Air India Chaos: Bargain Fare Turns into 72-Hour Travel Nightmare

Flying with Air India is becoming a test of patience and disbelief. A passenger who booked a flight from Delhi to Washington D.C. on July 2 experienced this firsthand. He thought he found a bargain during a rare fare sale, but it turned into a lesson on Air India's dysfunction.

The journey began with some promise as the check-in was smooth, and the flight took off just 15 minutes late. However, issues soon emerged. The in-flight entertainment system was not working, and the alternative was an inadequate streaming service for personal devices. Frustrated, the passenger attempted to sleep.

Technical Glitches and Cancellations

During a scheduled stop in Vienna for crew change and refueling, things took a turn for the worse. A technical glitch required a shutdown and reboot, which was supposed to take 20 minutes but extended to nearly an hour before the flight was cancelled altogether.

Passengers were left confused and distressed, especially those who were elderly and couldn't understand English. There were no Air India staff available to assist them during this chaotic situation.

Accommodation Woes

The absurdity continued with manual record-keeping using pen and paper in 2025. Of the promised 200 hotel rooms, only 25 were provided. Most travelers had to sleep in the terminal on foldable beds. Meals were limited to €15 to €20 coupons at expensive airport restaurants.

After 24 hours, the traveler was rebooked on Emirates and reached Washington 72 hours later, missing one of his checked bags. To add insult to injury, his return flight was rescheduled a day earlier without any notification.

Lack of Accountability

Air India's service model appears plagued by broken planes, absent staff, and zero accountability. Even at discounted rates, enduring such chaos is hardly worth it.

This experience highlights why Air India remains synonymous with dysfunction despite offering deals that seem appealing at first glance.