To all Indians who hate Air India...

On a different but related note, I have this to say about Air India and especially the Indians who fly Air India. Now most of you would go 'phaaahh', 'eughhh', and so on at the mere mention of the name "Air India". I've also had first hand experience of people cursing their 'bad luck' at having to fly Air-India. Also, a LOT of second hand experience (from stories narrated by Dad) of how people tend to behave when flying their National Carrier.

It really is a shame. I'm not saying this because my Dad works for that company. I'm saying this because it IS a shame. You'll see people screaming at the top of their voices at the staff sitting at the counters, if the flight is delayed or postponed. (Do things happen smoothly at YOUR workplace ALL THE TIME?) You'll hear of people writing letters to Station Managers, you'll hear an aunty narrating stories at a high-society party of how tight the seatbelt was, how insufficient the leg-space was, or how salty the food was, and how shabby the staff were. You'll hear people telling their friends how 'foreign' airlines are way better.

People are always complaining how BAD Air India is. Next time do everyone a favour and spend a few extra bucks to fly another airline eh? No? Aaaahh....see that is the problem. You want to fly at the cheapest rates, still you complain....I should not be one to judge...but oh you poor bast*rds. You'd run out of stories to tell your friends na?

People actually used to steal the silver cutlery that was given in each and every Class, a few years back. Now of course they've stopped using silver cutlery in the Economy Class. SHAME on YOU. My Dad often narrates stories of that Economy Class hero who wants to be upgraded to First Class. For no reason at all, of course. That same person would in most likelihood cook up some amazing story of the torrid time he had with Air India, and narrate it among his friends, who would shake their heads at the state of the airline. Yet after a few months, you'll probably see at least one among that group flying with...you guessed it...Air India. Money talks, my friends.

So next time, keep your stories to yourself. And since I've travelled on other airlines as well, I can tell you that the warmth that you get (there are of course a few exceptions even I have encountered, no doubt) on your National Airline is not there anywhere else. Oh by the way, people who scream at an Indian at the Air India counter, will probably "Sir" a gora at the British Airways counter. I ask why? Absolutely baffling....!

Next time you see a screaming man at the Airport, know that it's an Indian travelling on Air India. Appreciate what you have, people. And stop cribbing. Someone once said "It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you." Very true. Very true indeed.

P.S. The views expressed by me in the above post are, well, entirely mine and I really hope that at least one of these haters reads it and leaves a comment.