henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 5 Posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 6344 times:
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Diversity is the spice of life!
The Kingfisher Experience.
Part 1: Goa to BOM on IT
BACKGROUND
This report is part of a long trip from Goa to Denpassar (Bali). Because it became to lenghty to post as one I cut it into three parts. This is part 1.
After what can only be described as a challenging stay in Goa I was happy to start the next stage of my sabbatical trip: getting to my beloved Bali. This is a place I like to visit as often as possible and at least once a year. It is not too difficult to fit it into a OneWorld Explorer Round The World ticket and so I did. However, Kingfisher is not part of OneWorld yet, so this return trip was bought seperately.
I had included India in my plans with some trepedation. After having spend what is about one year in India now (over the last 4 years) it is no secret that India and I do not get along. Although I love the people individually and parts of it are simply stunning I cannot get over the way society is structured and the filth everywhere. As a collective India does not work, which is a problem to say the least. No doubt the future will prove me wrong though. That being said, I was glad to be leaving. Leaving India would turn out to be quite the hasttle...
GOI-BOM
IT132
Airbus A320
Seat 14A (economy)
Load factor: 95% in Y, 10% in 'F'
Dep: 16:20 (actual 16:40)
Arr: 17:20 (actual 17:40)
I arrived at the airport after a 45 minute taxi ride. That meant I was there about 90 minutes ahead of departure. Goa airport, albeit small, can be quite confusing. Kingfisher is the only airline using Terminal 1 for check in and it took me a while to figure that one out. Of course there is the usual India chaos. It is a benefit that IT uses that terminal since the lines for security in the main domestic terminal building were extremely long and in T1 they were almost non-existent. Confused as I was I only managed a picture after security of the waiting area.
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There were not too many people in the waiting area and it looked like our flight would have a light load. In India people tend to show up a little late however, so in the end it was almost full in Y. Luckily I managed to secure an exit seat this time providing the much appreciated extra legroom.
No inflight video on this flight.
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The boarding process IT uses is very relaxed. They do not load the buses to capacity but rather depart every 5 minutes or so, even if the bus is half empty. This makes for a much smoother boarding process and a nicer ride!
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This time the IT flight was not the last leg of a tiring itinerary so I was more able to enjoy it. I like the feel of the cabin.
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We took off about 20 minutes late, but I was not worried since I had a very long transfer at BOM, but more about that later. We had a short taxi and bye bye Goa!
The flight would last exactly one hour the captain announced. It amazes me how much catering IT does in that time. They do one drinks run before take off (including clean up) and a full hot meal. I must say that this was one of the tastiest airline meals I ever had, J and F included.
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Approaching Mumbai I was hoping for some nice picture of the city but - much like Bangalore - the view is completely ruined by air polution. It is a shame I cannot really show this with a picture but there really is a blanket of smog hanging over the city about 3 miles high.
We flew over the city and about 10 minutes inland before doing a 180 to line up for approach. This added 15 minutes or so to our flight time.
Turning back to BOM
Decent into BOM
I tried to take some pictures during taxiing but the airport was misty with smog, so they did not really turn out right.
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While waiting to disembark I befriended a nice English chap from Australia who was on his way to SYD. He had made a detour on a business trip to visit his sister in Goa. Unbelievably his company let him do Australia to Europe and back in Y so I invited him to stick with me so I could guest him into the lounge. He had a 6 hour layover. He was also appreciative of the little guidance I could give him about dealing with Indian bureaucracy...
In conclusion I must say that I find IT a very good airline. The service and food is excellent and the bureacratic nonsense and general problems of India are not their fault. I would not hesistate to fly them again.
As always: feedback is very much appreciated if only to discover people actually read this stuff...
cakentennis From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 5514 times:
Quoting jayeshrulz (Reply 1):
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in India.
henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 4679 times:
I really don't know what it is with me and India. I guess it is because I worked there. I love the people as individuals but I have a very hard time with them as a collective. Add to that the cultural aspects that are diametrically opposed to Western standards (process is more important than the result, lying is better than disappointing, etc) and I can't make it work for me. Mind you, I take full responsibility for it: I am the one failing to adapt.
Kingfisher is clear proof that India can get it right though. Hopefully a shining beacon in the development of the country. Much like Air India is not.
airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 913 posts, RR: 39 Reply 4, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 4614 times:
Quoting henkybaby (Thread starter): Unbelievably his company let him do Australia to Europe and back in Y so I invited him to stick with me so I could guest him into the lounge.
Unbelievably? I wonder if all that premium travel is giving you a warped sense of how most of us travel these days - down the back, even if it's company-paid-for across a dozen times zones. Nice of you to have offered a fellow traveler an unexpected perk though.
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 7886 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 4574 times:
Hi Henkybaby,
Nice report & pictures, do like reading about domestics in India, hope to try a few myself, perhaps next year, lets see.
Quoting henkybaby (Thread starter): The boarding process IT uses is very relaxed. They do not load the buses to capacity but rather depart every 5 minutes or so, even if the bus is half empty. This makes for a much smoother boarding process and a nicer ride!
- Though not as cost effective, a much better way of doing it.
Quoting henkybaby (Thread starter): It amazes me how much catering IT does in that time. They do one drinks run before take off (including clean up) and a full hot meal
Yes, it is to me. If my company wants me to traverse half the globe for a conference (I believe he had one day to acclimatize in Germany) than I expect them to get me there in comfort. I consider business travel to be an inconvenience, rather than a perk.
Yes, it is to me. If my company wants me to traverse half the globe for a conference (I believe he had one day to acclimatize in Germany) than I expect them to get me there in comfort. I consider business travel to be an inconvenience, rather than a perk.
Wow - if only more of us had your job! Here in the IT industry we routinely have to fly half way across the world, and it's almost always in deep discount Y - the cheapest fare the company can get.
henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3806 times:
Quoting Nimish (Reply 7): Here in the IT industry we routinely have to fly half way across the world, and it's almost always in deep discount Y - the cheapest fare the company can get.
I work in IT too and I must admit that the travel policy for our European staff are very different to those for our offshore staff. They indeed travel in Y. However, since I personally consider travel for work to be something I have to do for my company I insist they pay for C if the flight is over 7hrs or if I need to work the next morning. If they don't want to; fine. I simply won't go. Apparently it is not important enough for them that I go.
aviationnut12 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 171 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3383 times:
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 10, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 3274 times:
Quoting aviationnut12 (Reply 9):
hmmmm......and you still have a job??? Here in the US most companies book the cheapest flight/class, and if you refuse then no job!
And you wonder why European-styled unions are so passe and do bring companies down.
[Edited 2010-03-04 22:04:01]
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3198 times:
Our company is not unionized. Neither is much of the IT industry in the Netherlands. It has got nothing to do with worker's rights or anything else. It is simply in my contract. Other companies have other rules. If you are lucky or have valuable skills you can pick the company with the best terms.
I have a lot of friends in the US and they never see the rear of a plane on business travel either.
Why do people who are able to take good care of themselves always met with such contempt? Is it jealousy?
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