Various Indian airlines review - Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India.

[Fantic125]

A couple of weeks ago I received a call from my boss saying that he had 'volunteered' me to go to India to review a joint venture company with which we were having a few issues with.
I had been to India 12 months ago, on the tail end of a two week trip that included 3 days of missing luggage, followed by 2 days of flight cancellations due to bad weather, and the subsequent cancellation of 2 meetings, so I wasn't in a particularly good mood.

The trip I'm doing means I'm hopping around a bit, and as there isn't a lot of reviews/comments about some of the airlines, I thought I might add my 2 cents worth. :shock:

 

[Fantic125]

I arrived into Mumbai Internation (BOM) from Singapore (SIN) at 01:55 Sunday morning on QF 051, picked up my bag and cleared customs and immigration within 30 minutes of arrival.

My connecting flight was with Kingfisher Airlines (IT 131) to Goa, scheduled departure time of 05:00.

The domestic transfer area is down to the other end of the terminal of course, so once there I checked my bag in and sat down and waited for the transfer bus. It took about 30 mins or so for the bus to get there, then another 15 minutes to travel to the domestic terminal.

At the domestic terminal I checked in, then had to wait for about 30 mins for security to open before you could head through to the airside section. They finally opened at 03:45 and I proceeded through.

One thing different when going through security is that you have to remove anything electronic from your bag, not just your laptop.
Mobile phone, ipad, ipod, E-book, camera, etc, etc.

Waited in the lounge until the boarding call, then it was to the gate and out onto a bus to take you to the plane. Miss the bus and you miss the plane, so you need to keep your eye on the monitors and also llisten for the boarding calls.

Once on the plane I was quite impressed. The plane (A321) was quite clean and reasonably fresh, and the crew were quite friendly and helpful.
Although I was booked Y, I had been able to select a business class seat (5A) which was quite comfortable, even though the recline button didn't work. The total flight time from gate to gate was only 55 mins so I didn't bother saying anything.
Breakfast was served - an omelette and chicken sausage, fruit, etc. Not great, but still better than some of the offerings on other airlines.

Overall, reasonably pleasant. Rating 7/10.

 

[Fantic125]

My next flight was yesterday (March 31), booked on Jet Airways 9W 7054 from Goa (GOI) to Mumbai (BOM), scheduled departure 18:45.

Arrive at Goa airport at 16:30 so I have plenty of time to get through security and check-in, etc. Go to check in at the Jet Airways counter, only to be told that my flight has been changed to a Jet Lite flight (S2 0705) and delayed by 1 hour.
As 'compensation' they allocated me an exit row aisle seat.

Headed to the best restaurant in Goa airport (i.e., the only one) to have a beer and dinner, and half way through the meal hear an announcement that my flight had been delayed another hour.
Finally boarded at 21:10, and arrived into Mumbai at 22:15. There was basic food for purchase, and free water, but that was it. All Indian domestic flights are 'dry', so I couldn't even get a beer!:shock:

Overall rating: 4/10.

Had a 30 ~ 45 minute wait for the luggage, then off to the hotel.

I'm booked on flight 9W 333 (Jet Airways) tomorrow morning, departing Mumbai at 08:00 for Delhi.
Lets see how this one goes.

 

[Fantic125]

Re: Various Indian airlines review - Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Air India.

I was reasonably impressed with the Jet Airways flight. :shock:

Checkin at BOM was easy as there were quite a few counters open. I was allocated seat no 21D, and boarding commenced @ 07:10 for an 08:00 departure. Inside the plane (737-800) everything was neat and tidy, and the cabin crew were friendly and helpful.

Seat pitch was fairly generous - I could sit comfortably with my knees just touching the back of the seat in front of me (183cm tall). Usually I can't even do that on a Qantas domestic flight.

We pushed back 10 minutes early and headed off to Delhi. Breakfast was served (a rice dish, bun, fruit and coffee or tea). I just had coffee, which was fairly insipid.

We landed into Dehli 10 minutes early, (even after doing a largish loop 1/2 hour prior descent) and pulled up at the gate and disembarked.

BTW, the new Dehli Airport has only been open for about 6 months or so, and is quite impressive. The luggage was on the carousel within 5 minutes, and then it was out the exit to the car park across the road.

Overall rating of this flight; 8/10.

Tomorrow is Delhi to Chennai (MAA) scheduled for 19:10 on Spice Jet, flight SG 309.

 

[Chrisd26]

I travel quite a bit in India - very happy with Kingfisher and Jet - Kingfisher often have meet and greet staff to help you check-in etc. In flight service quite good with Jet. Have no real interest in or need to fly Air India.

Cheers

Chris

 

[cwliew]

I am currently sitting in Mumbai airport waiting to get on my flight to Coimbatore. The QF051 came in at 0245h, and it got int a touch late. Not to worry as my connecting flight was at 1000h anyway. I had to catch the same crazy bus to the domestic terminal - the guy loading the baggage asked me for money, but I didn't have any anyway so not a big deal. But is that even normal?

When I got to the domestic terminal at about 0400h, the check in was open, but they wouldn't allow me to check in as my flight was too far away! Obviously with all my bags and no-where to go, it was a very boring few hours waiting to even check in.

When I eventually checked in, I had 2 bags, with total weight 26kg. I am a Gold FF and flew J over to Mumbai...I got charged for over limit luggage 6kg - what the. When I told them that king fisher was oneworld - blank stares, and ah stuff it. I just paid it. It was about 950 Rupiah which is not that much, maybe 24 bucks or something.

Security is weird. You have to show your boarding pass everywhere. Different to australia when guests can clear security. Not so in india.

I had my iphone in my bag, so didn't experience any problems. They didn't make me take it out.

The touch up by security for every single passenger just felt weird. It definitely did not seem very systematic, just random touching and waving with the wand...

Anyway, about to board my flight finally to Coimbatore...To give you an idea of the travel time from Adelaide.

Left my house in Adelaide at 1000h
Arrive in Coimbatore at noon the next day...

D/oh...

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm not sure where else to post this so may as well on this thread...

This is a photo taken at GOA airport. Note the terminal in the background. Now note the bus between said terminal and aircraft. No walking allowed. How to unneccesarily waste an hour.