Last Updated:
Harsha Bhogle has criticised IndiGo for changing an elderly couple’s seats on the flight. (@bhogleharsha/X)
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle criticized IndiGo for relocating an elderly couple’s seats on a flight. The airline later restored their original seats and apologised
In a lengthy social media post on Saturday, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle criticised IndiGo Airlines for an incident involving an elderly couple whose seats were reportedly changed without explanation.
Without providing specifics about the flight in question, Bhogle said the couple had paid for seats in row 4 to avoid a long walk, but were reassigned to row 19, which he noted was difficult for them to reach.
‘Such a pity’
Bhogle expressed his frustration over the incident, saying, “The gentleman was going to struggle to walk to row 19 in a narrow passage. But who cares?” He highlighted that the couple’s original seats were only restored after several passengers raised concerns about the situation.
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
“A few people had to make a noise, point out the immorality and only then, thanks to the pleasant cabin crew were the original seats restored. But, and this is the point, they had to make a noise otherwise Indigo was going to get them to walk till 19, and check after boarding was complete, if they could be assigned 4, which meant they would have to walk back,” he said.
‘Such a pity’
Bhogle emphasised that the couple should not have had to make a fuss to receive fair treatment, noting that the elderly woman described such incidents as common and stressful for travelers of their age. He further lamented the airline’s lack of sensitivity, suggesting that IndiGo should train its ground staff to prioritize passenger comfort.
“Such a pity. I am sure @IndiGo6E, you can sensitise your ground staff to put the passenger first occasionally. It was so disappointing to see how casually they were moving elderly passengers,” Bhogle said. “With success comes responsibility,” he added, urging the airline to adopt a more caring approach toward its customers. “As someone who is proud of a successful Indian enterprise, I hope you can be more sensitive and not institutionalise this uncaring attitude.”
IndiGo Responds
In response, IndiGo expressed regret for the confusion and inconvenience caused to the couple. The airline acknowledged Bhogle’s concerns and stated that their crew quickly intervened to ensure the couple returned to their originally assigned seats. IndiGo also mentioned that they reached out to the customers personally to address the matter and thanked Bhogle for bringing the issue to their attention.
Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
