'An exciting plane ride to Paris' as experienced by K.J.S.Chatrath

I went to Paris in May 2022 by Vistara. It being a joint effort of TATAs & Singapore Airlines, I was expecting an impeccable journey. Alas it was not to be. At the time of checking in, the young gentleman at the counter looked at me and my new passport and asked me 'Ah Sir. going abroad for the first time? I was taken aback at this unwarranted show of bonhomie and told him that I have been to 62 countries of the world, to many of these more than once, and put my 5 old passports which included one Diplomatic, two official and two general passports overflowing with visas on his desk. He mumbled something like 'sorry' but it was not even audible clearly.

Service inside the plane was just average. And then came the second shock- the lunch. I had requested for a Hindu Veg meal as it is called in the airlines language. Believe you me, the quantity was so little that it could not have filled the stomach of a little bird, much less of an adult human being. And to top it, it was cold. Cold rice, cold curry cold vegetable. Anyway I picked up a few morsels. It was as bland as it can be.

I gave up and tried to catch a bit of sleep. I woke up when the lights got switched on and we were informed that we were about to land at CDG Airport Paris. There was also a helpful announcement that one can collect one's luggage at Belt Number X (not the real number as announced).

I followed the other passengers and we reached Belt Number X. But there was no sign of luggage. After waiting about 15 minutes some of us asked a lady airline employee on duty when was the luggage from Delhi Vistara flight arriving. She looked at us a bit curly and said that we were near the wrong Belt, as luggage from our flight would come at Belt A (not the real number).

We all moved to the new Belt number as now advised. And then came a long, long, wait...almost of an hour before the luggage from our flight started appearing on the Belt. Sadly my suitcase was the last one to arrive.

You would surely ask me, 'So after this experience, would you travel Vistara again?'

I would not answer by a 'Yes' or 'No' but would put a counter question to you, 'If you have had such an experience, would you?





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