Indian doctor alleges humiliation by Vietnam airline staff over business class travel

An Indian doctor has alleged that he and his family were humiliated by staff of Vietnam Airlines after being questioned about whether they actually belonged in business class during a flight from Hanoi to Delhi.

In a post on X, Dr Abhay Daga shared the incident in detail and described the experience as “blatant discrimination and humiliation”.

According to Dr Daga, the incident occurred on May 11 while he was travelling with his wife and child on Vietnam Airlines flight VN981 from Hanoi to Delhi.

He alleged that a member of the airline’s ground staff stopped the family at the aerobridge before boarding and questioned whether they were travelling in business class.

The doctor claimed that the employee looked at them “with utter disrespect” and remarked, “This is Business Class,” allegedly implying that the family did not belong there.

I’ve traveled to 36 countries; Vietnam was my 37th. I have NEVER experienced such vile treatment from any airline. My child actually had to ask why your staff was speaking to us with such disrespect. Your employee is an embarrassment to your national carrier.

— Dr Abhay Daga (@drabhaydaga) May 18, 2026

“When I replied, ‘Yes, I know,’ he had the audacity to mock me, snapping back with ‘Really?’ and ‘Are you sure?’” Dr Daga wrote.

He said the incident left him shocked and embarrassed, particularly as it took place in front of his young child.

According to Dr Daga, the staff member’s role was limited to checking boarding passes, but the interaction instead turned into what he described as racial profiling and public humiliation.

The doctor further alleged that when he challenged the employee over the behaviour, the staff member refused to apologise and instead said, “We need to make sure which passenger belongs where.”

Dr Daga said he had travelled extensively across 36 countries before visiting Vietnam and had never encountered such treatment from an airline.

“I’ve travelled to 36 countries; Vietnam was my 37th. I have NEVER experienced such vile treatment from any airline,” he wrote.

Vietnam Airlines had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.

The post triggered widespread reactions online, with several social media users describing the alleged incident as “classist” and “racially insensitive”.