We decided to treat ourselves to a first-class flight, hoping for a luxurious experience. The seats were spacious and comfortable, but our joy was short-lived. The flight crew arrived late, causing a delay that affected many passengers who had to scramble to catch connecting flights. We felt bad for them, especially as we faced our own troubles.
We checked four bags and were dismayed to find that one was missing. The Delta online support wasn’t helpful, but the baggage claim staff were kind and sympathetic. We waited for nearly two hours, but the bag was nowhere to be found. We were finally reunited with our luggage several hours later, but had to drive back to the airport to collect it. This frustrating experience made us question the value of first-class travel, as we felt the service was actually worse than in economy. We won’t be splurging on first class again anytime soon!
Paris to Mumbai: A Nightmare in the Air
The first leg of our journey from Washington, D.C., to Paris was pleasant. The staff was helpful and courteous. But the Paris to Mumbai flight was a disaster. The plane was overcrowded, leaving little headroom and making it impossible to find space for our carry-on luggage.
The flight attendants were unresponsive to calls for assistance and seemed uninterested in providing basic service. One crew member even spilled water on me while refilling my glass and offered no apology.
The limited legroom was exacerbated by the cramped conditions, and we had to endure long lines for the washrooms. The entire flight was a stressful and unpleasant experience that we wouldn’t want to repeat.
Norse Atlantic: A Flight to Forget
Norse Atlantic Airways is, without a doubt, the worst airline I have ever flown with. Our troubles started before we even boarded the plane. They forced us to check our carry-on bags despite the fact that they fit under the seats. This policy seemed unreasonable and led to exorbitant fees for checking our luggage.
We also witnessed a heated argument between a flight attendant and a passenger with a scooter. The passenger had all the necessary paperwork and had been previously allowed to bring his scooter onboard, but the attendant was uncooperative and refused to allow it. After a long and unnecessary delay, they finally relented, but only after the passenger and his wife struggled to stow the scooter overhead.
To make matters worse, everything on this flight was for sale, even water. Passengers were forced to line up at the washrooms to refill their empty bottles. The cabin was frigid and we had to wear multiple layers of clothing just to stay warm. The airline was clearly trying to capitalize on passengers’ discomfort by charging exorbitant prices for blankets.
The poor timing of the lights during the red-eye flight was another major annoyance, as it disrupted our sleep and allowed the flight attendants to come through the aisles selling duty-free items. All of these factors combined to make for a truly unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons) and horrible flight. We would never fly with this airline again.
A Seat Reclining Saga: Chaos in Economy
The boarding process was a mess, creating unnecessary stress. While the airline boasts extra legroom and seats that recline more in economy, it appears that some passengers struggle to understand these concepts. Our seatmate behind us aggressively shook our chair when we reclined, claiming it was too much.
We contacted the flight attendants to help mediate the situation, but they failed to intervene, leading to continued harassment from the passenger for the duration of the eight-hour flight. It seems the airline needs to train their staff on how to handle these situations, especially considering their emphasis on legroom and reclining angles.
