“Are you strictly vegetarian?”

Well thats what the Indian airlines airhostess asked me, on my way to Varanasi. I did’nt know even vegetarians were divided into different classes:- Strictly, mildly, softly, so so, hardly….

Early morning flight (9:20 am), its early, No? (:P well i did miss my sleep still). Anyways reach the airport,only  to find Indian airlines and Kingfisher passengers need to use a seperate entrance. Now i don’t mind discovering these things, but i would appreciate if the airport actually has signboards mentioning different entrances for different airlines.

Look for the check in counter of Indian airlines, oh wow so many. Well it had to be so many because they had many flights taking off, my joy was shortlived as it was really painful standing there for 30 minutes waiting for my turn. To add to it an aunty(A) in front of me managed to land her stilettos perfectly on my toe.

A: I’m so sorry

me: No, aunty its okay (!#@!#!##$$)

A: Are you flying alone?

me:Yes (I’m allowed to right?)

A:Oh, just this much luggage?

me:Yes, aunty (What did she expect? carry 5, 6 suitcases?)

A: I was just wondering, if i can club my luggage with yours so that they don’t charge me extra

me: Hmm okay (@!#$!!@@)

A: 🙂

me:Damn (the toe was still hurting bad)

Well she managed it without having to club her luggage with mine, anyways i dont think it was possible since she had to get down at Lucknow itself. The line moved oh so slow. The IA attendants were processing real slow. This was the first time i had to wait so long, it was already 45 minutes and i was still waiting for my turn. I reached an hour earlier to avoid rush, and now i 

My first encounter with IA attendant at check in counter

me:Can you give me an aisle or a window seat?

IA:Saar all flight full saar, only side seat left saar

me: ya so give me a side seat, thats what i’m asking you

IA: saar our flight 3 seats in row sir, i give you side seat saar, very good saar

me: Oh, give me whatever you have 

IA: I’m giving you saar, best seat saar

me: (Oh lord save me)

I had to literally snatch my boarding pass from him, and rush for security check.”11-F” it said. I tried all possible combinations and realised he had given me a window/aisle seat. That’s what i wanted right, what was he trying to explain to me then…wierd.

Board the flight, only to find an elderly lady in a nice saree blocking my way to the seat. 

me:Excuse me, aunty

The lady turned and

me:woops, uhh, sorry, i didn know

A:welcome on board sir

me: uh ya, thanks. I’m, sorry

Well i was embarrased, this was IA airhostess in front of me. Indian mother epitomised. Like a sweet child, i said sorry and went and sat in my seat, before others behind me started to nudge their luggage into my back. I could hear some people  giggles behind me.

I hopped into my seat, and started watching “Yes Man”. It was a nice movie, and i was feeling hungry by the time it ended. That was when i saw the food being served. Finally, time to stuff and catch some sleep. Or wait

Airhostess(AH): Sir, veg or non veg

me: Vegetarian

AH: Are you strictly vegetarian?

me: yes, what does that mean?

AH: i mean, not even a little non-veg sometimes?

me: no ways, whats the matter?

AH: sir Veg food is over?

me: what??

😦 well now i was wondering, why can’t IA ask passengers at the time they book tickets, for the kind of food one prefers?

It makes it operationally more convenient for them, and passenger does not have to go through bad service. I could eat only sandwich. The journey forward was so not exciting anymore. The Varanasi airport is far away from the town, and there was no hotel to go and eat food. I asked AH when we landed in Lucknow to arrange for some veg food, she said she could not 😦

I came back to mumbai and used the feedback form available on IA website, shot a mail to the cmd too. I got a response from them too 😀

“Sorry, it will not be repeated”

Thank you so much. That’s all i was hoping for right?

I just dont understand why two different government bodies have to look at their customers in a completely different way. I’m sure you all did not get the context. Look how has irctc solved a problem, and earned respect and trust from its customers. When IRCTC could not serve the usual high tea to its passengers in rajdhani, they served them packets containing  chocolates and dry fruits worth Rs 200 each, to 1000 passengers. Why did they do that? They could have simply said sorry, RIGHT?