Cabin service of our National carrier.
Flight from New Delhi to Dubai.
The Airbus 330 was full.
The crew was serving drinks.
The man on the aisle seat in one of the middle rows where we were, asked for a whisky.
The hostess served him that with a packet of roasted
peanuts.
She had just pushed her trolley to the next row when the man gulped the drink in one go, turned behind and asked for another.
She said, “I just gave you one.” The man replied that he
had finished it.
I heard her annoyed reply, “Itni jaldi piya tho mein kya karun!” and pushed her cart ahead.
The man had to wait for a while before she came asking for another round of drinks. He spent the interval munching the peanuts from his own packet and mine which I had generously given to him. He was cautious next time she came. He asked her to serve him two then.
The passenger waits for three hours before he boards an international flight and everyone cannot afford a meal at the opulent environment of the IGI or any other airport. He relies on the meal served by the airlines to soothe his hunger. But, does hunger account for the appetite for drinks too?
True, the airline service has turned from being motherly to grandmotherly with the crew aging graciously with the airline. They deserve respect and consideration.
What is service? Obliging the customer’s every wish irrespective of his/her tone and tenor or expecting etiquette and decency from everyone who obliges you?
