Air India Passenger’s Viral Message on Being without Tray Table During 8-Hour Flight Incites Discussion
Air India passenger recounts his experience of going through an 8-hour flight with no tray table, giving rise to conversations around airline standards.

Mumbai: The agonizing air travel experience of an Air India passenger has attracted the attention of social media users after he posted about his experience on X (formerly Twitter). The traveler revealed that he endured an eight-hour flight without a working tray table, turning his trip into a balancing act.
From his blog, the passenger was told at the check-in counter that the tray table of his selected seat did not work. Even though he had paid more to be seated next to his children, he was requested to sign a consent form admitting to the defect. Having no other option, he accepted the seat so that he would not be separated from his children, as changing seats could disturb other travellers.
Terming the experience as “absolute chaos,” the traveler explained the ordeal he went through during the flight. “Food in one hand, a drink in the other, kid’s meal balanced on my knee; turbulence trying to sabotage my entire existence,” he explained. He further noted that although he wanted to patronize Air India, experiences like these made it hard.
The post quickly gained traction, with many users questioning Air India’s service standards and the airline’s handling of customer experience. Air India responded in the comments, stating, “Dear Sir, we understand your disappointment. Please share your booking details via DM, and we’ll look into it.”
The accident has rekindled debate regarding passenger rights and quality of airline services in India‘s aviation industry. A large number of social media users requested improved maintenance of aircraft interiors and quality customer service from the airline. There is no official statement yet from Air India.