New Delhi: Should a cabin crew give a free glass of water to a passenger? That’s the latest debate online. Content creator Yadupriyam Mehta, who has 3.18 lakh followers, posted a reel, sharing that his mother asked the VietJet Air crew for a glass of water to take her medicine. Mehta alleged that instead of providing water, a cabin crew member accused his mother of lying and asked her to show the medicine.
The video has since crossed 4.64 lakh views.
In the video, the crew member can be heard saying that a similar situation had happened before and that he needed to cross-check the request. The Indian passenger criticised the crew’s handling of the incident in the caption and the reel.
“The cabin crew behaved in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner toward my mother over a simple request for water after takeoff,” he wrote. “What should have been handled with basic courtesy turned into an unnecessary argument, accompanied by deeply offensive remarks.”
In the video, the crew member can be heard saying that the passengers may be lying to him, so he needs to see the medicine. The Indian man’s mother then asks, “If your mom asked you for water, would you say the same thing?”
“Yes, everyone,” replied the crew member.
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Cost of water
The incident has divided social media users, with some arguing that providing a small amount of water for medication should have been treated as a basic courtesy. Most, however, pointed to VietJet’s low-cost model, saying passengers should be aware that additional services such as water may come at a cost.
“If you choose to fly with Vietjet Air, you have to follow their rules. Vietjet is a low-cost airline, which is why their ticket prices are cheaper. If you need additional services, such as water, you can purchase them on board,” one user commented.
Another user questioned why passengers would choose a budget airline and then expect complimentary services, writing that people wanted to “save every penny by travelling in a low-cost airline” before complaining about a bottle of water that was “not free”.
It was generally suggested by commentators that the content creator should have just bought a bottle of water instead of making such a fuss.
“First of all, Indians need to stop shouting at everyone… No one is entitled, and if someone is talking with you in a decent voice, you also should,” another user wrote.