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shivendrashukla · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: SG 880 DEL-GAU

Ok guys after a really long delay I finally decide to pin down my TR's for the return trip that i flew with Spicejet in Dec-Jan, earlier
this year. Sorry for the delay though. Since this is going to be my first TR ever please don't flay me!!!

Anyways i had booked this ticket on 5th October as the prices were low(at that time).It cost me 4500 rupees return. The details are :

OUTBOUND:
Date : 28th December 2006
Flight Number : SG 880
ETD : 1500
ATD : 1640
ETA : 1730
ATA : 1900
Reg : VT-SPL (Just 20 days old aircraft!!! Lucky me!!)
Seat : 3A (Blocked while booking)

So here we go. I had asked for a half day from the office that day. Since i miserly thought that i would be able to save my half day's
pay(he he he). Anyhow since departure was supposed to be at 1500 i checked online at around 11. The flight was already delayed by
20 mins. Almost instantaneously i received an Sms from Spicejet informing me of the same. Nice i said to myslef for an LCC to do
that. Now departure was at 1520. So i left my office at 1. Rushed home, collected my baggage and took a taxi and was zooming
towards the airport for around 2 a clock checkin. about 10 mins down the road trip a msg. Flight delayed by 1 hr 20 mins. Sad

.
Continued to the airport, reached at around 2, went inside and it was a cattle market at Domestic LCC terminal. People running here
and there and absoultely chaos. I located my Xray checkin and screened my baggage and went to the checkin counter. DN was way
bad but i was impressed with Spicejet. Although it was crowded too, they were professionals. Anyhow my luggage was a kg over,
but they permitted it witout me paying anything. Got my boarding pass and proceeded for security. It took me 40 mins for my turn at
security check. it was so crowded at that point. Made it inside and took a vintage point to spot that activites at the apron. Spotted MH
777, Alitalia Cargo MD11, Eva Air MD11, Air China 767 were among the International departures, using rwy 27. Spend about 2 hours
like this and at 1620 there was a call for boarding. Again Impressed with spicejet, they were using IR scanners for boarding. Took the
bus and boarded the aircraft. Was thanking my luck when i saw that it was VT-SPL 'Coriander', Just 20 days old aircraft. Excited as i
was. Interior of the aircraft was very nice. Didn't find any difference between SG and 9W's in terms of quality. After few mins normal
safety instructions and then the CFM engines started and almost immediately we started to taxi towards rwy 27. We reached there
and was told to hold short. I could see an A310(Presuming to be AI's) taking off from rwy 28. After few mins we lined up and opened
throttle and off we went. Climed out. On the tarmac below i saw American 777. This bird had a compressive stall the nite back and
was waiting repairs. I didn't expect to see her for sure. Levelled and turned and we were off. In the mean time the FA's started
service biscuits and water. Nice for an LCC. Then Captain came on. Told us that we were late because A/C was stuck up in SXR. Bad
weather the usual culprit. Told us that we would be passing Aligarh,LKO, PAT, Kishangang, turn north to Bagdogra and start our
descend over Hasimara. Quite useful information i must say espically for me. And then i saw something that literally scared the hell
out of me. I saw a DN A320 just so close that i could recognise it correctly. I guess must be about 1000 feet below us. I had never seen
anything like this before so naturally i was scared. But since having a fair amount of enthuiasm in Aviation i knew this was quite
normal. Still scared anyhow. being winters it became quite dark and we reached our cruising altitude of 35000 feet. After about an
hour we flew into turbulance.As expected seat belt sign came on and FA's announced us to return to our seats. And it was quite a
turbulance as the aircraft kept on shaking till about 10 mins before landing. Winter time is bad in NE India as i experienced the same
turbulance on the way back. Since it was dark nothing to report about here. Let me just skip to landing now. As the norm about 15
mins before we actually landed, the lights were dimmed, where it was impossible to see FA's faces in the dark. They announced that
this is an international standard. Can someone be kind enough to enlighten me as to why?? Landing was pretty normal and after
landing we taxied and parked. No other aircraft was there and we were the only one scheduled at that time. Walked to the terminal
bulding. Switched on my cell and there's no coverage. Waring to people travelling to NE. Use only post paid connections. Pre paid
don't work there for some stupid reason. Anyways inside the terminal there's ony one conveyor belt. Since we were the only one at
that time, no problem. Luggage came in quick. Just 15 mins after deplaning. Collected my baggage and exited. So there ends my 1st
part of TR. Return journed next part Smile

.

And I must complement AAI at GHY. they have done a good job at the airport. Building is clean, small though but all the modern
facilites are available and the building is quite nice too. Apparantly 2 aero-bridges are under construction and runway is also being
widened to accomodate bigger aircrafts. AI used to serve there with A310 to BKK but since have stopped. IC operates now to BKK
once a week. All domestic airlines fly there except Go Air. Airport is as beatuiful as there can be in India. So that's my 1st part of trip
report. Hope u enjoyed reading this and please do comment.

cheers
Shivendra

himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

Nice Report.

Did you manage to take any pictures?
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the_380 · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject:

Nice TR, mate. Even the girl in my display pic liked it Laughing

Lol
regards
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A Walt Disney and 20th Century Fox Audio Producer!!! Very Happy

lambuhere1 · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:31 pm Post subject:

Good TR

Waiting for your 2nd part.

Btw, you could have used the reading light if you wanted. Were you particularly interested in FA's.

Anyway, I have my two TR's pending. Need to Pen them down.

Ram P

saurabhm_101 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 529 Location: Mumbai