Hi,
Would like to say the experience that I had in January 2008 with Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher airlines.
I personally like the airlines, no second thought. I also have craze at the airlines. Had a chance to see my laptop, I have the KF wallpaper in it?
But the experience is with the check-in counter and the ticket counter. I can rate it BAD.
My company booked me the ticket and I had to fly from Pune - Bangalore in KF airlines, the Bangalore - Pune was the now-owned VM’s Air Deccan.
Two prior to my P-B journey, I called and re-scheduled the ticket the very next day. The executive who attended the call said, I will be charged with Rs. 150. Upon contacting my company, they said, its free of charge. Called arilines again and they confirmed that its free of cost to post-pone the ticket. All OK.
On the day of travel, I was three hours earlier to the departure of the flight. Contacted the ticket counter. This was my first experience with KF. Had many thoughts in mind that I am flying through KF. Was happy as well as I heard a lot about their airlines and read more in the news and reviews.
My first experience turned all of them out. Ticket counter lady stared at me as if I am travellin for free. When asked for the confirmation, she hesitated to provide me with the details. Just said, its confirmed. Fine, its confirmed but I want the print out of the ticket for today so that I get no problem in travel. She refused to give and finally after 10 minutes of talk, she gave me with the print, a hesitation face put up. I was quite unhappy with what I saw and what I heard. So much image put up in my mind for VM’s KF airlines and the first entry, first point was a great disappointment.
Next was the check-in counter. It was open. I went for the check-in two hours early. They checked the print out and have put a blank face, returned it back. I was quite confused why the ticket is in my hands. They asked me if the journey is today as the ticket date was yesterdays. I am shocked to see that. I called the airlines, post-poned it and was mouthshut seeing the date on the print. It was yesterdays and clearly mentioned not valid after . I went to the counter again, there was a person who was sitting at the cash counter, hope he is a manager. He attended my query and was quite confused himself. The questions I asked him, the reply was a blank face. Everything was out of his mind, I suppose. He referred it to the girl sitting in front, who gave me the print out. She was giving a rude reply to one of the passenger at the time. I was shocked listening her words. I asked the same questions and she just gave one reply - Its Valid, which means there is no communication between the ticket counter, airline reservation staff whom I called and the check-in counter. I explained the same to the girl at the Check-In counter and told to contact them directly in case they need any answer. One of the two girls went to the girl at the Ticket Counter and came stating provide him with the boarding pass.
For a while, I thought whats happening in there. Why is my ticket not udpated? Why is it showing yestedays date?
But I forgot all of them when I was eagerly waiting to board the flight. As usual, the flight delayed 45 minutes. The reason was, it started late at its previous point. OK. No problem.
Boarded the flight and all went well. The flight was well within the scheduled time by the pilot. Good times, Mr. Mallya.
But please make sure your ground staff are courteous. No matter how good your flight attendants are, the first point of contact will be the ticket counter and then check-in counter. I can have immediately shifted to other airlines seeing the bad face of the Ticket counter girl but I didnt as I want to fly the KF airlines atleast once.
The flight experience is awesome. The flight attendants and the courtesy inside, comfort, tasty food, good entertainment inflight all went well except the start.
Overall I can say, my experience is Very Good, ignoring the Ticket and Check-In counters. Considering them, I can rate it average.
Regards,
Naresh R V