Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej was downgraded from business class to economy on a Mumbai-Bengaluru flight due to a technical issue with the aircraft. The Bengaluru-based artist, who has won three Grammy awards, criticized Air India for the downgrade and the treatment he received.
On Saturday, Kej, 42, reported that his business class seat was downgraded without prior notice. He encountered unhelpful behavior from the airline’s ground staff and expressed frustration over the lack of immediate refund options, flight alternatives, and a proper apology for the inconvenience.
“Wow.. 3rd time this is happening to me in one year. I booked and paid for a business class ticket on @airindia from Mumbai to Bengaluru. When I reach departure gate, the staff rudely tells me that I have been downgraded (for no reason) and they cannot give me a refund,” Kej shared in a post on X.
Air India apologized for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected alteration and confirmed that refunds had been processed. An airline spokesperson explained that “technical issues” prompted the switch to an all-economy setup. Business class passengers were accommodated in the first row with a vacant seat in the middle.
Kej, currently at the Radisson Blu Mumbai International Airport, stated, “It is ok to have operational issues due to unforeseen circumstances. But to not provide quick and effective resolutions for the same is absolutely criminal… I will only expect a 100% refund because I was not offered the service that I chose and paid for. If not, I WILL be taking legal action.”