Bhogle’s post quickly gained traction, sparking widespread discussion about the treatment of passengers and calling for sensitivity training for airline staff. “The gentleman was going to struggle to walk till row 19 in a narrow passage. But who cares? A few people had to make a noise and point out the immorality and only then, thanks to the pleasant cabin crew, were the original seats restored,” Bhogle wrote.
Another example of #IndigoFirstPassengerLast. An elderly couple on my flight had paid for seats in row 4 so they wouldn’t have to walk much. Without an explanation, #Indigo changed it to seat 19. The gentleman was going to struggle to walk till row 19 in a narrow passage. But who…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 24, 2024
He emphasized that the issue was only resolved after complaints were made, suggesting that the airline’s initial plan was to make the couple walk to row 19 and then reassign them to their original seats after all passengers had boarded.
Bhogle also highlighted comments from the elderly woman, who lamented the frequent nature of such occurrences and the stress they cause for older travelers. She mentioned her frustration over IndiGo’s monopoly in the domestic aviation market. “With success comes responsibility,” Bhogle added, urging IndiGo to adopt a more customer-centric approach and avoid institutionalizing an uncaring attitude.
Since its posting, Bhogle’s message has garnered over five lakh views and more than 6,600 likes. Many users in the comments expressed their support for Bhogle’s stance, calling for better treatment of passengers by airlines. One commenter described IndiGo as “an auto rickshaw in the air,” while another pointed out the need for increased competition in the Indian aviation sector to improve customer service standards.
In response to Bhogle’s post, IndiGo issued a statement apologizing for the incident, noting, “We sincerely regret the confusion that caused inconvenience to the customers. Our crew quickly intervened, ensuring they traveled comfortably in their originally assigned seats.” The airline also mentioned reaching out to the affected passengers to address their concerns personally.
The incident has prompted calls for airlines to implement better training and policies to ensure the comfort and dignity of all passengers, especially the elderly, during air travel.