From News Dispatches
Chicago: An Indian-American passenger, Anip Patel, CEO of CaPatel Investments, took to TikTok to criticize Air India for what he called his “worst” experience while flying business class from New Delhi to Chicago on a non-stop flight. Patel, who paid $6,300 for the journey, described it as a “nightmare” and claimed it was the “worst first-class.
The lack of in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi on the 15-hour flight also left him dissatisfied. He stated, “Off no entertainment. The entertainment system didn’t work the entire 15hours,” and remarked how “Everything is broken, they literally put tape on the walls.” Ending the video, Patel summarized his experience as “a nightmare.”
In the video, Patel gave viewers a tour of the subpar amenities, highlighting issues such as loose compartment parts, torn and damaged surfaces, and several stains on the recliner seat. He also expressed frustration over the food and amenities and complained about the lack of in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi on the 15-hour flight. ''I recently endured a 15-hour non-stop flight from Chicago to Delhi, and it was far from pleasant. I had heard negative things about Air India in the past, but I was hoping the recent changes under new management would improve the experience—unfortunately, that wasn't the case. There was no Wi-Fi, and the in-flight entertainment was down for the entire flight. The first class was in poor condition—unclean, with leftover food and trash still in the cabin, and everything looked worn out or broken. It was a pretty frustrating experience overall. Be aware if you're flying with them,'' he wrote on Instagram.
His video which has gained 7.5 Million views, has sparked debate about Air India's refurbishment efforts and service standards. One user wrote, ''I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would ever want to fly Air India. I stay away from this airline irrespective of the sector.''
Another commented, ''I love Air India - warms my heart whenever I see it on the tarmac but yes similar experience when flying with them. Hoping that as their new planes roll out they become a better brand again.'' A third said, ''Awful. Someone needs to hold these airlines accountable…. enough is enough.''
Patel later revealed in the comments section of his Instagram post that Air India refunded the full amount of $6,300 (Rs 5.2 lakh) without him filing an official complaint. He expressed satisfaction saying: "They made it right in the end.
