‘Never flying Indigo again’: Delhi doctor has ‘nightmare’ experience over pre-booked meal – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Delhi-based doctor Suvrankar Datta slammed IndiGo Airlines after enduring what he called a “nightmare” experience on a recent Bangalore-Delhi flight. Datta, a radiologist at AIIMS, took to social media to highlight concerns over passenger safety and service standards.
In a series of posts on X, Dr Datta detailed his ordeal, saying that his pre-booked meal was not served on time despite multiple follow-ups with the cabin crew. As someone with borderline high blood sugar levels, pointed out the importance of timely meals to avoid medical complications.
“Never flying Indigo again! My recent flight from Bangalore to Delhi turned into a nightmare that I hope no one else has to experience! ” Datta said in a post.
“I always pre-book my meals because I have borderline high sugar levels, prefer having my meals on time and avoid overeating or skipping meals… So, pre-booked a sandwich on this afternoon flight as from experience they always ignore non pre-booked meals!” he wrote.
According to his account, the flight took off around 3:30 pm, and meal service began shortly after. When the crew reached his seat, they informed him that his pre-booked meal might be delayed due to an issue at Bangalore airport. Initially patient, Dr Datta waited, but after half an hour, he grew concerned and requested an update. He alleged that the crew repeatedly ignored him despite his persistent inquiries.

“I still waited, growing increasingly irritated and jittery from hypoglycemia. Around 4:00 pm, a kind passenger noticed my distress and offered me her sandwich,” he wrote, adding that he then pressed the emergency call light but received no response.
Frustration escalated when the captain announced the descent while his meal issue remained unresolved. “What if this neglect put someone in a medical emergency in real danger?” he questioned.
Dr Datta said he finally received his meal at 5:40 pm, but by then, he was severely hypoglycemic. To add to his frustration, the crew served him black coffee instead of black tea, despite his specific request. “By that time, I was so hypoglycaemic that I did not even have the energy or strength to argue!” he said.
His biggest concern, he claimed, was the airline’s failure to respond to his emergency call button for nearly 30 minutes. He also accused the crew of showing “appalling unprofessionalism and arrogance,” stating that they neither apologized nor offered an explanation for the delay.
Responding to the allegations, Indigo said in a post, “Dr Datta, thank you for taking the time to speak with us and allowing us to address the matter. We sincerely apologise for the delay in serving your pre-booked meal and the inconvenience this caused.”
“At IndiGo, we are committed to understanding and prioritising our customers’ needs and comfort. Please be assured that we take your feedback seriously and have taken the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence,” the airlines added.