Well I had to shell out about 450 bucks from my own pocket and could not travel at all on Air Deccan.
The story goes like this;
I had booked tickets for myself and my wife on Air Deccan from Kanpur to Delhi much in advance at Rs.500/- per ticket. I live in Lucknow and was getting ready to take the early morning train to kanpur which is only 80 kilometeres away.
That was no problem because half of my relatives in this world live there including my sister and my wife’s sister. A day before the flight in the evening I get a call from an Airdeccan guy who informs me that the flight is cancelled now I am left in a fix because I must reach delhi as scheduled. I had to buy tatkal tickets and shell out more than Rs.450/- extra moreove my sister and my wife’s sister had made elaborate arrangements for our welcome and a lot of stuff got wasted.
The customer care executives were very polite that was no problem but I got the refund only after about a week and that too in two instalments. I understand that there might have been problems from the goverment but may be these guys should have informed me earlier anyway I still plan to travel again from Kanpur to Delhi as I have heard that services have resumed.
On the contrary the Airbus sectors between metros is absolutely fine and I have bought four tickets on those and more or less my family was satisfied though when my father was landing at Mumbai he felt that the pilot was a bit less refined and he felt pain in the ears.
I think also that the payment gateway needs to be more secure .
Also the ATR sectors have to be improved but otherwise the airlines is doing just fine and I hope it will improve its services!
I congratulate Mr. Gopinath for his innovative approach and for giving competition to other airlines in India
Well finally I did manage to get on Air DECCAN ATR sector. I flew from Lucknow to Delhi. It was such a new plane that I felt it had just come in from the factory. The staff both at the airport and in the plane were unusually polite.
For a change the airhostess was really well dressed, beautiful smart and very efficient. The plane took off almost without our detecting it. Landing was just a bit rough and I was to be frank just a bit scared but all in all it was a beautiful experience. The ground staff at the airport were very polite also.
Luggage collection was most smooth and closely monitored by airport staff. I thank Mr. Gopinath. Just a few suggestions- they can include a bit of snacks and charge on the ticket only. The all india number should be made toll free and there is increase in Lucknow -Delhi fare from 1st May onwards that should be rolled back so that frequent travellers like me are encouraged to take the flights.
The plum cake served on board was tremendous.
Now I have travelled quite a bit on Lucknow Delhi sector. There is one irritant however that they have hiked the fares quite a bit now. It cost me Rs.1821/- now though previously I had booked the ticket for as low as Rs.721/-. Anyway now their flight is going full all the time. I am sure they will have to start another flight soon. They are a success now!!!!! Often they have nothing to eat on board. Latest- they landed me on Delhi international airport instead of domestic and took me by bus to the domestic airport. It was a long ride . I did not like it. Maybe they can land on Safdurjung airport that is nearer the city also and almost vacant.Otherwise the flight is good. The staff is polite. Airhostesses are very smart and very beautiful and very efficient. I have even started identifying some of them.
All my good wishes with R. Gopinath.
May be he can arrange some kind of shuttle from Hazratganj that is the centre of the city to Airport and charge for that.