Tata Sons & SQ to launch India based airline [Vistara][merged]
Sep 22, 2016, 10:34 pm
#136
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Delhi
Programs: Jet Privilege
Posts: 146
Unsure about their financial performance, but they certainly have one of the lowest averages in India for delays/cancellations etc. Please do keep in mind their fleet is 12 aircraft right now, though expanding every month.
They have also built up a good repuitation for service amongst all the Indian FSCs.
They have also built up a good repuitation for service amongst all the Indian FSCs.
Sep 23, 2016, 12:50 am
#137
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AI Gold, TK Gold, QR Silver, 9W BluePlus
Posts: 394
Traveled recently in premium economy. I had the western dish which was vegetables and red sauce while my wife had indian biryani.
The western dish was really tasty and I would choose the same next time also.
The western dish was really tasty and I would choose the same next time also.
Mar 14, 2017, 5:38 am
#138
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Goa, India
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Qatar Gold, Vistara Gold
Posts: 1,294
Club Vistara is now offering elite members status benefits on Singapore and Silk Air.
https://www.airvistara.com/trip/club...irline-Partner
https://www.airvistara.com/trip/club...irline-Partner
Mar 17, 2017, 6:46 am
#140
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: 9W Plat, UK Plat, AI Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, Taj IC Silver
Posts: 383
Pasting what i posted in comments on Ajay's blog:
"While these developments do look good, my overall experience as a Vistara platinum had been dismal so far. Have taken over 20 flights in last 3 months, mostly in premium economy, and food is the only factor that ranks above Jet Airways (emergency exit row which I usually take).
The benefits that exist on paper aren’t actually available. As a plat, I am entitled to waiver on date change fee, but that never happens by default. Any attempt for a date change online require me to pay penalty – have to always get in touch with the call centre and therefore not able to take advantage of lower fares available online. In addition, IT systems at Vistara suck – app stops responding frequently and doesn’t have date change feature. One can’t see future trips in Vistara app.
The customer care too is quite pathetic – seems Vistara has poached some call centre staff from Jet 🙂
Overall, a long way to go for the airline to really cut the muster – personally for me, disappointing till date!"
"While these developments do look good, my overall experience as a Vistara platinum had been dismal so far. Have taken over 20 flights in last 3 months, mostly in premium economy, and food is the only factor that ranks above Jet Airways (emergency exit row which I usually take).
The benefits that exist on paper aren’t actually available. As a plat, I am entitled to waiver on date change fee, but that never happens by default. Any attempt for a date change online require me to pay penalty – have to always get in touch with the call centre and therefore not able to take advantage of lower fares available online. In addition, IT systems at Vistara suck – app stops responding frequently and doesn’t have date change feature. One can’t see future trips in Vistara app.
The customer care too is quite pathetic – seems Vistara has poached some call centre staff from Jet 🙂
Overall, a long way to go for the airline to really cut the muster – personally for me, disappointing till date!"
Mar 17, 2017, 6:55 am
#141
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
As a plat, I am entitled to waiver on date change fee, but that never happens by default. Any attempt for a date change online require me to pay penalty – have to always get in touch with the call centre and therefore not able to take advantage of lower fares available online.
But you're right, one'd expect the new kid on the block to be more polished than these legacy carriers and avoid human intervention as far as possible.
Basically given the infancy stage they are in, they should be bending over backwards for their minuscule number of Plats.
I'd suggest to tweet to their COO Sanjeev Kapoor about this, he is quite hands-on.
Mar 19, 2017, 12:51 pm
#143
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: 9W Plat, UK Plat, AI Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, Taj IC Silver
Posts: 383
It's nothing but a porter service - one guy simply carries your bags to the gates - no fast track baggage screening available if you are flying economy.
I tried out last time while flying out of Delhi, but generally I feel embarrassed having someone drag my stroller. To the porter's credit, he waited almost 1.5 hours outside the lounge since the flight was delayed, and he got tipped well for that
I tried out last time while flying out of Delhi, but generally I feel embarrassed having someone drag my stroller. To the porter's credit, he waited almost 1.5 hours outside the lounge since the flight was delayed, and he got tipped well for that
Mar 19, 2017, 12:55 pm
#144
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: 9W Plat, UK Plat, AI Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, Taj IC Silver
Posts: 383
Well, I probably will, but I'm sure they are well aware of the IT glitches and should already start working on them ideally. Bigger disappointment has actually been call center staff that seems to have ultra low IQ..
Apr 12, 2017, 9:20 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
just experienced pretty poor customer service on vistara & will definitely avoid them in the future....
i usually fly ai on this particular route but they were sold out for the flight today so my firm booked me on vistara....even vistara was sold out in business & premier economy for this particular flight so my secretary just booked me in economy & blocked an aisle seat for me on the 8th row....this morning one of my colleagues found out he had to join me on this trip....he booked his ticket & blocked the other aisle seat on the 8th row....
when we checked in about an hour ago we were assigned 2 middle seats in the 24th & 26th row....i told the agent we had both blocked 8th row aisle seats but he said those were the seats the system assigned us & he could not see in his system that we had blocked any seats....i again informed him that i had & refused to take the seats assigned to me....he kept insisting that we had not blocked the seats but the agent next to him intervened & pointed out to him that we had in fact blocked the seats....he then whispered to her that he could see the blocked seats but they had been given to someone else so he had to tell me they were not in his system....i informed the agent that i heard what he just said & that i wanted to speak with a supervisor....
the supervisor came over & i explained the whole chain of events to her....she then spoke with both of her agents & came back a minute later to inform me that just because i had blocked a particular seat does not mean that i will get it....it is merely a preference & the airline gets to decide who gets what seat during checkin....i told her i traveled enough to know what blocking a seat meant & asked her why the agent had lied to me in the first place....she simply ignored the question & said that a couple of seats in premium economy had opened up at the last minute & she would be willing to offer them to me for an additional inr 3k....not wanting to give the airline another additional rupee, i refused the offer & insisted she either offer me my original seat or give me the premium economy seat for no charge....she finally managed to find a non reclining aisle seat for me & a window seat in the last row for my colleague....since it was almost time for us to board, we took those seats but this is the last time i'm flying this airline....if they cannot offer a simple seat choice, lie about it at checkin & have an unapologetic manager who can't own up to a mistake then i'm happy to not give them any more business in the future....
rant over....
i usually fly ai on this particular route but they were sold out for the flight today so my firm booked me on vistara....even vistara was sold out in business & premier economy for this particular flight so my secretary just booked me in economy & blocked an aisle seat for me on the 8th row....this morning one of my colleagues found out he had to join me on this trip....he booked his ticket & blocked the other aisle seat on the 8th row....
when we checked in about an hour ago we were assigned 2 middle seats in the 24th & 26th row....i told the agent we had both blocked 8th row aisle seats but he said those were the seats the system assigned us & he could not see in his system that we had blocked any seats....i again informed him that i had & refused to take the seats assigned to me....he kept insisting that we had not blocked the seats but the agent next to him intervened & pointed out to him that we had in fact blocked the seats....he then whispered to her that he could see the blocked seats but they had been given to someone else so he had to tell me they were not in his system....i informed the agent that i heard what he just said & that i wanted to speak with a supervisor....
the supervisor came over & i explained the whole chain of events to her....she then spoke with both of her agents & came back a minute later to inform me that just because i had blocked a particular seat does not mean that i will get it....it is merely a preference & the airline gets to decide who gets what seat during checkin....i told her i traveled enough to know what blocking a seat meant & asked her why the agent had lied to me in the first place....she simply ignored the question & said that a couple of seats in premium economy had opened up at the last minute & she would be willing to offer them to me for an additional inr 3k....not wanting to give the airline another additional rupee, i refused the offer & insisted she either offer me my original seat or give me the premium economy seat for no charge....she finally managed to find a non reclining aisle seat for me & a window seat in the last row for my colleague....since it was almost time for us to board, we took those seats but this is the last time i'm flying this airline....if they cannot offer a simple seat choice, lie about it at checkin & have an unapologetic manager who can't own up to a mistake then i'm happy to not give them any more business in the future....
rant over....
Apr 12, 2017, 2:30 pm
#146
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: O6 GOLD, SPG GOLD
Posts: 122
just experienced pretty poor customer service on vistara & will definitely avoid them in the future....
i usually fly ai on this particular route but they were sold out for the flight today so my firm booked me on vistara....even vistara was sold out in business & premier economy for this particular flight so my secretary just booked me in economy & blocked an aisle seat for me on the 8th row....this morning one of my colleagues found out he had to join me on this trip....he booked his ticket & blocked the other aisle seat on the 8th row....
when we checked in about an hour ago we were assigned 2 middle seats in the 24th & 26th row....i told the agent we had both blocked 8th row aisle seats but he said those were the seats the system assigned us & he could not see in his system that we had blocked any seats....i again informed him that i had & refused to take the seats assigned to me....he kept insisting that we had not blocked the seats but the agent next to him intervened & pointed out to him that we had in fact blocked the seats....he then whispered to her that he could see the blocked seats but they had been given to someone else so he had to tell me they were not in his system....i informed the agent that i heard what he just said & that i wanted to speak with a supervisor....
the supervisor came over & i explained the whole chain of events to her....she then spoke with both of her agents & came back a minute later to inform me that just because i had blocked a particular seat does not mean that i will get it....it is merely a preference & the airline gets to decide who gets what seat during checkin....i told her i traveled enough to know what blocking a seat meant & asked her why the agent had lied to me in the first place....she simply ignored the question & said that a couple of seats in premium economy had opened up at the last minute & she would be willing to offer them to me for an additional inr 3k....not wanting to give the airline another additional rupee, i refused the offer & insisted she either offer me my original seat or give me the premium economy seat for no charge....she finally managed to find a non reclining aisle seat for me & a window seat in the last row for my colleague....since it was almost time for us to board, we took those seats but this is the last time i'm flying this airline....if they cannot offer a simple seat choice, lie about it at checkin & have an unapologetic manager who can't own up to a mistake then i'm happy to not give them any more business in the future....
rant over....
i usually fly ai on this particular route but they were sold out for the flight today so my firm booked me on vistara....even vistara was sold out in business & premier economy for this particular flight so my secretary just booked me in economy & blocked an aisle seat for me on the 8th row....this morning one of my colleagues found out he had to join me on this trip....he booked his ticket & blocked the other aisle seat on the 8th row....
when we checked in about an hour ago we were assigned 2 middle seats in the 24th & 26th row....i told the agent we had both blocked 8th row aisle seats but he said those were the seats the system assigned us & he could not see in his system that we had blocked any seats....i again informed him that i had & refused to take the seats assigned to me....he kept insisting that we had not blocked the seats but the agent next to him intervened & pointed out to him that we had in fact blocked the seats....he then whispered to her that he could see the blocked seats but they had been given to someone else so he had to tell me they were not in his system....i informed the agent that i heard what he just said & that i wanted to speak with a supervisor....
the supervisor came over & i explained the whole chain of events to her....she then spoke with both of her agents & came back a minute later to inform me that just because i had blocked a particular seat does not mean that i will get it....it is merely a preference & the airline gets to decide who gets what seat during checkin....i told her i traveled enough to know what blocking a seat meant & asked her why the agent had lied to me in the first place....she simply ignored the question & said that a couple of seats in premium economy had opened up at the last minute & she would be willing to offer them to me for an additional inr 3k....not wanting to give the airline another additional rupee, i refused the offer & insisted she either offer me my original seat or give me the premium economy seat for no charge....she finally managed to find a non reclining aisle seat for me & a window seat in the last row for my colleague....since it was almost time for us to board, we took those seats but this is the last time i'm flying this airline....if they cannot offer a simple seat choice, lie about it at checkin & have an unapologetic manager who can't own up to a mistake then i'm happy to not give them any more business in the future....
rant over....
Apr 12, 2017, 8:19 pm
#147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Apr 12, 2017, 10:15 pm
#148
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
I think that even if you would not want to fly them again, you might want to send this incident narrative to one of their management team, as the outliers won't be affected until you name and shame them.
Just my two cents..
Last edited by deovrat; Apr 12, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Apr 12, 2017, 10:56 pm
#149
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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Thats pretty unfortunate to hear as I had generally good experiences so far with them.
I think that even if you would not want to fly them again, you might want to send this incident narrative to one of their management team, as the outliers won't be affected until you name and shame them.
Just my two cents..
I think that even if you would not want to fly them again, you might want to send this incident narrative to one of their management team, as the outliers won't be affected until you name and shame them.
Just my two cents..
it is pretty unfortunate because initially i was waiting for them to add more routes & was then planning on shifting all my ai flights this way....i have about a dozen people in my team who report to me & between all of us we end up taking about 1,000 flights a year....we only fly with full service carriers unless we don't have a choice & my team generally flies whichever airline i fly....i guess we will just stick to ai & 9w....
Apr 12, 2017, 11:56 pm
#150
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907