This is the worst flying experience of my lifetime with an International Airline.
I give below my family?s experience and mine with Thai Airways from Bangalore to Bangkok to Singapore and return from April 15, 2004 to April 27, 2004:
On April 15, 2004 we took the Flight No. TG 326 from Bangalore to Bangkok ? the ground handling was good. On the Flight we found one of the Oxygen Masks of an adjoining seats fallen out and was stuck with packing tape by the In-flight Crew. Besides, our daughter had to go hungry as the only Non Vegetarian food on board was Thai Prawns and Rice and she cannot eat Thai Food and no more Indian Vegetarian meal was available on board.
On the flight we enquired from one of the Air Hostesses as to what is the Visa on Arrival Charge at Bangkok and the Air Hostess informed us that it is Thai Bahts 300/- per person. On landing I changed just the right amount of money for three visas but on reaching the Visa on Arrival Counter we were told that it is Thai Bahts 1000/- per person. We paid the money and checked with the Visa on Arrival Counter as to when this change had been effected and they told us that this is since August 2003. What was annoying is that at 3.40 a.m. with a child I had to once again go and change money and get back into the queue for the Visa on Arrival because of the wrong information given by the Air Hostess.
While reconfirming our sector of travel from Bangkok to Singapore we requested for one Indian Vegetarian meal for my daughter based on our experience on the Bangalore to Bangkok sector though she is a non-vegetarian and cannot have Thai Food.
On April 20, 2004 we traveled on TG 409 from Bangkok to Singapore and when we were served the meal we found out from the In-flight crew that our meal request had not been recorded. However, they helped us with an Indian Vegetarian Meal. The Indian Vegetarian meal was terrible ? there was no gravy ? hardly looked appetizing and tasted extremely bad. We informed this to the Air Purser and she asked me to put it in writing, which she said would help Thai Airways. Once again my daughter went hungry.
On April 27, 2004 we traveled from Singapore to Bangkok by TG 404 and onwards to Bangalore by TG 325. On the Singapore to Bangkok sector ? the Indian vegetarian meal arrived and was the same thing as on the sector from Bangkok to Singapore and we complained to the Air Purser and she had the food changed and again asked me to put it in writing. I was served food in a cracked tray and the Air Hostess was extremely hostile and rude with us.
Infact, when I asked for a 7 Up she served it to me and spilled the same in my food tray and since the food tray was cracked the entire 7 Up dripped onto my clothes. Incidentally, I do not drink alcoholic beverages. The cabin crew may have wanted to regulate the alcohol being served to passengers as they did not want any nuisance on the flight but they even regulated the Aerated Drinks too.
On reaching Bangkok Airport ? we went across to the Customer Service Counter and asked for the Duty Manager to register a complaint against this poor service and the Air Hostess but we were made to wait for 45 minutes as the Customer Service Counter Staff said that the Duty Manager is in a meeting. Finally, when we spoke with him ? he was not interested in listening but just went on saying, ?Please write to us?. However, we informed the Customer Service Staff about the problem we had and asked them to take care of my daughter?s meal on board.
On boarding the Flight No. TG 325 from Bangkok to Bangalore ? we immediately spoke with the Air Purser and informed him that our daughter had been going hungry on the Thai Airways flights because of the poor quality of Indian Vegetarian Meal and requested to give us something simple in Non-Vegetarian. He immediately arranged for Rice with Chicken.
When our meal was being served I was shocked that all passengers were being served Vegetarian meal and I asked the Air Hostess as to why we were being served Vegetarian food ? to which she replied, ?Because of Bird Flu, they were serving only vegetarian food to all passengers?. On hearing this, I was extremely upset and asked her as to why did they serve my daughter chicken if there is a Bird Flu problem. She replied I do not know, you may put this in writing.
Also, the Air Conditioning Grills above seat nos. 39 J & K had come off and had been stuck with packing tape.
On reaching home ? I found that I was being unable to roll my suitcase and on checking found that two of the wheels of my suitcase had been damaged.
On May 03, 2004 I wrote a letter to Mr. Kanok Abhiradee (President of Thai Airways International) stating the above mentioned experience of mine.
He did not even have the courtesy to reply. Finally, I received a reply from a Division Manager on May 24, 2004 which was full of apologies and the last line of the letter really took the cake ?Should you and your family consider allowing us the opportunity to be of service to you again during any future travel, we feel sure that we could extend to you and your family the warm hospitality and graciousness for which we are renowned and proud. Until such time, we send you our best wishes.?
I wonder why they are unable to serve decent Indian Food out of India especially after having had a presence in India for over 20 years. I believe they carry the food from Bangkok to Bangalore for the return flight from Bangalore to Bangkok.
Believe me friends Indian Airlines is far superior to most of the South East Asian Airlines with the exception of probably Singapore Airlines. There was no difference between an Indian Airlines aircraft and the Thai airways aircrafts as both do not have personal TVS. Infact, the general maintenance of an Indian Airlines aircraft is far superior ? you do not find oxygen masks hanging and A C Grills coming off.
The only difference maybe is the age of the Cabin crew ? Indian Airlines has much older personnel but let me remind you they have all the experience with age and are probably much better equipped and mature to handle emergencies. I am sure one is not selecting an airline for the cuteness or the looks of the cabin crew nor is one hoping to get married on board or find one?s life partner.