Air india , with the ’’maharaja’’ as its mascot. Graceful airhostesses in lovely silk sarees, gentle sitar music in the background, a touch of ’’home’’ even before u actually get there, all in all quite a majestic way to fly.
Those of you who have travelled ’ Air India’ in recent times may not quite be able to see the connection! ! Well , thats because im talking about the airline, the way it was a good decade or even earlier ago.
About the only thing ’majestic’ about Air India any longer is the size of its cockroaches !! No kidding !
I flew outta dubai , by air india a few weeks ago and had a king sized roach keeping me company all the way. And let me tell you, sitting in a cramped economy class seat with my legs drawn up out of reach of prowling insects is NOT my idea of a comfy way to travel.
The security at the airport was stringent, as is probably the case the world over, post sept 11th. This meant checking in a full 4 hours before the scheduled time of departure. That was fine even if it meant I had to reach the airport at 5 am.
well anyways, by the time the flight actually took off, I was a already tired and HUNGRY !! And it did’nt help that the airline served food nearly 3 hours into the flight, by which time I was contemplating having a bite of my plastic juice cup!!
Well, in case you’re wondering why I couldnt have a had a bite earlier at the airport cafe... dubai duty free is legendary and anyone who has been there will fully understand why I had little more than loose change in my pockets!
Anyways, FINALLY....the food cart started rolling down the aisles. ( If I thought this was gonna be the end of my on-flight misery..BOY, was I wrong!!)
’’chicken or lamb ?’’ asked a sour faced stewardess.
’’veg, please’’ , I replied.
’’ We dont have veg, chicken or lamb?, she demanded .
’’ well, im a vegetarian’’
’’well, we have no veg trays’’
Along comes a steward, to investigate the hold up in the aisle. ’’oh let m, e see what I can do’’ he says. He goes off and reappears, with a bun, a rather sorry looking salad, and an apple. ’’im sorry, ma’am, this is the best we can offer at the moment’’.
Well. I decide to accept it. ( I kinda figured it was a whole lot better than eating the plastic cup). As I smile up at the kindly steward, Miss. sour face scowls, and informs me, that I have to specify at the time of booking my seat, if I wanted veg food .
Well, excuse me !!! I certainly didnt expect the national carrier of India, a country where an overwhelming majority of the people are vegetarians, to be short of veg food.
Besides, at no time did The officials at the booking office inform me of such a procedure.
A while later, the plane started to lurch dangerously. We had run into turbulent weather!( not really the airline’s fault..but it added to my growing frustration).
Anyway, not much later, the seven hour ordeal came to an end. And let me tell you, it took every bit of self control I possessed, to stop myself from pouncing on Miss sour face, when she raised the corners of her lips ( I have a sneaky suspicion she was trying to smile), thanked me for flying Air India , and HOPED TO SEE ME AGAIN !!!!!
Sigh!! The truth is , she probably will, because, Air India has a near monopoly on flights into & outta India.
Now that should explain their attitudes anyway!!!