Category: Travel

Not so classy

This is the third post in the series of customer care. This one is a partly third person review. Today it’s the airlines Etihad Airways.

Quick background.

My parents flew business class on Etihad airways. One of the flights was more than 14 hours long. My mother (no she doesn’t have any medical condition that stop her from flying or eating crappy Airline food and stop having negative thoughts!!!) doesn’t eat onion or garlic in her meal. So I booked Hindu Jain vegetation meal for her.

On her 14 hour long flight she was offered a breakfast and that’s it. When she asked for more she was told nothing is available for Hindu Jain meal. She told them she can have fruits, bread, dry fruits and juice. So it was offered to her. All she was offered on a 14 hour flight was breakfast, fruits, juice, some dry fruits and bread. I believe people are served better food on shorter economy class flights. So this was the third party review. Because I don’t know how much food was served to my mother and what quantity.

But let’s review the customer care of Etihad. I dropped them a feedback on their official website and there was no reply. I assumed because there are more than million people airlines so who will take care of so many feedback. So I decided to call up the customer care. Being a global brand contacting customer care till less than 5 minutes to be connected to a representative. After telling him all the issue he said that because my mother has a special meal so and the crew carry just one meal per person. I asked him should I pack lunch for my mother and he said yes. The customer service representative forgot that my parents are flying business class and not economy. But none the less he took my compliant and seems to forward to his internal team. Not till date there is no update from them.

My rating for Etihad of
Customer Service = -/5 (i have not received the service so cant comment on this)
Customer Care = 0/5 (No Updates, zero follow ups and clueless customer care executives.)

A different perspective

For many of you 31st Aug 1992 is just another day in the last century. Not for me, it was my first day in hostel. Yes it that long time ago. Those who are mathematically challenged it’s more than 23 and half years.

It must have been too much for any 9 year old. (Yes, yours truly was only 9 years old when I went to hostel). There was precedent already set with my elder sister and brother both going to hostel at a very young age before me. So I was mentally ready. But what about my parents? Were they ready? If they have sent two of their kids to hostel they must be ready to send the youngest one too. I digress.

Let me explain. Assume you have 3 fruits (or any item you love to eat. It doesn’t matter).

Scenario 1 -> If you to give one of the fruit (or the item of your choice) to some one else. You may be reluctant but you may share.

Scenario 2 -> What if someone extort two of the fruits(again assume the item) from you. You will be heart broken but have to part with 2 of the items. Because you are still left one of the fruits(just assume your favorite item, don’t make me repeat)

Scenario 3 -> But if you have to give up all three of fruits because they will become better fruits in foreseeable future. Will be ready to give away all the fruits (still? Even after missing last one). Remember these are your favourite and you would like to keep at least one of them with you.

Now replace fruits with your own kids and think of the scenario 3. Yeah the same feeling. For any parent having an empty house is the last thing they will want. And mine had the same for last 23 and half years. An empty house..

For those who are thinking why am I writing this, is because I am leaving my wife and 7days baby (yeah 1week old) with my parents and going back to Hong Kong. This really breaks my heart and I can’t do anything. Now that I know what is the pain of being separated from your kid, I can only assume how much pain my parents have felt.

BTW it’s a girl.

King of bad times

How many of you paid few bucks extra to fly kingfisher airlines to just because they are king of good times. My flight from Bangalore to mumbai was suppose to be the one of the good times flight. But it turned out to be dud.

The ordeal started even before I have reached the airport. 18 hours before i have to flu I get a call from kf’s office to notify me that my flight has been cancelled due to “technical reasons” and they have booked me on another flight. Fine by me. Now my flight depart one and half hour before.

I reach airport as per the new flight time. we are promptly boarded on the plane just to be told by the captain that there is low visibility and so the flight may be delayed. It’s fine by us but the captain forgot to tell us that the delay is of one and half hour only.

Remember it’s a kingfisher airlines so there is in flight entertainment. Hahahahaha forget it. They don’t have ear phones and the stupid me this was the day I have forgotten my pair of earphones.

Next comes the gourmet food. Masala omelette with tossed veggies. Just to find that the omelette was undercooked. That’s a great day for the good times.

Being Hypocrite

Note:- The post has got no relation to being human campaign run by salman khan except the resemblance of name.

Before i start let me describe, according to me,  “who is a hypocrite?” Such person whose actions are not same as his/her thoughts. I am sure some of you will agree to this and some of you will disagree. I give a damn. but all of you must have met, known or live with a person like that. It may be your teacher who has taught you not cheat in exams but have cheated during exams or a friend who want all the help but never come forward when you need it.

I have also met, known and lived with such a person. I have know this person for long.  but this is not the one single person. i found them in all walk of life and some times i think that they have left a mark on me. such a deep mark that i have become some one like them.

My actions never speak what are my thoughts. and some times i think if this is correct? I have seen my self change from a obnoxious person to deep dark and cruel persona.

that was one of things that was on my mind and i feel good that its out of my system. Now to some things which i was doing for last few months.

I have booking ticket for whole of my family that includes my dad, mom, brother, uncle, grandmom, friends and myself. which made me think it would have better if have started a travel agency i would have got some money out of it :).

The only good thing that i have done in past few months is that i have taught my dad how to check is his e-mails. For those whose dad’s are tech-savy think it like this. My dad is in a small village in bihar where broadband is yet to set its foot and computers are alien gizmo. The reason he had to learn how to check mails was because my family has started to search a bride for my elder and half of the parent sent a soft copy of “Bio-Data” .

and just to add to the list My travel mania has started, last month i was in hyderabad, next week i will be in mumbai that is (15th and 16th of oct) and from 22nd to 25 i am off to GOA.

rest later.

Another Year, Another B’Day and a Accident

New year has come and gone and its the month of Feb. The month of wishes. Its to wish the two people in life whom i wish “Happy Birthday” again. I am not sure if i can continue this tradition but i will try. But its time to wish “Happy Birthday Dear.”

Another News to add is that i just met with an accident. it was on the main road at 5 in the morning with the motor bike that my friend was driving. As it turns out there was no vehicle coming from behind else you wont be seeing this post but our obituary in the paper.

Here are the Medal of Honor

Result of AccidentSee u at the other side.