking this for comparison
Some of the key things that are good with our domestic airlines
- Hot Food for even a short haul flight
- Good flight service (almost)
- A little more leg room
- Free trolleys
- When flights are cancelled some arrangements including hotel accommodation for stranded passengers, food coupons, assistance (of course the degree varies), but almost all the out of town passengers are taken care.
The last point becomes very very important as in a visiting city, when you take the flight home you would have wound up your stay arrangements and if the flight gets postponed then it becomes imperative that you need new bookings, extra spending, which is taken care of by the airlines. Thank God for that.
While the US airlines have the policy that if the flights are cancelled for weather reasons then you are on your own. What a mess it can become. The only thing that the airline staff help you out is to rebook you on the next available flight. If it is a flying or holiday season, then it is even more haggering experience, becoz already the flights are overbooked and there are a lot of standbys and you need to fight out for your turn.
Accommodation for stranded passenger - they do help you - how by proving you with a number which you call on your own get a room in the hotels close to the airport (of course at a discount) - All on your own .
We had this experience twice this time. While on vacation, it upset our tight schedule, during my business trip, it was worse as I was to be there for the meeting on time, which I had with great difficulty fixed up. It took me 24 hours total to reach Irvine from Tampa (South East coast to South West coast). it was nightmare getting stranded in Chicago because of the delayed arrival of the flight from Tampa due to the weather and missing the connecting flight I was supposed to reach Irvine at 10.00 pm, while I was still in Chicago airport trying to figure out how to spend the night. Got a hotel accommodation for the night and checked in at 11.45pm and had a wake up call by 3.30 as I needed to board the alternate flight at 5.30 am. Just for 3 hours of sleep and a wash I had to spend more than $100. Every expensive bath indeed. So early morning had a ride back to the hotel and went through security check, boarded the plane and settled down comfortably, thanking that I will still be in time for the meeting at 2.00 pm. But wait, Chicago didnt want to let go of me. The flight developed technical snag and we were sitting in the flight for more than an hour to get things rectified, but nothing happened. The airlines offloaded all of us and was announcing all connecting passengers to contact the customer service representative to reschedule. For those flying direct, they were asked to wait while the airlines will decide whether to cancel the flight itself, or still continue to rectify or arrange another aircraft.
Meanwhile, from a one stop over, it had become 2 stop overs and so I had to go the customer service rep to get me a flight which will help me reach my destination well in time. So she said, there is a direct flight, but it is overbooked so try your luck and if nothing happens come back. From one terminal run (imagine me Running !!!!) to the next as there was just another 10 mts for boarding to commence, praying with one God to another to help me get a seat. All Gods were busy elsewhere so couldn't get one seat in an already over over booked flight. So back to the same terminal to find out what is the next alternate (the next direct flight was also full so I had confirmed flight for the evening, by which time both my appointment would have gone for a toss). So got on the same flight after 2 and half hours of delay - and reached LA just to see the connecting flight leaving. So again to the CSE in LA to take a ground transport to Irvine.
All these troubles along with tension, anxiety, extra money spend, lack of sleep and rest - still couldn't save my first meeting schedule. Thank God, I was meeting a wonderful person, despite a very busy woman, gave me another slot in the evening reducing the time from one hour to half. But it was all worth for that half an hour of meeting. Had a very good meeting and now working on getting the results out of that meeting.
I am sure God is with me and help me make the best of this meeting.
So take heed, dont talk too negatively of our domestic travel. They are far better in handling the emergency and crisis situation (if not with a cool attitude atleast they help you out)
Happy flying
What a wrong notion. Take for instance the air travel. yes because of late, I have been so much flying (one of my family members commented that I would be logging more air miles than even a senior pilot in our domestic airlines!!!!)I am taking this for comparison
Some of the key things that are good with our domestic airlines
- Hot Food for even a short haul flight
- Good flight service (almost)
- A little more leg room
- Free trolleys
- When flights are cancelled some arrangements including hotel accommodation for stranded passengers, food coupons, assistance (of course the degree varies), but almost all the out of town passengers are taken care.
The last point becomes very very important as in a visiting city, when you take the flight home you would have wound up your stay arrangements and if the flight gets postponed then it becomes imperative that you need new bookings, extra spending, which is taken care of by the airlines. Thank God for that.
While the US airlines have the policy that if the flights are cancelled for weather reasons then you are on your own. What a mess it can become. The only thing that the airline staff help you out is to rebook you on the next available flight. If it is a flying or holiday season, then it is even more haggering experience, becoz already the flights are overbooked and there are a lot of standbys and you need to fight out for your turn.
Accommodation for stranded passenger - they do help you - how by proving you with a number which you call on your own get a room in the hotels close to the airport (of course at a discount) - All on your own .
We had this experience twice this time. While on vacation, it upset our tight schedule, during my business trip, it was worse as I was to be there for the meeting on time, which I had with great difficulty fixed up. It took me 24 hours total to reach Irvine from Tampa (South East coast to South West coast). it was nightmare getting stranded in Chicago because of the delayed arrival of the flight from Tampa due to the weather and missing the connecting flight I was supposed to reach Irvine at 10.00 pm, while I was still in Chicago airport trying to figure out how to spend the night. Got a hotel accommodation for the night and checked in at 11.45pm and had a wake up call by 3.30 as I needed to board the alternate flight at 5.30 am. Just for 3 hours of sleep and a wash I had to spend more than $100. Every expensive bath indeed. So early morning had a ride back to the hotel and went through security check, boarded the plane and settled down comfortably, thanking that I will still be in time for the meeting at 2.00 pm. But wait, Chicago didnt want to let go of me. The flight developed technical snag and we were sitting in the flight for more than an hour to get things rectified, but nothing happened. The airlines offloaded all of us and was announcing all connecting passengers to contact the customer service representative to reschedule. For those flying direct, they were asked to wait while the airlines will decide whether to cancel the flight itself, or still continue to rectify or arrange another aircraft.
Meanwhile, from a one stop over, it had become 2 stop overs and so I had to go the customer service rep to get me a flight which will help me reach my destination well in time. So she said, there is a direct flight, but it is overbooked so try your luck and if nothing happens come back. From one terminal run (imagine me Running !!!!) to the next as there was just another 10 mts for boarding to commence, praying with one God to another to help me get a seat. All Gods were busy elsewhere so couldn't get one seat in an already over over booked flight. So back to the same terminal to find out what is the next alternate (the next direct flight was also full so I had confirmed flight for the evening, by which time both my appointment would have gone for a toss). So got on the same flight after 2 and half hours of delay - and reached LA just to see the connecting flight leaving. So again to the CSE in LA to take a ground transport to Irvine.
All these troubles along with tension, anxiety, extra money spend, lack of sleep and rest - still couldn't save my first meeting schedule. Thank God, I was meeting a wonderful person, despite a very busy woman, gave me another slot in the evening reducing the time from one hour to half. But it was all worth for that half an hour of meeting. Had a very good meeting and now working on getting the results out of that meeting.
I am sure God is with me and help me make the best of this meeting.
So take heed, dont talk too negatively of our domestic travel. They are far better in handling the emergency and crisis situation (if not with a cool attitude atleast they help you out)
Happy flying
Comments
thanks for sharing your views too. If only we become customer centric all our goodness will be coming to limelight. As rightly said by you, lets hope Indian Airlines or Air India or Indian - (whatever it is called) be the best Airline in the world.
Sarada