Air India, the National Flag Carrier of India has been in the epicentre of the news in the recent times, thanks to Tata takeover — the return to the original parents. Having had multiple opportunities to take a few flights in Air India including the literally around the world non-stop Air India flight from Delhi to San Fransisco and back, much before the takeover, and also with multiple other airlines in the last few decades, this article though is about the recent early morning flight from Chennai to Port Blair, AI 549 in specific after the takeover, the point of view applies to all Air India flights in general.
Being an Indian Citizen, always had the soft corner for our National Flag Carrier, for there is always the emotional connect. Apart from the emotional there are other factors which I love about this airline.
Pack Everything you have!
Well, twenty-five kilos check-in baggage allowance at the time of writing this article. Which domestic airline gives this apart from Air India? Alas, we could not use this since our return flight was to Bangalore from Port Blair was via another airline (Air India did not have a direct flight from Port Blair to BLR) whose allowance for just sixty percent of this. Add to this a generous hand baggage option as well.
Food — Quality with Quantity!
A variety of food on board from Taj Sats, from the world-renowned Taj Group, of course from the Tatas would never stop surprising you pleasantly
Room for the legs!
Long legs? Long flight? Air India gives you enough and more leg room without asking for you to pay more. Please ignore the dirty foot of yours truly in the picture and concentrate only on the space :)
Cabin Crew — Experience Matters!
Like me, you would also have heard jokes made about the age of the crew of Air India. However, this is the most important point I felt people overlook.
Taking the case of the Chennai -Port Blair flight, which was quite full, the way the crew handled the crowd was nothing less than extra-ordinary. Special mention to Pramila Devi, who was going around each and everyone to make sure that people adhere to all safety precautions in a very calm fashion — giving individual attention to each and everyone, talking to people in regional languages whenever deemed necessary, gently handling children and making sure they wear the seat-belts properly — that eye of detail of hers was indeed commendable. She, along-with other cabin-crew carried on with the inflight service in such a systematic way with a no-fuss, no-hurry approach but at the same time with a personal connect to passengers checking around again whether they require any additional beverage/food in terms of hospitality or any other assistance in terms of help was really heart-warming.
And this experience of the crew gives you the confidence that if there is some emergency issues, they will handle them with ease. And speaking of such situations, …
Kudos to the Pilots!
It was raining heavily with a decent storm, and we were about to land when we realized that the plane was going up again. Pilots announced that the weather is not great and they will attempt to land again. Though people joked around that we might be able to land in Nicobar for a change, everyone was anxious. And they made a second attempt, this time successful in the comparatively smaller runway of the island. It was indeed a great relief. What else could you expect from the National Flag Carrier that has flown various rescue missions, including the Vande Bharat, the Operation Ganga, and so on to a name few in the recent times. Thanks to the pilots and of course Thank God!
Improvements Galore!
Of course there may be multiple venues of improvements for Air India — From its entertainment system (of International flights) upgrade, air crafts showing their age, ground communication to passengers for delays (well, I did not find the private airlines any better in this case), cabin interiors needing maintenance in some cases, better online site and app, and more. However I believe, its..
Sunny Days Ahead!
And I am sure that the Tata would make this airline a crowning jewel once more, adding the aesthetic factor to the functional, appealing to the young and old, to the common man and the discerning traveller alike. Let’s just wait to see the Maharajah regain his lost kingdom in all its crowning glory!
