Originally Posted by
aktchi
Nobody I know flies AI for SQ experience. They are there for a low fare, schedule, etc. OP too was flying AI only because there was an emergency and no other airline, especially the ones whose pilots speak good English and FA's are to drool over. 
could or would fly him MAA-CCU. Something AI
did do.
This is not to apologize for AI, but to point out that AI only reflects present India and Indian reality: dirt, filth, bureaucracy, inefficiency, not creating good things ourselves but wanting to enjoy what others have created (AI brass prefer to fly European carriers). Our trains, road transport, harbors, post offices, schools, markets and cities are no better. The world's fancy carriers are not fighting among themselves for landing rights at MAA or CCU. Even Indian ones seem to be cutting down. The AI pilot and FA's on OP's flight, with their accents and other charms, may well have been from these cities. We just don't like what we have done with ourselves.
Right. You make very goos points in response to being an apologist. Charge of an apologist is flayed when one has no other argument to present.
I don't know what was available o the day the OP flew MAA-CCU, but surely, he is aware of other choices, such as Indio, Spicejet, Jet, Kingfsher etc., some within 3 hours of the AI flight. Air India was the cheapest in a quick check I made at 10:20 p.m. for an itinerary the next day. It's likely that he cost was an important consideration, even more important than service. The times I have flown on Air India, I have found it to be no worse than U.S. and Europe based airlines (that I have flown on) with the exception of BA.
To rant on service when one's criteria were schedule and cost is rather puzzling to me, not having been served water instead of
lemon juice notwithstanding.
