Aviation is booming in India. And it doesn’t boom any louder than with fast growing private airlines like Jet and Kingfisher. Forgetting the staid and inconsistent offerings of state-owned Air India and Indian Airlines (now merged into a series of very confusing liveries), a traveler to the subcontinent today can sample some of the world’s most innovative products by flying India’s exciting new carriers.

Indeed, over the past decade or so, Jet Airways’ growing size and reputation has been a faithful companion to India’s rapid economic rise, while relative newcomer Kingfisher is already attracting a flood of accolades that include Skytrax’s 5-Star status - the only all-domestic airline so recognized. (Whatever we may think of Skytrax and its evaluation methods, this is still quite an honor.)

This report is the result of a short visit to India last month when I have the pleasure of testing out the premium products on these up-and-coming airlines. Do they live up to the hype? I’m dying to find out too.

Starboard Out

Jet Airways flight 9W 031
Kuala Lumpur-Chennai on Premiere (Business Class)
7 February 2008
Dep 0825 Arr 0930 (on time)
A330-200 VT-JWK

Always allow plenty of time when checking in for an India-bound flight. Apparently everybody else does, even in Business Class. I show up at KLIA a few moments shy of sixty minutes before departure to find deserted check-in desks and my seat about to be given away to a standby passenger.
“We thought you’d be a no-show since it is Chinese New Year,” says the Malaysia Airlines ground agent. “But don’t worry, I saved your seat!” How very nice. Must admit I’m no fan of MAS who used to have the world’s grumpiest ground staff based at KLIA, but credit must be given where it is due – there’s really been a sea-change here recently. Someone worked some magic on the check-in agents and they’re actually quite human now.

I give the Business Class lounge a miss - as it is the common-use Plaza Premium Lounge, I am not missing too much - and head straight for the gate where the near factory-fresh A330-200 is already boarding for Chennai. This flight used to be operated by a B737-800, and the recent widebody upgrade determined my choice of airline today.



Greeted at the forward door by a smiling stewardess in a bright yellow coat, I am ushered down the starboard aisle to my seat – the last in the front cabin. Premiere (which is the name Jet calls its business class) is configured herringbone-style 1-1-1 with six rows in the front cabin and another four behind the galley in the second cabin. Strangely, almost all window blinds are down – but most passengers don’t even notice. The existence of windows seems irrelevant in this type of cabin configuration.



I settle in. Unlike a previous experience on Cathay Pacific’s new Business Class which also features the herringbone configuration, Jet’s seat doesn’t feel as cramped and appears to be a bit wider. The view, of course, leaves much to be desired but I guess that’s privacy for you.



I make the bold move of raising my window shades as we push back. If you angle your head a full 90 degrees, a view such as this can still be had.



We take off and before long, we’re crossing the Malay peninsula coastline headed directly for Chennai. Flight time 3hours 15minutes. Looking out the window can be tiring in this setting, so I lower the shades and, like the other passengers in this cabin, forget the windows ever exist for the rest of the flight.



It’s a full cabin, but when my neighbor visits the washroom, I sneak the camera out and catch both of our comfy seats here. They are identical to those found on Air Canada and Delta. I’m glad I selected the last row seat 6K: it’s seems cozier and has a little more elbow room and a flat surface on my left that’s missing from the others.




Inflight entertainment is naturally AVOD, and delivered on the huge screens that are almost de rigueur if an airline wants to be taken seriously by anyone in a.net.



Jet service swings into action. Breakfast is on the menu and the girls have removed their yellow coats to reveal smart all-black outfits that make them look like very attractive but highly unattainable cat burglars. The service is smiling, courteous but distant and a little too cool for my liking.

Table ware and settings (without an under-tray) seems a little more up-market than your standard Business Class. The menu (with a choice of 4 entrees) and wine list that includes Dom Perignon is also a cut above the rest in J class.






After breakfast, we’re already more than half way there.



I catch a cabin shot before the lights are dimmed for me to test out the flat bed… really too short a flight to totally appreciate the flat bed seats, which are highly comfy btw.



As we descend, the Tamil Nadu coast comes into view. (Yes, I discover my window again.) And we make an on-time landing in Chennai.




An overnight work trip in Chennai is of no interest to anyone here, so we skip straight to business - back to the airport, where I am flying to Delhi next. Allowing plenty of time this round, I show up at the domestic terminal a good two hours before departure and head directly for the nearest Kingfisher Airlines desk. The airline calls its business class Kingfisher First – some may think this label rather misleading - but it’s really like no other business class I’ve been on. Read on and you’ll realise why.


Domestic Mollycoddling

Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 233
Chennai-Delhi on Kingfisher First (Business Class)
8 February 2008
Dep 1730 Arr 2038 (arrives 48 min late)
A320-200 VT-KFE

When traveling through Indian airports, it always helps to have your wits about you, but if you’re feeling particularly dense like me today, you hope it is Kingfisher First you’re flying. For at the check-in desk, I remember I hadn’t x-rayed my checked bag - a pre-check in requirement at Indian airports. Silly me.
No problem, says my smiling attired-all-in-red Kingfisher agent, at which point a red-vested porter appears from nowhere to relieve me of my suitcase.
“Don’t worry sir, we’ll take care of it for you, and deliver the baggage tag to you at the lounge. Is that alright?”
I am not given an opportunity to respond as my bag disappears, while a boarding pass lands magically in my palm (did I even tell her my name?): “you’re ready to go.”

Being more accustomed to do-it-yourself airports of grumpy staff and announcements about unattended bags being destroyed by airport security, having a porter suddenly relieve me of my bag is disconcerting to say the least. I guess having any service at all at an airport these days is disconcerting…

The Kingfisher experience starts before check-in with lots of trouble-shooting staff


Feeling helpless and slightly disoriented - or maybe it’s just the early onset of dementia - I get lost en route to the lounge, and head for the departure gate instead. Hardly the end of the world, but alarm bells ring among the red-coats that a Kingfisher First passenger is entering the gate area unescorted!
They rush to my rescue. I am intercepted passing the metal detector by a breathless Kingfisher staff member asking if I know what I am doing. “But this is not the way to the lounge, sir,” he pleads. “Please sir, you must come with me.”
From this point onwards, I am tagged “novice traveler”, provided with a full-time escort, and not to be left out-of-sight even for a moment.
I am relieved of my backpack, “I will carry this for you sir”, and led to the lounge, “where do you want to sit, sir? I’m just outside if you need me.” I don’t think I experienced so much mollycoddling even while traveling as an unaccompanied minor years ago!
No danger of me missing my flight because when it’s time to board, my red butler comes to inform me that we’re ready to board, helps me pack my laptop, and walks me through security. We cut to the front of the queue and board a special plush bus equipped with leather seats for Kingfisher First passengers. It is there I realize most of the other passengers also have their butlers in tow. How amazingly quaint.

My butler escorts me all the way to the plane, and completes his duties by storing my backpack in the overhead locker


The Delhi-bound A320. While my butler boards ahead, I keep my camera handy… but “no sir, no photography at Indian airports.”


The signature red is apparent throughout the aircraft. Kingfisher First seats (20 seats in five rows) are roomy with 48inch pitch.



The welcome drinks look deliciously inviting. As domestic Indian skies are “dry”, this is just sparkling apple juice.


The inflight service is friendly, if a little unpolished, and considering this is a 2hour 30minute domestic flight, the dinner menu (4 choices of entrees – Indian, Western, Oriental and vegetarian) and multi-channel PTV are both impressive.

I choose the Indian menu consisting of an overly dry chicken tandoori




As we start to descend, the crew comes round with a cloth and cleaner spray to offer to “clean” the spectacles of Kingfisher First customers – rather unique and bizarre at the same time.

Our landing turns out also to be unique. During our final descent, we pull up suddenly, to the gasp of many passengers, and bank sharply to the right. Then a palpable silence descends on the darkened cabin. It’s probably just a minute or two (though it feels longer) before the captain’s voice on the PA system tells us we had experienced a “mis-approach” and had been directed to “abort our landing” by air traffic control.
We make a successful second attempt, and it is only on the ground that we find out Delhi airport and its runway was plunged into darkness just as we were attempting to land.



To its credit, the Kingfisher experience didn’t end at the aircraft door. Despite the power cut (power had already been restored when we landed), a personal butler manages to meet me at the terminal. He accompanies me to the baggage carousel, collects my bag and accompanies me to the car. It is quite the extraordinary day.

Port Home

A few days in Delhi, and I am ready to head home. Given the option between a daytime Jet Airways flat bed and a red-eye last-millennium seat on Malaysia Airlines, the choice is pretty obvious. Even though on Jet, I have to change planes in Singapore.

Jet Airways flight 9W 018
Delhi-Singapore on Premiere (Business Class)
11 February 2008
Dep 0902 Arr 1737 (arrives 17 min late)
A330-200 VT-JWF

Check in and boarding is more chaotic than I remember in Delhi and I am glad to be finally aboard. It is a full flight to Singapore. This time I am seated on the port aisle, which is noticeably busier than starboard.



The herringbone design changes the passenger-crew dynamic. Although the seats are undeniably more private, they strangely also expose passengers to what is happening along the aisles. Crew interactions with other passengers become more clearly visible.
The crews on this flight are hassled, and it seems something’s bothering them. Not many can muster enough enthusiasm for a smile, let alone light banter. It’s a lucky thing I am taking this flight for the seats, and not the service.

Breakfast service, but crew forgets to serve coffee



After breakfast, I lie back and manage 2 hours of shut eye.


We’re now half way there.


About an hour before arrival, sandwiches are served. Passengers who are asleep are not asked, but I am surprised how others who have awoken half way through the snack are also ignored.


Preparing for landing



We land a little later than scheduled but I make my connection back to Kuala Lumpur on an MH trusty, rickety classic B734.





Conclusion


I am often told how good Jet Airways is. Expectations are set accordingly, and when they aren’t met, one is disappointed. I must admit I was, at least in the service department. On my flights, service was patchy and cold. Putting that aside, I was impressed with the catering, and the hardware - nicest J class seats on regional routes in competition with those that still fly first-generation types.

Kingfisher is the most interesting new airline I have flown with for a long time. It appears to be reintroducing old style elegance into an increasingly utilitarian world of low cost flying. It is already giving Jet a run for its money, and will undoubtedly be causing ripples when it starts its first international services this year.



Thanks for reading!