Latest news with #AnishaArora
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Same flight, different fate: Indian woman trapped in capsule; viral video questions passport privilege
Snapshots from viral post An Indian woman living in the United States triggered a debate on social media about 'passport privilege' after sharing her experience during a layover at a German airport. Anisha Arora, a New York City resident, missed her connecting flight in Frankfurt due to a delay. While other passengers holding American passports were offered stays at five-star hotels with free meals, Arora says she was given a cramped, capsule-sized room because she holds an Indian passport and does not have a Schengen visa. In a video posted on Instagram with the caption, 'Why this partiality?' Arora said, 'I never really cared about my passport until now.' Showing the space around her, she added, 'So while other passengers are getting free stays at five star hotels and free breakfast and dinners, I am stuck in this stupid capsule.' Arora also added that US passport holders were allowed to explore Germany during the long layover, while she had to remain inside the airport due to her Indian passport. "Any other US citizen in my position would have been so happy because they just got free everything and 20 hours to explore a new country, but not me because I have an Indian passport," she said. The reel received mixed reactions, with some saying, "Actually you have a flat bed and place to charge you phone ..what more do you need? Let be grateful?" while others sympathised and sharing their own frustrations about travel limitations faced by Indian passport holders. India currently ranks 85th on the Henley Passport Index, compared to the United States, which is ranked 9th.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Viral: Woman shares the struggles of having an Indian passport and how it differs from the American ones
Image credits: Instagram/anishaaa1102 There's a reason why people describe travelling as the best teacher of life. When you explore the various places of the world, you face odd situations at odd times and come face to face with different facets of your own personality. What you also understand is how different your birth country is from other countries and how countries where you are not a citizen will not prioritise you as much as your own. Anisha Arora, an Indian woman in the United States is going viral for her Instagram video where she shared her struggles with having an Indian passport and how it made her experience different from travellers that had an American one. Arora filmed a video in a small hotel room, where she was staying after she and many other passengers missed their connection because of a delayed flight. She revealed how other passengers who missed their flight were assigned 5-star hotel rooms due to their American passports however, she was given a capsule-sized room in the German airport where she was stuck. How an Indian passport can change your travel experience? Image credits: Getty Images 'I never really cared about my passport until now,' she said in the video. 'My flight from Frankfurt got missed because the connecting flight got delayed. So while other passengers are getting free stays at five-star hotels and free breakfast and dinners, I am stuck in this stupid capsule.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The all new SP125 that comes with advance technology & features Honda Learn More Undo She then panned her camera to show the area of the room which could be seen at a glance, considering its small size. She also added how those with an American passport had 20 hours where they could go out and explore Germany whereas she had to stay in her room as she did not have a Schengen visa. The young woman who is based in New York City said 'Any other US citizen in my position would have been so happy because they just got free everything and 20 hours to explore a new country, but not me because I have an Indian passport.' Netizens react to Anisha Arora's experience India currently holds the 82nd rank on the Henley Passport Index whereas the US is at the 10th spot. Thus, when compared to American citizens, Indian passport holders don't enjoy a lot of facilities during travel. Various netizens reacted to Arora's experience with surprised and shocked reactions. "Why are people angry? She is right. That's how Indian Passport holders are treated in almost all developed countries. You don't really understand how bad it is until you actually come to Europe or U.S." commented a person under her post. "It's okay. We are only at 80th in passport ranking. If things go well we will soon be the 100th. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼" quipped another. However, many shared how they did not receive the same treatment at other airports. "I am glad that Turkish Airlines didn't treat me like that at Sao Paulo 😭....They gave me free 5 star hotel stay ...I was grateful 🥲" wrote one, "Wow, I experienced quite the opposite. Missed my transit flight to Brisbane. So the airline had arranged a 5 star room and issued a new ticket to Brisbane. Even gave me a $150 to spend on taxi, meal and shopping too. " added another.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
"Stuck In A Capsule": Indian Woman's Viral Video Highlights Passport Privilege
Frankfurt: An Indian woman based in the United States has sparked a conversation on social media about passport privilege after posting a video on Instagram from a cramped hotel room at a German airport. Anisha Arora, a New York City resident, missed her connecting flight from Frankfurt due to a delay. While fellow passengers with American passports were offered stays in five-star hotels and free meals, Arora says she was given a "capsule-sized" room because of her Indian passport and lack of a Schengen visa. Her rant has gone viral. "I never really cared about my passport until now," she said in the video, filmed from the tiny room. Panning the camera around, she added: "So while other passengers are getting free stays at five star hotels and free breakfast and dinners, I am stuck in this stupid capsule." Watch the video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anisha Arora (@anishaaa1102) Arora, who could not leave the airport since she did not have Schengen visa, said US passport holders were able to explore Germany during the long layover. "Any other US citizen in my position would have been so happy because they just got free everything and 20 hours to explore a new country, but not me because I have an Indian passport," she said. Her video resonated with users, who posted several comments on the video. "Actually you have a flat bed and place to charge you phone ..what more do you need? Let be grateful?" said one user. "It's okay. We are only at 80th in passport ranking. If things go well we will soon be the 100th," commented another. India ranks 85th on the Henley Passport Index, far below the United States, which sits at number 9.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Indians in capsule, Americans in 5-star hotels: Does a passport decide your comfort? Woman's viral video sparks debate
An Instagram video by Indian woman based in New York turned into a serious conversation online, highlighting the limitations of Indian passports in global travel. After a missed flight left her stranded in Germany, her lack of visa barred her from exploring the country, unlike U.S. citizens. Netizens shared mixed reactions, sparking a broader dialogue on passport privilege and fairness. Anisha Arora, an Indian woman based in New York, went viral for a reel lamenting the limited privileges of her Indian passport after missing a connecting flight in Frankfurt. (Representational image: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Not just about nationality, but mobility Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Support, satire, and some strong counterpoints What started as a humorous Instagram reel has now sparked a serious online conversation about passport privilege immigration systems , and global mobility . Anisha Arora, an Indian woman based in New York City, recently went viral after sharing a candid video recounting her experience of being stranded in Germany following a missed connecting the now widely circulated reel, Arora documents how a delayed flight left her, along with several others, stranded in Frankfurt. While most other passengers—many of them holding U.S. passports—were provided accommodations at five-star hotels with full amenities, Arora found herself in what she called a "capsule-sized" room at the airport. The reason? Her Indian passport and the lack of a Schengen visa.'I never really cared about my passport until now,' she says in the video, visibly exhausted as she pans her phone camera to reveal the tiny space. 'Any other US citizen in my position would have been so happy because they just got free everything and 20 hours to explore a new country, but not me because I have an Indian passport.'Arora's experience underscores a larger issue: not all passports are created equal. As per the Henley Passport Index , India ranks 82nd in terms of global mobility, far behind the United States, which sits comfortably at 10th. That means fewer visa-free travel options and often more restrictions during transit or travel video captioned 'Why this partiality?' hit a nerve among Indians at home and abroad. The reel wasn't just a venting session—it became a mirror for many Indian travellers who've faced similar hurdles while navigating airports in the video set off a wave of reactions online. Some viewers expressed empathy and validated Arora's frustration.'She is right. That's how Indian passport holders are treated in almost all developed countries,' commented one user. 'You don't really understand how bad it is until you actually come to Europe or the U.S.'Others, however, pointed out that her experience may not be universally true. One user recounted a contrasting story: 'I missed my transit flight to Brisbane. The airline arranged a five-star room, gave me a new ticket, and even handed me $150 for meals and shopping. Probably because I had booked a business class ticket. Still, I'd never defame my Indian passport for views.'There were also voices urging nuance. 'It's not really about the Indian passport per se,' wrote another. 'It's about not having a visa to step outside. Even an Indian passport holder with a Schengen visa could have explored Frankfurt.'Some viewers took a more humorous view of the situation. 'I want such first-world airport problems in my life,' quipped one user, drawing hundreds of its light tone, Arora's reel has shed light on a significant issue—how global systems of privilege operate subtly, even in transit lounges and airline policies. While airlines often tailor accommodations based on visa status and immigration laws, these systems reflect broader inequalities rooted in geopolitics, diplomacy, and economic history.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian passport struggles: Woman shares how she missed flight, got no perks like Americans
An Indian woman in the United States has gone viral for an Instagram video in which she jokingly lamented her Indian passport after missing a flight. Anisha Arora filmed the video from a small hotel room that was given to her after she and several other passengers missed their connection due to a delayed flight. Blogger Anisha Arora talks about missing out thanks to an Indian passport (Instagram/@anishaaa1102) Arora said that other passengers on the missed flight got five-star hotel rooms, thanks to their American passports. She, on the other hand, had to make do with a capsule-sized room in the German airport where she was stuck after the missed connecting flight. 'I never really cared about my passport until now,' she said in her video. 'My flight from Frankfurt got missed because the connecting flight got delayed,' Arora explained, adding: 'So while other passengers are getting free stays at five star hotels and free breakfast and dinners, I am stuck in this stupid capsule.' Arora then panned her phone camera to show the length and breadth of the room, which ended almost as soon as it began. In her video, she rued about holding an Indian passport, saying that those with US passports had 20 hours in which they could go out and explore Germany. She, on the other hand, had to stay put in her small room due to not having a Schengen visa. Anisha Arora, who is based in New York City, said, 'Any other US citizen in my position would have been so happy because they just got free everything and 20 hours to explore a new country, but not me because I have an Indian passport.' India ranks 82nd on the Henley Passport Index, well below the US at the 10th spot. (Also read: Travel vlogger's rant on Indian passport goes viral: 'Har jagah entry denied')
