Virgin Atlantic caught in 'Hindu Meal' soup

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Virgin Atlantic caught in 'Hindu Meal' soup

 

CR Jayachandran (HindustanTimes.com)

 

New Delhi, June 29, 2005

Virgin Atlantic may be facing class action law suit for allegedly

serving non-vegetarian stuff on board to its passengers who had

ordered vegetarian meals.

 

Mumbai-based chartered accountant and columnist Vipul Shah has

threatened to take legal action against the airliner for having been

served chicken and fish in his 'Hindu Meal', which the airline's

website described as a "spicy vegetarian meal".

 

Shah told HindustanTimes.com that the incident happened during his

flight to London from Washington DC on April 26, 2005. Shah, a strict

vegetarian, had confirmed with the airline's ground staff as well as

its contact centre customer service team, which had in a written

reply assured that a "Hindu Asian vegetarian meal with no eggs has

been ordered for you."

 

"So, after their mail response, website, and ground staff there was

no doubt in my mind," he said adding, but when the meal was served it

had all the non-vegetarian dishes.

 

Incensed over the alleged callous attitude of the airliner towards

his complaint, Shah said, "They (the airline staff) didn't think the

issue was important. Probably for them it was a trivial thing and

they couldn't understand how much difference it could make to those

who often don't eat in restaurants where non-vegetarian dishes are

cooked."

 

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic apologised for the "oversight". In a

written reply to Shah, the airlines regretted the incident and

said, "We would like to thank you for directing us to the section

where we have displayed the incorrect information about the meals

available.

 

In the airline industry, Hindu Meal refers to a Hindu Non-Vegetarian

Meal. However, due to an oversight on our part, this meal option has

been described as a vegetarian meal on our website."

 

When contacted by HindustanTimes.com, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson

confirmed that the matter had been brought to its attention and that

their web-site had already been updated to reflect the correct

information.

 

However, Shah said, "Since in Virgin Atlantic's own admission anyone

who ordered Hindu Meal had always been served non-veg meal and Virgin

Atlantic has accepted that its website had described it as vegetarian

meal, 10,000s of passengers over the years when they ordered Hindu

Meal thinking it's vegetarian would have got non-vegetarian stuff.

This is similar to the classic Mc Donald's Frenchfries case."

 

Though Virgin Atlantic said that it was an isolated incident, Shah

said "it is definitely class action matter."

 

"This case is similar to McDonald's Frenchfries case as here also the

airlines, knowing all along that the meal was non-veg, served its

vegetarian passengers," Shah said.

 

"I am talking to attorneys in USA since largest number of Virgin

Atlantic flyers are to and from USA destinations and they are bound

to be most affected," he said.

 

The airlines, as a "goodwill gesture" offered Shah additional miles,

which would take his account balance up to 25,000 miles.

 

"The 25,000 miles offered to my credit are of zero value as it can't

get me any ticket from India to any Virgin destination," he said.

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