Background:
As I recently discovered, after this year's election and Modi's rise to power, business has been ramping up and while it is not as busy as in the boom years of the late 2000s, I soon find myself travelling back and forth to serve new projects quite frequently.
I had earlier compiled a report comparing my experiences flying in India which can be re-visited here.
It is interesting to note that things are changing, both airports and airlines, and they are changing for the better. I am kept very impressed by my most recent experiences.
For this trip, I will be comparing my experiences on 3 of India's airlines. I flew with AI and 9W before both domestically and internationally but 6E is new to me. I am quite excited about 6E to check out what is this private carrier about and what makes it most feared by its competitors. Bangalore and Mumbai airports have also changed so I will also be reviewing the new lounges.
This will be a 4-part report in the same thread:
Part 1: BLR-DEL on AI's 787 in J class
Part 2: DEL-GOI on 6E's 320 in Y class
Part 3: GOI-BOM on 9W's 739 in J class
Part 4: mainly the new BOM, and SQ in J class
Part 1
Flight: AI 404
Aircraft: 787-800
Registration: VT-ANG
Cabin: Executive
Seat: 3J
Load: 17/18
As I explained in my earlier trip reports on India, the BLR-DEL sector is under served in the evenings for business travelers. The options are 9W at 1845h (too early) and at 2245h (too late), or AI at 2015h which is then effectively the only convenient timing for a full productive day at work and without reaching DEL too late. I am a regular on this flight and up to recently, it was usually served by fully-packed A321s.
Recently, I was super excited because I noticed that AI 404 is now served by 787s. And I believe this is good for AI. It offers the only convenient timing for BLR-DEL's business travelers and it has good onward connections to intercontinental flights at the DEL end. This route has been needing a widebody service and someone in AI is thinking rationally and is getting this right. As proven, the flight was 100% full in both economy and executive except for 1.
And so ... I arrived in the evening 1.5 hours before the flight after a 1.5 hours trek in peak hour traffic from the office. It was already dark and BLR was beautifully lit. I like the design of its new extension.
Very lofty volume of the new wing and it's very clean and well-maintained.
Spicejet crew just arrived. Poor them with an uncertain future now (or at least at the time, 2 weeks ago, it was uncertain).
As in all Indian airports, the departure hall is completely secure with only passengers allowed to enter. Everyone is checked against the ID and the ticket.
Because meeters and greeters are not allowed in, there is quite a range of F&B provision outside. In the case of BLR, this is pleasant due to its mild weather and I wouldn't mind sitting out here having coffee for an hour.
Once inside, I proceeded to AI counter which is in the older part of the building and in which major renovation works are still taking place (behind the hoarding).
The flight is going to be full !
Lucky me, there was barely any queue for executive class passengers.
I got to the check-in desk within minutes, and was greeted very courteously by the check-in agent. A bouquet of real flowers was on the desk - a nice touch.
Check-in experience was courteous, professional, and speedy. He was explaining to me in detail how to get to the lounge. He seemed dedicated enough to make sure I wouldn't get lost. I thanked him and said I knew how to get there as I had been there before. Boarding pass in hand, and hand luggage tags attached to my carry-ons, I proceeded to the gate.
The building was a little dusty overall although the construction was not visible. There was noise too. I hope this is only to lead to a better experience in the near future.
The extension part is nice with its high volume, bright spaces, and cheerful colours.
IndiGo is here. I think Jet too.
The gates are one level up from the check-in hall. First, we have to go through security.
As I recently discovered, after this year's election and Modi's rise to power, business has been ramping up and while it is not as busy as in the boom years of the late 2000s, I soon find myself travelling back and forth to serve new projects quite frequently.
I had earlier compiled a report comparing my experiences flying in India which can be re-visited here.
It is interesting to note that things are changing, both airports and airlines, and they are changing for the better. I am kept very impressed by my most recent experiences.
For this trip, I will be comparing my experiences on 3 of India's airlines. I flew with AI and 9W before both domestically and internationally but 6E is new to me. I am quite excited about 6E to check out what is this private carrier about and what makes it most feared by its competitors. Bangalore and Mumbai airports have also changed so I will also be reviewing the new lounges.
This will be a 4-part report in the same thread:
Part 1: BLR-DEL on AI's 787 in J class
Part 2: DEL-GOI on 6E's 320 in Y class
Part 3: GOI-BOM on 9W's 739 in J class
Part 4: mainly the new BOM, and SQ in J class
Part 1
Flight: AI 404
Aircraft: 787-800
Registration: VT-ANG
Cabin: Executive
Seat: 3J
Load: 17/18
As I explained in my earlier trip reports on India, the BLR-DEL sector is under served in the evenings for business travelers. The options are 9W at 1845h (too early) and at 2245h (too late), or AI at 2015h which is then effectively the only convenient timing for a full productive day at work and without reaching DEL too late. I am a regular on this flight and up to recently, it was usually served by fully-packed A321s.
Recently, I was super excited because I noticed that AI 404 is now served by 787s. And I believe this is good for AI. It offers the only convenient timing for BLR-DEL's business travelers and it has good onward connections to intercontinental flights at the DEL end. This route has been needing a widebody service and someone in AI is thinking rationally and is getting this right. As proven, the flight was 100% full in both economy and executive except for 1.
And so ... I arrived in the evening 1.5 hours before the flight after a 1.5 hours trek in peak hour traffic from the office. It was already dark and BLR was beautifully lit. I like the design of its new extension.
Very lofty volume of the new wing and it's very clean and well-maintained.
Spicejet crew just arrived. Poor them with an uncertain future now (or at least at the time, 2 weeks ago, it was uncertain).
As in all Indian airports, the departure hall is completely secure with only passengers allowed to enter. Everyone is checked against the ID and the ticket.
Because meeters and greeters are not allowed in, there is quite a range of F&B provision outside. In the case of BLR, this is pleasant due to its mild weather and I wouldn't mind sitting out here having coffee for an hour.
Once inside, I proceeded to AI counter which is in the older part of the building and in which major renovation works are still taking place (behind the hoarding).
The flight is going to be full !
Lucky me, there was barely any queue for executive class passengers.
I got to the check-in desk within minutes, and was greeted very courteously by the check-in agent. A bouquet of real flowers was on the desk - a nice touch.
Check-in experience was courteous, professional, and speedy. He was explaining to me in detail how to get to the lounge. He seemed dedicated enough to make sure I wouldn't get lost. I thanked him and said I knew how to get there as I had been there before. Boarding pass in hand, and hand luggage tags attached to my carry-ons, I proceeded to the gate.
The building was a little dusty overall although the construction was not visible. There was noise too. I hope this is only to lead to a better experience in the near future.
The extension part is nice with its high volume, bright spaces, and cheerful colours.
IndiGo is here. I think Jet too.
The gates are one level up from the check-in hall. First, we have to go through security.
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