I travelled in Spicejet SG 106 on 15th Jun (Tue) from Chennai to Ahmedabad. The flight departs at 5.45 AM. We boarded it by 5.15-5.20 and the temperature inside the cabin was 30 deg C plus (Spice jet promises Comfortable flying environment!!). Prior to flight departure I repeatedly told the attendant to make sure the temperature was brought down and we get "air-condition" environment. The attendant said the doors are open and boarding is taking place hence a/c may not be very effective.
This comment came at 5.30 am in the early morning that tells you how poor the air-conditioning is there in the passenger cabin. (Imagine the chennai heat right now in the afternoon what those passengers must be going through)
The flight took off and I was expecting the a/c to get better, but still no change. I again complained and the general comment was it is OK, other passengers are not complaining. I asked the hostess to let me know if there is a thermometer they have in the airplane and can actually check the temperature in the area where I was seated. I also asked fellow passengers whether they really felt there was any a/c effect and all of them said there is NO a/c at all in the passenger area where we were seated (My seat was # Row 36 E).
The flight landed at Mumbai and I demanded to talk to the Duty manager. The hostess said sir you can give a complaint and we will take it. But I had to further go to Ahmedabad in the same flight and wanted this problem to be rectified before we take off again. There was simply no "active co-operation" or any sort of effort to resolve my grievance. The security people were checking the aircraft and I asked a senior person who was checking the luggages and head count on how he can help. He says "Sir I only take care of Security and cant be of much help in this"
I demanded to talk to the captain, there was no assistance from the cabin crew. I walked the entire way from the last seat to the captain’s cabin. Only the vice captain (supporting flying officer Mr. Karthik)and I spoke to him about the poor a/c and oven like heat experience in the cabin both on the ground and when airborne. By the time the captain had come (Mr. Murugan)
I mentioned to him about this problem but he was saying they reduced A/c because some passengers complained it was "over cool" (what a situation this is getting to be). I told him to come to my place and experience how hot it is as well as asked if they can measure the temperature in the area where I had my seat. But apparently spice jet quality assurance people dont think these are of any importance and simply wait for "customer to complain" before taking any proactive action whatsoever.
The captain promised he will improve the a/c level in MUM-AHM leg. I got back to my seat and found there was minor improvement and the environment was definitely much below par as to what a truly air-conditioned cabin should be. Interestingly, the captain and vice captain’s cockpit was fully air-conditioned even when the door was open so the pilots are given royal treatment whereas passengers have to haggle for getting even these basic things after paying so much money to spice jet.
The entire response of the crew (except the captain who took some initiative to mitigate the discomfort in the second leg of the journey) was highly non-cooperative, passive and just watching from gallery. No initiative was taken by any of the cabin crew to sort out the problem before we took off from chennai or during the flight journey, which evidently conveys complete lack of sensitivity to customer needs and basic expectations.
To top all this, I was booked to fly back from Ahmedabad on 16th Jun also via spice jet to chennai (SG 206, to depart AHM at 7.10 pm). The sms came in the day that this flight is delayed to 22.30 pm (more than 3 hours). One more SMS came by 2 pm that the delay is extended and flight will leave by 23.45 pm. I promptly cancelled the flight and booked Jet AHM-MUM-CHN leaving AHM at 6.55 (they too delayed departure by 30 min, but took off at 7.20 pm). When I was in AHM airport I saw the display on when the Spice jet which cancelled is probably going to take off. The time showed 02.10 (beyond midnight) and I am sure it would not have taken off even at that time.
Interestingly on the same day people were blaming there was heavy rain at Pune and Mumbai. But the Jet flight came into AHM from Mumbai in the evening and took off at 7.20 pm. whereas spice jet just kept postponing their timing with no accountability or alternate arrangements built in.
I have clearly told my contacts and clients NEVER to book me on Spice jet henceforth whether for short or long journeys.
I recently read spice jet has made profit (turned the corner). What an irony!! I am sure next quarter they will definitely report a huge loss and probably close down few months or years from now unless a real passionate leader takes over and changes the way this airline runs their business.
My blessings to Spice jet to rest in peace as soon as possible so that customers can be spared of such nonsense all around.