I have had a bad experience with Air Deccan. While the flight from Hyd to Kolkata on 24th Sept 2006 was late by 1 hour, the connecting flight from Kolkata to Ranchi the same day was late by about 4 hours (Reached Ranchi at 9.50 PM). Thank God, at least I could reach Ranchi and attend to my official work the next day.
My real problem started during my return journey on 28 Sept 2006. The Ranchi-Kolkata flight reached Kolkata 2 hours late (1.20 PM). By the time I collected by checked-in baggage and reached the Air Deccan Check-in Counter at Kolkata for the Hyderabad flight, I was told the counter was closed. This is despite leaving a message with the Air Deccan Staff at Ranchi that I have to board the Hyd flight at Kolkata. Sice I reported late though due to delay of their own flight, they said neither rescheduling nor cancellation is possible and expressed helplessness. They say it is only a point to point service.
Those who are booking onward journey by Air Deccan should keep this in mind.
Finally, I rushed to Indian Airlines counter and I was lucky enough to get a seat in the next day flight. Though there was half-an-hour delay in the scheduled departure they anounced in advance that it was due to change of aircraft. Indian Airlines looked much better in service levels. The difference in fare from Kolkata to Hyderabad was only about INR 1500 despite the fact that the Air Deccan ticket was bought 10 days in advance and the Indian Airlines just one day before.
The Air Deccan staff numbering about 10 at the Air Deccan Counter at Kolkata all sporting the bright yellow T shirts with the caption printed ’Have you flown recently by Air Deccan. It’s Wow’ - I don’t know how this has to be interpreted in the light of their low service levels.
Surprisingly while my ticket from Ranchi to Kolkata by Air Deccan cost me INR 1500 a friend of mine who booked 3 days before for the same flight paid INR 5000+. So Air Deccan is more opportunistic and exploits in the routes where there is no compition. Taking into account delays, cancellations and uncertainity it throws up, and the abnormal last minute fare sthe low cost may be a misnomer.
The Air Deccan staff lacks empathy, professionalism or customer care. They ack empowerment. Naturally can not be expected when a host of them are contract employees with little or no training.
Overall, I feel Jet, Sahara and Indain are far better than Air Deccan. Air Deccan would perhaps be happy to see more ’No Shows’ since it makes a good business proposition for them and ultimately may become their business model.
If Air Deccan can’t bring some reasonable service levels now, it will end up cheap in the long run in all aspects.