Air India Refunds ₹5.2 Lakh to CEO After His ‘Worst’ Business Class Experience Goes Viral

Viral News: Tata-owned airline Air India grabbed headlines after Indian-American CEO Anip Patel described his business-class experience as the “worst.”

Patel took to Instagram to share his disappointing experience on a non-stop flight from New Delhi to Chicago. He described the journey as a "nightmare" and criticized the first-class cabin as the worst he'd ever encountered.

The airline refunded the entire amount to the unhappy passenger after seeing his viral video on social media, despite Patel not filing a formal complaint.

Patel shared, “I did not file any complaint with @airindia, but through social media, they saw this video—they called me today and refunded my entire flight,” adding, “They did make it right, and it's worth noting.”

What Was the Video About?

In the video, Patel gave viewers a glimpse of the facilities, pointing out loose compartment parts, torn and damaged surfaces, and stains on the recliner seat.

He also expressed frustration over the food and amenities, complaining about the lack of in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi on the 15-hour flight.

His viral post read: “I recently endured a 15-hour non-stop flight from Chicago to Delhi, and it was far from pleasant. I had heard negative things about Air India in the past, but I was hoping the recent changes under new management would improve the experience—unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”

“Everything was ripped, ruined, or had mildew on it. I understand it was wear and tear, but this was next level,” Patel added. He also mentioned that the flight only had one of each item on the menu available.

According to the post, the entertainment systems did not work, despite the cabin crew’s repeated attempts to reset them. Additionally, the items in the cabin were taped to the walls, and the flight lacked a Wi-Fi system.

The video has amassed over 6.9 million views, 97,100 likes, and 8,749 comments since being posted.