cover point
Jan 20, 12, 11:57 pm
A new low in Kingfisher atleast for me. I have always enjoyed flying Kingfisher and since 2008 have always flown them atleast 5-6 times a year on the BLR-DEL route on my visits to India. Was happy to see them joining One World and was looking forward to using my One World Emerald benefits.
Was flying them BLR to DEL and was on IT206 with a scheduled departure of 5:20 PM. I logged in 24 hours before the departure and checked in online. I had earlier selected seat 14D which was showing on my record. I went through the check in without changing my seat and was successfully checked in.
On the confirmation screen I noticed it said that my seat number was now 28E. I was a bit perplexed and immediately tried to change my seat but since i had already checked in the system would not let me.
I called the IT customer service line and told them about this. The rep had no clue as to what I was saying and assured me that he could see my seat as 14D. I insisted that I had clearly seen 28E on the confirmation and not wanting to spend 3 hours in a middle seat at the back of the plane, wanted to make sure that he double check my booking. He put me on hold for 10 mts and came back and confirmed that my seat was indeed 14D and the system must have had a glitch. Made no sense to me but I had no choice but to trust him.
Got to the airport at 3:45 .... well ahead of the departure and got in the check in line. Despite being the 3rd person in line, there was no movement at all. There was no one at the counter for regular check ins and the only lines that were moving were the web checkin and the Dubai flight (which for some reason had a separate line). After about 20 mts of waiting I tried to ask and they got us to mix in with the Dubai line. All this while all the employees milling around when asked to help could care less about helping.
Eventually get to the check in agent and ask her if I could get any Emerald benefits. A clear no was the answer. No lounge access or anything. Fine. Clearly they are not part of one world and we are not eligible for any benefits. Disappointed but can understand.
She prints the boarding pass for me and it is for seat 28E. By now I was getting a bit mad. I tell her this is unacceptable and I want my seat 14D back or any aisle seat closer to the front of the plane. She says the only aisle available is in the last row. I did not want to sit in the back. I insist that I dont want a middle seat that far in the back and she tells me there is nothing she can do about it. I ask to talk to a supervisor and she tells me they are on a break. Must be a long break I guess since we had already been there over 30 mts. I accepted another middle row closer to the front of the plane since I did not want to hold up the line (which had gotten quite long by now).
Then she tells me that the flight is delayed until 6:45 (actually departed at 7:15).
Eventually got on board settled into the seat and the plane takes off. They announce that the AVOD was not operational. This is now my 3rd flight in a row without a functioning AVOD. Then they roll the snack cart around and we are told the only choice they have is the veggie snack (one samosa). I personally dont eat on the domestic flights anyway so not an issue but there were plenty of people upset.
We arrive at Delhi after 10 PM and had to wait another 30 mts before the bags came out. Finally was able to get to a cab around 11:00 PM. Was thankful that my checked bag actually showed up (By now was fully expecting that to go wrong too).
A terrible experience and am now convinced that the lounge access carrot is not worth the terrible experience on the flight. I wish there were more reliable alternatives. Maybe One World should look to Jet or Indigo as an option!
Was flying them BLR to DEL and was on IT206 with a scheduled departure of 5:20 PM. I logged in 24 hours before the departure and checked in online. I had earlier selected seat 14D which was showing on my record. I went through the check in without changing my seat and was successfully checked in.
On the confirmation screen I noticed it said that my seat number was now 28E. I was a bit perplexed and immediately tried to change my seat but since i had already checked in the system would not let me.
I called the IT customer service line and told them about this. The rep had no clue as to what I was saying and assured me that he could see my seat as 14D. I insisted that I had clearly seen 28E on the confirmation and not wanting to spend 3 hours in a middle seat at the back of the plane, wanted to make sure that he double check my booking. He put me on hold for 10 mts and came back and confirmed that my seat was indeed 14D and the system must have had a glitch. Made no sense to me but I had no choice but to trust him.
Got to the airport at 3:45 .... well ahead of the departure and got in the check in line. Despite being the 3rd person in line, there was no movement at all. There was no one at the counter for regular check ins and the only lines that were moving were the web checkin and the Dubai flight (which for some reason had a separate line). After about 20 mts of waiting I tried to ask and they got us to mix in with the Dubai line. All this while all the employees milling around when asked to help could care less about helping.
Eventually get to the check in agent and ask her if I could get any Emerald benefits. A clear no was the answer. No lounge access or anything. Fine. Clearly they are not part of one world and we are not eligible for any benefits. Disappointed but can understand.
She prints the boarding pass for me and it is for seat 28E. By now I was getting a bit mad. I tell her this is unacceptable and I want my seat 14D back or any aisle seat closer to the front of the plane. She says the only aisle available is in the last row. I did not want to sit in the back. I insist that I dont want a middle seat that far in the back and she tells me there is nothing she can do about it. I ask to talk to a supervisor and she tells me they are on a break. Must be a long break I guess since we had already been there over 30 mts. I accepted another middle row closer to the front of the plane since I did not want to hold up the line (which had gotten quite long by now).
Then she tells me that the flight is delayed until 6:45 (actually departed at 7:15).
Eventually got on board settled into the seat and the plane takes off. They announce that the AVOD was not operational. This is now my 3rd flight in a row without a functioning AVOD. Then they roll the snack cart around and we are told the only choice they have is the veggie snack (one samosa). I personally dont eat on the domestic flights anyway so not an issue but there were plenty of people upset.
We arrive at Delhi after 10 PM and had to wait another 30 mts before the bags came out. Finally was able to get to a cab around 11:00 PM. Was thankful that my checked bag actually showed up (By now was fully expecting that to go wrong too).
A terrible experience and am now convinced that the lounge access carrot is not worth the terrible experience on the flight. I wish there were more reliable alternatives. Maybe One World should look to Jet or Indigo as an option!