I along with my family took a flight from Toronto to New Delhi via Abu Dhabi on 9th May 2024, flight no EY140 and EY 218.
Our ordeal started right after boarding completed before time. 20 min after the departure time of the flight, the captain announced that we need to go back to stands (wow!) due to technical issues. (Wonder why this technical check wasn't done before boarding the passengers?). Again we kept on sitting in the craft for 2 hours before the craft taxing back. After 2 hours sitting in closed craft, announcement was made that the passengers had the option to deboard or stay on craft as some spare part needed to be changed and would take 2-3 hours.
Not feeling too well, we chose to sit in the craft along with other passengers for good 4 hours, WITHOUT ANY MEALS OR MEAL VOUCHERS. Finally, the flight which was scheduled to fly at 10:10 pm took off at 6:05 am on 10th May (delay of 8 hours).
Anyways, the ordeal doesn't end here. Finally, landing at Abu Dhabi at 2:30 am, we came to know that our journey onwards is gonna be even crazier!! (Voila!). The originally scheduled three-hour layover was extended to eight hours.
To add flavour to already stirring situation, the airlines just offered a meal voucher, "No place to freshen up, No Hotel vouchers or lounge access". Even with a US visa in hand, the discourteous staff at airport had nothing to offer to the tired passengers, not even a word of compassion. The manager Mr. Mostapha was even curt and simply said he had no idea to what ordeal happened to passengers in Toronto and instead on being questioned to what was our mistake in all this, told "You wanted to fly in a faulty aircraft!". (Amazing sense of humor, Sir, for the exhausted passengers who missed their commitments back home for making a reservation with your employer).
Best is yet to come - "On an airport where the starting meal is 69 Dirham, airlines has given meagre 40 Dirham voucher for meals."
Cherry on Cake is that in a craft full of passengers and overflowing luggage, airlines chose to switch off their air conditioners immediately after landing at Delhi, making even a normal person to breathe. In sweltering heart of 44+ degree temperature, elderly, infants onboard, they ensured that economy class passengers don't even get to breathe. My husband being claustrophobic had to literally run to breathe!
Technical glitch - Surely not in anyone's hand, no problems, everyone understands but treatment given to passengers is surely airline's duty and moral responsibility.
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