Viral: American entrepreneur's review about India's 'worst-rated airline' is a pleasant surprise

Time of India

22-05-2025

When you hear "India's worst-rated airline," you probably don't expect a glowing review. But that's exactly what happened when a San Francisco-based entrepreneur, known online as @protosphinx, took a flight with
IndiGo
, India's largest airline by market share.
Despite IndiGo's low global ranking—103rd out of 109 airlines in the 2024 AirHelp Score report—his experience was surprisingly positive.
The pleasant surprise
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), @protosphinx documented his journey from boarding to landing. He noted the convenience of the boarding process, highlighting that passengers could board directly through a tunnel without walking on the tarmac or climbing stairs—a feature not always available with budget airlines.
He also spoke about how the flight took off only seven minutes after the scheduled time. 'Only seven minutes after the estimated departure time we have takeoff.
Impressive,' he added.
Once onboard, he was pleasantly surprised by the generous legroom and the punctuality of the flight, which took off only seven minutes after the scheduled time. He also praised the cabin crew for their professionalism and English proficiency, which made communication seamless.
The in-flight meal—a chicken junglee sandwich—earned a "seven out of ten" rating from him. While not gourmet, he found it satisfactory for a budget airline.
Concluding his review, he remarked, "So far, it is the best budget airline experience I could have ever imagined." His positive experience stands in contrast to IndiGo's poor global ranking and has sparked discussions online about the disparity between public perception and individual experiences.
"Indias worst rated airline is not that bad but Indian passengers are unforgiving. IndiGo has been ranked among the worst airlines globally in the AirHelp Score report 2024, landing at 103rd out of 109 airlines evaluated," he has captioned the video.
Netizens were also happily surprised with the review. "Indigo is way better than some of the American/European domestic airlines I have travelled in. Some of the western domestic airlines feel less of a plane and more like a bus," writes one user.
"Never had a bad experience with @IndiGo6E. In fact the crew have been extra helpful whenever I've asked. Wonder how they decide these surveys. Probably their competitors mass vote against them," writes another.
However, the jungle sandwich doesn't seem to be a favorite of many. "I hate that sandwich with all my life. How can he rate it 7/10? I appreciate indigo generally though, efficient when it wants, a punishment when not.
Paying extra for super 6e is a life hack. Indigo's a monopoly in most routes anyway so criticism does not matter to it," writes one user.
So here's where it gets interesting: despite the harsh rating, not every flyer agrees. So while global rankings are worth noting, they don't always tell the whole story.
IndiGo is India's biggest and busiest airline. If you've flown domestic in India, chances are you've taken an IndiGo flight at least once. They're everywhere. From big metros to tier-2 towns, IndiGo has carved out a massive chunk of the
Indian aviation market
. It's fast, efficient, and usually on time. But here's the twist — despite being the top player in India, IndiGo was recently ranked 103rd out of 109 airlines worldwide in the 2024 AirHelp Score.