Those were the days of the monopoly of Indian Airlines. There were no competitors and hence the service was atrocious. Passengers were treated with contempt and had no voice. People used to live with this treatment with resigned acceptance.

Around this time private airlines had started operating around major airports in India. Having lived with the dreadful experience with the state carrier, the expectations of the customers from the private operators were raised to unimaginable sky-high levels. The airlines were also at fault to some extent as they were showering unheard of gifts just to attract customers. Free drinks and gift-pouches were the new norm.

Lucknow used to have just one daily flight to Delhi operated by Indian Airlines. Sometime in the month of May-June, if I remember correctly, Sahara Airlines introduced a new flight from Lucknow to Mumbai via Delhi. The route probably did not deserve a second flight due to low air-traffic but then Lucknow was the headquarters of the Sahara Group.

I happened to book on one of the first few flight to Delhi. On reaching the check-in counter (there was only one) I found an elderly prosperous businessman looking gentleman into a big argument with the check-in staff. There were a few people waiting patiently behind him for their turn. I too joined the queue. It turned out that the fight was for a seat on the front row. The gentleman, travelling to Mumbai, wanted a seat on the VIP/Front row (it happens even today, though now-a-days you can pay extra for it). The airline staff was trying to convince him that as the front row seats were already booked between the Delhi-Mumbai sector, they can at best accommodate him upto Delhi but he will have to shift to some other seat on reaching Delhi. The gentleman would have none of it and was throwing his weight around. Finally, however, he had to give in very grudgingly.

We boarded the flight. In all there were hardly fifteen passengers. In the first row next to the door an elderly couple was seated. I was seated a little behind. The direction in which the plane was parked meant that the sunlight was coming in through the door in their direction. What I witnessed next makes me laugh and cringe even today and shows to what extent people’s expectations can be raised.

The old man called the air-hostess and told her to request the pilot to turn the plane around and park it such that they won’t get direct sunlight on them!

Why am I telling you this story? Well! wild promises and even wilder expectations of the people reminded me of it. You get the hint, don’t you?