I travelled Chennai-Kochi-Chennai last week on Paramount, and rcounting my experience hereunder.
The passengers were myself, wife, seven year old daughter and 20 month old son. The booking was made for me by Travel Corporation of India(TCI, Chennai), for myself, wife and daughter only. No ticket for the infant. When I checked with Paramount city office the day before the travel date, they said I have to buy a ticket for the infant also, but no seat will be allotted. And the ticket costs only 10% of normal fare+ taxes. Fair enough. I was told to buy it at the airport itself.
As the flight was scheduled to depart at 7.35 am, I reported at Paramount check-in counter around 6.30 am, and was in for TWO shocks:
1) Departure time advanced to 7.10 am. The attendant expressed surprise that I was not informed, even after I showed the printed ticket issued just the previous day by Paramount.
2) I had to shell out Rs.2025/- for my infant’s oneway ticket(my return ticket itself cost only 4450). But still no seat for him. When I protested, the reasoning given was, infant ticket is charged at 10% of HIGHEST fare in that sector, PLUS taxes. I might as well have declared him as 2 years old and got a ticket for him(he looks big)
On board, I had the third(milder) shock: breakfast(Idli, Upma) was stale. When I pointed this out, the attendant simply smiled and moved on. I put up with it and ate it, but my wife and daughter ate nothing. And Paramount calls its food - designer cuisine or whatever.
More bad experiences were in store on the return journey after 6 days - flight was one hour late in departing; dinner was equally bad, and no response from attendant for any complaints.
When a flight is delayed, why cannot they offer some discounts? Or atleast some refreshments, if the flight is a breakfast/lunch/dinner-serving flight? I am sure these days will come - when the competition toughens and another smart airline(Kingfisher?) starts this. Waiting for the day.