An Air India passenger’s ex (former Twitter) post has taken the internet by storm, in which he shared his experience of travelling without a tray table during an 8-hour long flight. The passenger revealed that he was informed before the flight that his seat’s tray table would not open, and he then had to sign a consent form at the check-in counter accepting this. The passenger also revealed that he paid an extra fee to choose seats for himself and his children together during web check-in.
During this journey, the passenger had to make the tough decision to accept his seat and travel without a tray table, because if he had changed seats he would have had to sit separately from his children and would have been uncomfortable throughout the flight. The passenger described it as “absolute chaos”, as it was becoming difficult to keep the children’s food on his knees and balance the food in one hand and the drink in the other.
Turbulence added to the problem
The passenger described his travel experience as even more challenging, especially when turbulence came during the flight. This journey became a difficult and unforgettable experience for him.
Air India’s response
Air India took notice of this X post and responded in the comments below it, saying, “Dear Sir, we understand your disappointment. Please share your booking details via DM and we will consider it.” From this response, it appears that the airline is ready to solve the passenger’s problem regarding this experience.
Reactions on social media
After this incident, some X users criticized the airline and shared their similar experiences. One user wrote, “Same thing happened to me, still no update, no compensation,” while another said, “Where is the problem? They already informed you, so why complain now?” Some users also commented in defence of the airline. “You can’t really blame them when the seat parts are not made by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer),” said another user. He further added that Tata has to make the parts for these seats themselves, and it takes time to get it ready, plus the aircraft is undergoing renovation work.
Different ways to use tray tables in flights
Flight passengers use their tray tables in different ways. Earlier, a video went viral on social media in which a woman was making a creamy dessert during the flight, which was placed on the tray table. This video also shows how important the importance and use of tray tables can be for passengers. This incident has once again raised the question that airlines should pay more attention to improving passenger facilities and experiences.
