Aditya Kondawar, an author and vice president of a startup, has sworn off flying with Air India following a particularly distressing journey from Bengaluru to Pune on Monday, June 24. Kondawar’s frustrations were so severe that he declared he would rather pay more or even resort to alternative modes of transportation, including a bullock cart, than use the airline again.
In a candid post on the micro-blogging platform X, Kondawar shared his ordeal with Air India. He wrote, “Thank you for teaching me a very valuable lesson last night,” before emphatically stating, “Never and I mean it with all seriousness – I am never flying Air India Express or Air India in my life again – I will pay 100% extra cost if needed but will take other airlines that are on time (only 2 other airline options anyways).”
Expressing his discontent further, Kondawar remarked, “Will take a bullock cart but not your airline.”
Elaborating on the specifics of his ordeal, Kondawar recounted that his flight, originally scheduled for departure at 9:50 pm, did not take off until around 12:15 am. He described the aircraft as foul-smelling, with seats that were dirty and stained. The delay caused him to arrive home at 3 am after enduring several interactions with the airline’s management.
Despite his disheartening experience, Kondawar expressed his deep respect for the Tata Group and its leaders, adding that his expectations of the conglomerate are always high. “This was a disaster,” he concluded, highlighting the stark contrast between his expectations and the reality of his flight with Air India.
The incident has sparked a conversation about the quality of service provided by the airline, particularly under the esteemed Tata Group’s ownership.