[sydras]

Just curious, what kind of sandwich are Indigo serving up these days?

I haven't flown them for almost two years but I recall that in all my years of flying different airlines, I'd rate the sandwiches provided by Indigo as the worst I've ever had.

Dry, barely palatable and a sorry excuse for a meal, they serve as an abomination within a country rich in it's diverse culinary choices.

[zionite]

Post Diwali, I had 2 cross country trips on IndiGo with connecting flights from Delhi. All 7 flights were totally full. Not a single empty seat.
Only 1 flight was delayed by 1.5 hours. We had expected delays due to fog/smog in Delhi but surprising all flights were on time.

[vharihar]

https://youtu.be/vPfRbHYnCVM?si=9BF5cnQMlhMPTjZ3

Aviation booming in India

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by sydras

Just curious, what kind of sandwich are Indigo serving up these days?

I haven't flown them for almost two years but I recall that in all my years of flying different airlines, I'd rate the sandwiches provided by Indigo as the worst I've ever had.

Dry, barely palatable and a sorry excuse for a meal, they serve as an abomination within a country rich in it's diverse culinary choices.

You're kidding right?
Indigo has copied Pret's sandwiches per some insider friends and here's what I LOVE about it - they do not get stuck in your throat because they are NOT dry or soggy.

Perfect texture - you can eat it without sipping water unlike even regular / sourdough bread.

PS: I will finish 2024 with 100+ indigo flights - I have tried all their meals. They had a bit of a range (chicken / paneer salads) earlier - now they only do sandwiches and little else.

[arpanjha]

I fly about 8 to 10 flights a month, with most of it being Indigo, rarely AI and recently Akasa. I did not notice any significant difference in the attitude of ground or aircraft staff of Indigo. They indeed have some lead cabin crew members, who are the best I have seen across the world, but apart from those few, everything else seem similar to me, updated as on 28-11-24. Just that, these days they proactively serve a glass of water and do extended the loo usage time till the time of actual approach to land. It was very evident to me when same route, Vistara allowed users to use the washroom almost till last moment.
Probably this is some kind of artificial idea of quick turnaround which Indigo uses.
About food, all aircraft food tastes very bland and texture not good too, so domestic flights even if I have meals included, I try not to eat. Vistara premium economy upwards was a different story, I hope AI keeps it up with their AI code flights too.

Any interesting experiences on AI2 code flights? I recently took one AMD-BOM AI2 flight, it was very similar to Vistara UK flights, but it was right next day of new operations, not sure how it is now or going to be in near future. Any experiences would be nice to know.

Edit: I did manage to redeem my first flight ticket by Bluchip miles. Feels special to do it on Indigo.

[vaibhav_a_a]

This survey result mirrors my experiences with Indigo -

IndiGo named one of the worst airlines as global rankings are unveiled


Recall an instance in 2018 when I was delayed in T2 Delhi by the ground staff (check in was slow), and denied boarding saying you were late. Afer some arguing, I was issued a boarding pass only to be held at gate by the crew (flight was overbooked, a total of 5 of us who had boarding passes were illegally held there), then they boarded us and off-boarded a few people who they had got onto the flight by promising a journey ahead of the scheduled one - am sure they were charged a fare difference. Finally we took off with an hour's delay. A young Chinese teacher , touring India, who was one of us 5 on the bus and spoke little English was flabbergasted and asked me about the whole situation ''Why, this happen?''. I could not even defend my country.

I find their training has made the crew money minded - can't move to an XL seat even mid-flight - crew will ask for money like a cheap sleeper bus conductor.

I've had mostly OK experiences with AI so far, nothing very negative.

I miss Vistara though and of course, I miss Jet.

Not sure if US domestic airlines are included in this thread but very positive experiences with (now defunct) NorthWest Airlines, bad with United, OK with Southwest, good with American Airlines / American Eagle and Delta / Skywest and a couple more I cannot recall now. Most be the seat pitch and free nuts.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by vaibhav_a_a

This survey result mirrors my experiences with Indigo.

I've had mostly OK experiences with AI so far, nothing very negative.

I miss Vistara though and of course, I miss Jet.

I was also going through the same news on another link. The survey more or less matches with the frustrations and nightmares that we as travellers have encountered at some time or the other with Indigo airlines. The survey also includes feedbacks from international travellers on this India's largest and monopolistic airline, that feels it rules the air routes in India and elsewhere.

Their fares do not anywhere indicate that Indigo is a low cost air carrier. They save on snacks and even in case of unprecedented delays something like "khichdi" is offered if passengers are lucky. They charge equivalent to three to five star rates for their on-board snacks and juices/soft drinks served and call themselves a low cost carrier.

Our hats off and full praises for the survey findings which rank it at #103 that it deserves. Though it may not at all affect Indigo as regards the domestic passenger bookings and revenues, because it has a monopoly and dominance here. But surely, on the international sector the survey findings will make travellers think twice before booking a flight on the blessed 6E.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by vaibhav_a_a

I find their training has made the crew money minded - can't move to an XL seat even mid-flight - crew will ask for money like a cheap sleeper bus conductor. :

They are justified else other passengers will follow your lead and save money in switching seats mid flight

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by ajmat

They are justified else other passengers will follow your lead and save money in switching seats mid flight

Agree. The XL seats are somewhat of a 'premium economy' standard with substantial legroom and charged as such. I don't see why 6E should allow economy passengers to move to them (mid-flight) for free.

[vaibhav_a_a]

Originally Posted by ajmat

They are justified else other passengers will follow your lead and save money in switching seats mid flight

If the seat was not sold before the flight took off, its empty capacity and a wasted seat. Note am not talking about moving classes from economy to business but those near emergency exit or thereabouts.

[mtnrajdeep]

Originally Posted by vaibhav_a_a

If the seat was not sold before the flight took off, its empty capacity and a wasted seat. Note am not talking about moving classes from economy to business but those near emergency exit or thereabouts.

Then no one will buy those seats in advance and hope to sit there for free during the flight. The crew are expected to charge us for these seats so that we are trained to buy them during the seat booking.

[itwasntme]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../116275633.cms

A lot of people fly 6E via Istanbul but the fact is that 6E has no scope for backup aircraft as they wet lease the two 777s from Turkish, and if anything goes wrong, passengers have simply had it.

Again, I don’t know what arrangements 6E has at IST, but a massive modern airport should have plenty of options to accommodate ~400 flyers, albeit temporarily.

Complete mess!

[vaibhav_a_a]

Landed in Delhi on Jan 1st at 8:30 pm from Lucknow. We weren't allowed to de-board for a good 15 minutes due to the non-availability of a bus. With a one year infant in arms, post a flight with ears popped, it is a torture one has to experience first hand to even sympathize. Didnt, reach terminal building till 9 pm thanks to their bus's circuitous route. On board, they would not even give you a bottle of water (sir, we have to charge) instead giving us a cup which doesn't help when descending (you need to keep sipping something while holding the infant).

Too cheap for an aerobridge, never a cheap ticket in sight - that's indigo for you.

We had taken Air India on our way out, that along with better seat pitch, aerobridge connectivity, and a courteous staff got us to Lucknow in great shape. Swore to take AI only on all future domestic trips.

[akash_v12]

If one takes a close look at Aircraft Deliveries on planespotters.net, you'll end up finding things like this: Air India has apparently been transferring some of their brand new A320neos to Air India Express/AIX. Does anyone have any valid reasoning towards this move? They are some of the newest ones with the VT-RTx registrations.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by akash_v12

Air India has apparently been transferring some of their brand new A320neos to Air India Express/AIX.

I guess it’s due to multiple reasons as per my thinking:
1. Compliance with the Route Dispersal Guidelines;
2. The combined entity (AI + AIX + UK) are regularly taking new deliveries and anyway need to deploy them ASAP;
2. AI wants to strike 6E hard both from the lucrative metro routes (already successful in some) as well as the feeder and distributor origin and destination airports across India.
3. It is crucial to elevate the hitherto flagging AIX brand so that it becomes superior (perception) to the ‘STC bus’ experience that 6E currently offers on some routes.

On another note, flew on one of the wet-leased Turkish Corendon Airlines 737s (TC-TJR, https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/1158...source=iOS+App) from Chennai to BLR.

Great experience overall with friendly (Turkish) cabin crew, 13 year old but well maintained aircraft, better seat cushioning than 6E and very efficient cabin / F&B management given the short flight duration. Might actually proactively choose the Corendon fleet going forward