Traveling first class is supposed to be a luxurious experience, but for one passenger, it turned into a nightmare.
Anip Patel, who shelled out $6,292 (£4,700) for a first-class ticket from Chicago to Delhi, was expecting a seamless journey.
Instead, he was greeted by an unthinkable level of filth on his Air India flight.
Filthy Cabin Conditions
Upon boarding the Boeing 777, Patel was appalled to find the cabin in disrepair.
Clumps of hair were lodged in various corners, the seats were dirty, and the furnishings were ripped.
What should have been a spotless first-class cabin looked neglected and uninviting.
Patel pulled out his phone to capture the scene, filming the mildew-covered surfaces, broken television, and filthy air vents.
Disappointing Food and Entertainment
The problems didn’t stop with the dirty surroundings.
Patel shared that the onboard entertainment system was broken for the entire 15-hour flight, leaving him with no way to pass the time.
As for the meals, what was served looked far from first-class quality.
He described the food as mediocre, pointing out stale samosas and lumpy soup.
Worse still, a significant portion of the menu items weren’t even available, despite only four passengers in the cabin.
Venting His Frustration
Frustrated with the situation, Patel recorded the filthy conditions and shared his experience on social media.
His clip showed thick black dirt clogging the ventilation system and mysterious stains on the seat fabric.
To make matters worse, the flight lacked wifi, and the crew was unable to fix the broken entertainment system, leaving him without any form of distraction for the long flight.
Air India’s Response
Patel didn’t file an official complaint with Air India, but his social media post quickly gained attention.
In response to the viral video, the airline reached out and offered him a full refund.
Patel acknowledged that while the airline eventually made things right, the experience left much to be desired.
Air India’s Ranking
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about Air India’s service quality.
Ranked 103rd among 350 airlines in 2023 by the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the flag carrier has been slowly improving, moving up to 90th place in 2024.
However, it still falls short compared to the top airlines globally, especially in terms of passenger satisfaction and cabin conditions.
What’s Next for Air India?
As Air India attempts to improve its rankings and reputation, incidents like this serve as a reminder that there’s still work to be done.
Passengers expect more from a first-class experience, and maintaining high standards is crucial if the airline wants to compete with the best in the world.