Harsha Bhogle criticises IndiGo for changing elderly couple’s seats; airline responds

PTC News Desk: Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle took to social media on Saturday to criticise IndiGo for relocating an elderly couple’s seats on a flight. Bhogle, using his official X account, detailed that the couple had initially booked seats in row 4 to avoid a long walk through the narrow cabin. However, according to Bhogle, IndiGo moved them to seat 19 without any explanation.

Bhogle expressed concern over the difficulty the elderly gentleman would face walking to the rear of the plane. He pointed out that their original seats were eventually restored only after public outcry. Bhogle highlighted that the couple had to make a scene to get their original seats back, noting that the elderly lady had expressed frustration about the frequent stress caused by such incidents when traveling with IndiGo.

The commentator also criticized IndiGo for what he described as a lack of sensitivity toward elderly passengers and urged the airline to better train its staff to prioritize passenger comfort. He expressed disappointment that a successful Indian company like IndiGo would exhibit such “uncaring” behavior.

IndiGo’s Response

In response to Bhogle’s criticism, IndiGo issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience caused.

Mr Bhogle, thank you for bringing this to our attention and taking the time to speak with us. We sincerely regret the confusion that caused inconvenience to the customers. Our crew quickly intervened, ensuring they travelled comfortably in their originally assigned seats. 1/2

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 24, 2024

The airline acknowledged the issue and confirmed that the crew acted quickly to ensure the couple was moved back to their original seats. IndiGo expressed gratitude for Bhogle bringing the matter to their attention and assured that they had reached out to the affected customers personally to address their concerns.

“We sincerely regret the confusion and any inconvenience caused. Our team promptly intervened to ensure the couple traveled comfortably in their originally assigned seats,” IndiGo stated. The airline concluded by thanking Bhogle for his understanding and expressed their commitment to improving passenger service.