From: rajiv@hilltop.mitre.org (Rajiv Kohli)
Subject: Re: Don't fly on Air India (re: mr vdasig comments)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 15:52:14 GMT

In article <1992Aug19.160243.21405@opencon.com> giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani) writes:
>In article <1992Aug13.171107.17972@cs.wright.edu> vdasigi@valhalla.wright.edu writes:
>>From article <1992Aug12.195101.27774@linus.mitre.org>, by rajiv@hilltop.mitre.org (Rajiv Kohli):
>>> 
>>writes about the hassles his mother-in-law went through when she
>>traveled by herself and two grandchildren (ages: 1 and 3).
>>
>>I sympathize with much of what he said. However, to me it looks like
>>he could have done HIS part to make their trip a little more
>>comfortable, e.g., let them travel with less luggage (in their case,
>>it included 4 suitcases, a pram and presumably one or more diaper
>>packs).
>>
>>I do agree that in his case, Air India could have provided much better
>>service than they did (or didn't).
>>
>>...
>>
>>I do want to share my experience about Air India, to make almost the
>>exact opposite point. For several years, I heard many negative things
>>about Air India, and although I had never traveled on Air India before
>>1991, I used to wonder if I ever would want to! I never deliberately
>>tried to avoid AI or tried to travel only by AI, though. (Mostly the
>>airline that most of us choose is dictated by economic considerations,
>>I guess, which was the case with me.)
>>
>>Last year, I got the only chance so far to travel by AI, on the leg
>					         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>between Kuala Lumpur and Madras.  And boy, was I impressed!  I hold
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>that experience dearly in my memory. The impact was more the way it
>>was because of the mostly negative things I had heard of about AI, i
>>guess.
>>
>>............. Most of  Article Removed ...................
>>...............
>>--- Venu
>>Dr. Venu Dasigi      vdasigi@cs.wright.edu    vdasigi@valhalla.wright.edu
>>Dept. of CS&Eng, Wright State U, 3640 Col. Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435
>
>	Sir, I don't beleive you traveled on Air-India, you did travel
>on Indian Airlnes.  The difference is international vs.  domestic, 
>same people, different companies.  Even when one flys on Delta, the
>crew from Frankfurt to Delhi or Delhi to Frankfurt is almost 100%
>indian -- the gentlemen is not complaining about the Air Hostes he is
>COMPLAINING about the checkin clerks and the people at the gate.  Have
>you every flow out of JFK on Air India and compared that of PanAm or
>now Delta or any other air line :-)
>
>	One more point, have you ever traveled with little children --
>its a whole new experiance -- my wife, and my 18 MONTH old just flew 
>Delta last saturday, she had an Additional BAG, 62" inches and NO ONE 
>complained and was the back was checked in. The infant is also allowed
>to carry a diaper bag, we took a 50" inch suit case in place of that,
>NO ONE complained.  In addition she had a umbrella stroller and a hand
>bag and her purse.  On Lufthansa, if a passagener runs out of diapers
>on the flight the AirLine Provides for additional diapers.  My wifes
>hand bag had 20 diapers (last year my daughter got diarehiea on the
>plane, and my wife ran out of diapers so she just asked a co-travelers
>for some).  Travel with a Kid and you will know how many things are
>needed, milk, diapers, clothing, diaper rash cream, ........, I can
>take another page writing all the stuff down. :-)
>
>	Deepak

I have received a couple of messages pointing to the fact that my mother-in-law
should have been traveling light in the first place & that the old lady took it upon
herself to take 4 suitcases, a pram, and a carry on full of diapers. However, I would
say that I received more than 50 email either being sympathatic with the situation
or explaining their own bad experiences. Some did reply with good experiences
though

I would like to comment on the first part:

1) It is wrong to assume that ones mother-in-law is an old lady who cannot handle
two kids age 1.5 and 3.5. It so happens my mother-in-law is about 45 years. By no
means old.

2) We paid a discounted fare for the boy (3.5) for a separate seat and it entitles
him to BOOK two suitcases + a carry on + diapers.

3) None of the suitcases were by no means over weight. Despite the fact that the
agent had convinced us that they go by volume not by weight.

4) I expect porters to be at the airport to help passengers who cannot carry their
luggage. It is not a good argument to say that a passenger should only stuff what
they can carry. A passenger can be a WEAK person. Although I do realize and know for
a fact that passengers do ABUSE the volume rule. And since due to security reasons
they cannot let non-passengers in - All the more reason to have porters. Or is it a
requirement to have a NO LOGIC BRAIN to work for AI.

5) I worded one thing wrong. I said "pram" - I really meant the umbrella stroller
for two. It is a very light weight stroller.

6) A lot of netters assumed that both the kids had to be carried. Believe me that
kids who are 1.5 and 3.5 can walk and pretty good with their legs. FYI, both the
kids had a strap strapped to their hands so they only had a leway of about 3'. 

7) My wife has travelled before on Delta with no problems.

How can airport authorities expect that passengers be able to put the suitcases on
the weigh machine. We don't want it weighed they do. They should have somebody there
to do it. By the way milk on the plane was terrible. My boy (3.5) threw up twice
each time after the milk he consumed. No medical attention was required but it
should have been offered.

I was 10 years old when I travelled from Tanga in Tangzania,East Africa to Bombay. I
remember I had to change 3 flights and never had a problem. My parents saw me off
and my aunt picked me up. All the check in, the pampering (really) was done by the
air hostesses. They were wonderfull. Maybe I was a very cute kid then. But their was
no difference then in Air Kenya, British Airways and Air India. They were the best
folks I had met. The pilot took me to the cockpit and showed me around. The air
hostesses came and told me when we flew over landmarks - Mt Kilmingaro, etc. It was
nice.

It is all different now. My dad tells me that during those days in the 60's and 70's
people preferred to go on Air India. What happened? Overall, I believe the ground
crew is the pits JFK, Bombay or Delhi. The on board crew is good but lack social
manners and curtesy. But then were they ever taught while training. Or is it in the
genes?

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Rajiv Kohli		Email: rajiv@mbunix.mitre.org Tel: (617) 271-3506
Mitre Corporation 	Intelligence System Integration and Support
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