Trust me in what I'm writing there is no exaggeration in this, it is entirely the true facts. This is an event that describes how Air India is a Digrace on the face of India.

The ordeal began at Indira Gandhi International Airort, New Delhi , on 5th Dec at around 2-30PM , which is coincidentally , around the same time when there was a bomb scare on a Jet Airways flight.

I was travelling from Singapore to New Delhi by AI481 on 5th Dec 09. On arrival it was found that about 25-30 Passengers' baggage had not arrived.

We all reached the Air India Information Center (next to Conveyor belt no 3&4) and asked for an explanation. Unbelieveably we were told that the baggages are left at Singapore because of a problem of 'PayLoad'. On being asked what that means , we were told something that I would never have imagined. They informed that due to overload some of the baggages were not loaded on the flight at all because they gave priority to passengers. Thats when we lost all our patience and I challenged them how can this be possible when there were 10-15 seats vacant. Moreover, how stupid and horrible excuse is that... an airlines tells their irate passengers that 'the air craft was too heavy so we did not bring your luggage as we gave priority to passengers'. What can be more ridiculous than this ? Its like they are trying to say "Thank us that we brought you here" ..... Even Air Deccan never did something so horrendous.

We had 2hours of arguements with rude and unempathetic employees of Air India (Duty Officers - Mr. Seth & Mr.Dutt) who had absoutely no sense of responsibility towards their job.

Finally complaints were filed for all passengers and all of us were given individual File Reference numbers of Property Irregularity Report. We were assured that our luggage will be delivered at our home address today, since the luggage will be coming by the same flight the next day (6th Dec 09). Driving us to the verge of being insane they told us that the compensation policy of missing baggage for Air India is that , passengers with India Passport will be given nothing but only passengers with Foreign Passport will be compensated.

During this 'fight' we had been repeatedly asking them to call the Duty Manager to meet us. But these unruly servants of Maharaja, never even cared to inform the DM about the incident, rather lied flatly to all 30 passengers on their face that ,DM has been informed but she (yes that was a lady) is busy at some other part of the airport. Finally under pressure from all the passengers, they gave us the cell phone number of the DM (9971998468). One of the Passengers called up the number and spoke to the lady (DM in shift at that point of time) who had no idea on the incident, however, even on knowing what has happened she didnt even bothered to come. Then I called up myself on the same number and spoke to the next DM on duty (Mr.Atul) who told me "our shifts just changed and I'm the DM now and I have no idea what has happened to passengers of AI481" , again another nerve wrecking response from another , lovely 'Praja of the Maharaja' . This clearly indicates that the Lady DM was simply trying to be illusive and was trying to pass on the ball to the next DM , exhibiting the lack of sense of responsiility yet again.

However on pressure from all passengers , the lady (previous DM whom we informed about the incident) came with an even more amazingly ridiculous reply - "Saamaan to hum pahuncha denge , kaha naa" (I told you we will send your baggages).
Most of the time when she paid a visit to the passengers she was busy attending to calls on the cell phones turning her back to the passengers.

The ill-fated passengers included people who had to board flights to other locations, young mothers with toddlers (whose clothes were all in the missing baggage), old couples, even Foreigners . For a foreign tourist Air India definitely becomes a Disgrace on the Face of India, speciallly for those travelling for the first time to Air India.

Next day,on 6th Dec 09 as I tried to get an update at the telephone numbers given on the "Property Irregularity Report" printout (25652279 -direct / 25652050 Ext 3117 / 3116 / 3130), no one was picking up the phone and finally when one lady picked up the phone , she told me "its obvious that on sunday no one will be available for baggage handling" and then disconnected the call. I even tried the same cell phone number of the DM but the phone remains busy at all times. Hence there is absolutely no way to escalate matters or even get an update on whats the status.

Any of my co-passengers on the same flight , if they happen to read this post please feel free to contact me

Raktim De (9971783484)