Upgrade to ‘SPICEMAX’ (Spice-Maximum) and Get Low-grade ‘SPICEMIN’ (Spice-Minimum) Service? My Utterly Terrible Experience on SpiceJet Airlines
Mangaluru : For a person like me who has traveled to many countries around the world on airlines like Air-France, British Airways, Lufthansa (German Airlines), Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Air Canada, and few others;- and also traveled around India on airlines like Kingfisher, Indigo, Jet-Airways, and having experienced the best service and facilities on all these airlines, but never had such a Utterly Terrible Experience traveling on SpiceJet for the FIRST time, and it would be my LAST travel on SpiceJet.
I had a invite for the wedding of my friend Dion D’Souza who was getting married in Dubai, and I didn’t wanted to miss an opportunity where most of the expenses were borne by the bridegroom’s family- and since it was my first travel to Dubai, I readily agreed to grace his wedding celebration. The flight tickets were booked on SpiceJet airlines, since there was no other option left, except Air-India Express (and I wouldn’t fly Air-India Express even if they offer 50% off?) from Mangaluru International Airport to Dubai. The flight from Mangaluru to Dubai was on 12 November at 12.15 am, and myself, along with Loy D’souza and Naveen D’souza were ready to check-in at 10.30 pm on 11 November.
Seeing the sign of SpiceMax hung near the check-in counter, Loy decided to upgrade our economy class ticket to SpiceMax, where SpiceMax is an add-on fee on top of your regular air fare for which you get added privileges like Priority Check-in/Baggage/Boarding & Extra Leg room seats; Complimentary on-board meals (Usually you would spend Rs. 200 – Rs 400 on it, 10% lesser if you pre-book your meals) etc etc. Seems like with a view of enhancing convenience for its passengers and to make sure they have a pleasant journey, SpiceJet, a budget carrier, has brought on-board a premium economy experience with its SpiceMax feature on its domestic and international Boeing 737 and The Bombardier fleets.
SpiceMax clients would enjoy best-in-class leg-room with almost 6 inches of extra leg space than the standard seats (all seats near the emergency exits on the flight), enough space for them to work or relax comfortably on longer flights. In addition to extra leg-room, SpiceMax would also provide to its customers a complimentary meal and beverage from the available choices. Other than that, the customers choosing SpiceMax would also be eligible for priority check-in. All this and little more for an extra price of Rs 1500 on each ticket if pre-booked or Rs 2499, if upgraded to SpiceMax at the counter- and unfortunately Loy D’souza ended up paying Rs 7500 extra for three persons.
This is one example of the SpiceMax Meal suppose to be served – but what we got was nuts and soup?
Now let me narrate the pros and Cons of upgrading to SpiceMax- Our departure from Mangaluru to Dubai on 12 November during the wee hours (12.20am)- Apart from faster check-in, priority baggage with preferred seat , and very courteous and friendly staff to take well care of you in your journey to give you best of experience, but rest of the benefits mentioned under SpiceMax is unsatisfactory and non-appreciable. The crew were very courteous, seemed like most of them were well trained when they had worked for Jet Airways- and I would like to compliment and commend Manav Khanna, for being friendly and helpful. Good job, Manav. Well, let me tell you, the facilities as mentioned under SpiceMax are not true! We were TOTALLY DISSATISFIED BEING SPICEMAX PASSENGER! Apart from extra legroom, welcome drink, wet face towel, the rest puts you in total disappointment!
Even the complimentary meal and beverage is subject to availability. It’s not like you get first preference to choose a meal. whenever they reach your seat, whatever is available, is offered to you. While traveling from Mangaluru to Dubai, there was no proper meal served- the air hostess gave us a choice to select from cashew nuts, almonds, noodle soup in a bowl- with no other choice I opted for cashew nuts- and for the free beverage, I asked for beer- and luckily got it, which was warm! My friends Loy and Naveen got Chicken sandwiches. There was hardly any real good food left to make a good meal choice.
Only Promises in Advertisement but NOT in Reality?
On reaching Dubai airport, like it was mentioned under SpiceMax that our luggage will arrive first than the others, it never happened. We had to wait patiently, while other Non-spiceMax passengers got their luggage first. We watched the economy passengers take their bags and walk out, while we received our bags later. Also we had requested for FRAGILE stickers to be put on the bags,since they contained a few glassware items, but we noticed upon delivery of the bags, the stickers were missing. Imagine how the bags must be manhandled!
And now on our return journey back from Dubai to Mangaluru, on 15 November at 1.45 pm, the flight was delayed by one hour, but luckily got the priority check-in., and we got the seats near the emergency exit, having more leg space- but in case of emergency our role is important, since we have to unlock the exit windows/door? Now once again the same story, when our complimentary beverage and meal was served. I once again got warm Budweiser beer, and when I asked for ice, there was no ice-and the explanation given by the air hostess for not having ice, due to flight delay. Now regarding the meal, my friend Loy was lucky to get Chicken Kadai ( a full meal), and I had to make a choice between Nuts and soups, and since there was one Chicken sandwich left, I quickly grabbed it. But still it wasn’t a meal as prescribed in SpiceMax deal. Horrible and bad experience on board SpiceJet.
Not Really! Our Bags came much after other Economy Class Passengers got theirs?
The passenger sitting next to me also had the same experience, where he got almonds instead of regular meal, and he is a frequent SpiceJet traveler. And since he opted for Vodka as the complimentary beverage, he had asked for a little orange juice, and the air hostess said it would cost extra for orange juice. Bah humbug! Charging for a little orange juice, what other things SpiceJet is charging extra. So it looks like not a good experience with Spicejet and not a true low cost airlines for sure! We were not happy at all to upgrade to SpiceMax! They just take Rs.1500 to Rs 2499 for extra legroom and a free snack, and the rest facilities are not just TRUE!
In conclusion, regarding SpiceMax, Seats were no doubt very comfortable and had ample legroom. But additional details mentioned like Priority check-in, priority check out and priority boarding are just false. There is no such thing. Believe me. This report is on behalf of thousands of travelers from Mangaluru and elsewhere are flying on SpiceJet, and upgrading to SpiceMax and are getting fooled by fake details, therefore next time choose wisely before you opt for spice Max. It was an utterly terrible experience traveling on SpiceJet for the First time.
Look, these things happen, but it is the airline’s responsibility to do everything it can to ensure no further trouble/inconvenience is caused I and my friends have never had such a disgusting experience with any other airline. I only hope that in future SpiceJet will provide the said facilities as mentioned in SpiceMax and not play games with their customers. We wish we had more options to fly. I do hope to see some good airline companies in future that will follow some principles rather than looting people in the name of upgrade offers.
Alfie, the thing is that you paid for Spice-max for helping them. Even if no one had paid for those seats, then they would have asked volunteers to come forward to sit in rows of seats close to emergency exits. All airlines do this. Luggage priority is not always guaranteed as it is handled by third party.
But what I feel is that, by reading this article they might give you a complimentary ticket for your next trip.
Spicemax is nothing just wasting your money paying extra for nothing last week i travelled with my family and kid thru spicemax my total allowed is 90kg but i had 200 grm extra which dubia spicejet agent made me to remove it and told me to pay extra money he was very rude i told him am a spicemax customer but no respect and you will be treated cheaper than other economy passenger.overall spicejet service is very bad not recommended for professionals and family
I had a similar experience with spicejet multiple times where food runs out… no options…boiler not working but one stands out …on my flight from goa to Mumbai…I had corporate tickets which I had played for a meal and nonalcholic beverage of my choice .. during the time of flight the airhostess only served the spicemax passegers… didnot serve us… we’re I sat patiently as I thought eventually she would come to us… then the captain started his descent .. i called the airhostess and told her about our meal .. she clearly said she forgot..i asked her to serve now .. then she said all food is finished.. I can take a water bottle and Pringles…I told her this was not right.. and not to serve us… as I didn’t like getting leftovers or begging for what I was promised any owed.. She was like why are you making an issue… as if this was a regular occurrence… but for sure never fly spicejet again
I had also a similar experience. Our seat on row 3 was not a more legroom seat, although we were spice max passengers. We were travelling from port Blair to ahmedabad via Chennai. The air hostess sakshi just claimed her inability to help, saying if there will be a vacancy, she may give us more legroom seats! Third person in our row also had max seat booked! Upon insisting for meeting the flight commander, some other employee of spice intervened, and asked us to go to emergency exit row, where some of the crew were sitting! I wonder how we were charged more legroom seats online where they were regular seats!!!
Parul kotdawala