Jet has (almost!) lost their touch
#61
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#62
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I think you missed a thousand somewhere in there... 75 thousand crore might possibly sustain AI for the next 40 years.
#63
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#64
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as of late upgrades have been really hard to come by for the babus....my source in the civil aviation ministry tells me that the current minister is pretty strict about the misuse of upgrades & wants a report daily on who was upgraded on their international flights....
#65
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Not just AI. Two months ago my IXC-BOM was wide open until check when my upgrade was denied. On board were 2 paid pax's and 6 upgrades for Jet family. I know as I made a mini deal with the ground staff who know me quite well.
#66
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Another time I was on LHR-DEL and my uncle who had confirmed seat in Premiere for another day was denied a seat and given Y and across my row was a Jet manager in Premiere.
#67
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#68
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There is actually a limited quota of free first class tickets assignable to the babu/neta class. The Civil Aviation Ministry primarily hands out free tickets for economy class, even when it comes to domestic flights. Most of the shenanigans related to the forward cabin on short and long-haul flights is a function of AI staff at the airport.
#69
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A few civil aviation ministers who were even cognizant of who their political builders were have had to be careful in handing out free tickets even to those who built their careers. Economy class handouts seem to not spark jealousy and bureaucratic maneuvering the way premium cabin tickets/upgrades do, and so the default has been to try to keep the handouts primarily in economy class.
#70
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in another case, a friend posted on his FB wall that he was going to wait for next (W flight to BOM since a J seat was avail on that flight while "only" Y was available on earlier flight. So its quite common.
I have flown 9W just 6 times in 3 months, and i have been upgraded 5 times out of 6. The only time I wasnt, i was dressed in a tacky TShirt and shorts which may have played a role.
AI on the other hand has become quite stingy with upgrades post 2008 or so. I am told (cant confirm) by surly employees that the current minister has been quite anal in monitoring free travel by employees and extended family, going to the extent of conducting surprise visits to airports. He apparently even asks for reports on how many upgrades were given for free and how many were sold and for what reason in case it was free. Which is why you find AI staff trying to sell u an upgrade (4 to 6k per flight) when u ask for one.
In some ways, 9W seems to have turned into our old Air India, the international one.
Last edited by ashishp; Aug 8, 2012 at 9:10 am
#71
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I flew 9W 6 times in the past 8 days and didn't get upgraded even once..
#72
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#73
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AI on the other hand has become quite stingy with upgrades post 2008 or so. I am told (cant confirm) by surly employees that the current minister has been quite anal in monitoring free travel by employees and extended family, going to the extent of conducting surprise visits to airports. He apparently even asks for reports on how many upgrades were given for free and how many were sold and for what reason in case it was free. Which is why you find AI staff trying to sell u an upgrade (4 to 6k per flight) when u ask for one.
In some ways, 9W seems to have turned into our old Air India, the international one.
#74
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impressive....i don't think i've been upgraded 5 times in all the years i have been flying on 9w....
#75
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this sort of thing was reserved only for Plats earlier who Jet used to treat like Gods. I remember seeing Plat members getting this treatment and thinking "mera number kab aayega!".
Last edited by ashishp; Aug 8, 2012 at 7:42 pm