Airliners-India.com

ameya · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:10 pm Post subject: DEL-BOM-DEL on King of good times

As company wanted me to shift to Delhi for a while and that did not include fly back option for atleast 4 weeks, I started doing 2 things, 1. Searching for a new job and 2. Finding ways to go back to Mumbai for the weekend. A holiday was already planned for the third week of June and dad suddenly figured out he has over 20000 points on both KF and 9W FFP.
So it was time to find a way back home for the weekend. Quickly checked with KF and flights on Friday evening were not available for redemption. So booked IT 353 DEL-BOM, first flight on Saturday and return on IT 331 for today morning, again first flight of the day. The benefit I saw on first flight is that, one it took me home and brought back to work on time and quick and moreover, there are higher chances of flights departing, even if there are problems to their planes since they would swap the aircrafts which are already available on ground.
Lately, I have had bad experience with Meru Cabs. Invariably their drivers call up before the alarm time and it gets very irritating to miss the 10 mins of extra sleep at that unearthly hour of the day. So alarm set at 0500hrs and cab booked at 520, the driver called at 450 asking for directions. I re read the whole address which I had given the call centre and which was already with him and he came to the right place, I wonder why did he ask for it in the first place. I was so new to the place that there was no way I could have guided anybody.
The ride from Gurgaon to T3 was a breeze, reached within 30 minutes. I had landed at T3 before but never departed from there so I was obviously looking forward to see how the terminal is after reading a lot of reviews, comments and minor criticism. Having travelled atleast once or twice a month in last 2 years, I had never taken the carriers which are at T3 and hence never got a chance to see the interiors. The last I saw T3 was before it was inaugurated, in what was a guided tour of the terminal which I had managed to go on.
I had taken a web checking printout and went to the 1st counter which was dedicated for the same. The smiling lady, tore the printout and issued a new boarding pass. Now for an airline which is under so much financial stress, those 3 rupees could have been saved. The newspapers were lined up next to the counter, I picked up 2 and headed for security, after examining the area quickly. T3 is really world class. The check-in islands really give you a feel of a big world class terminal. The bright red Kingfisher tag was replaced by a white tag with advertisement on one side. I remember the days, when people used to carry extra tags and continue to keep their bags tagged for a long period and flaunt their kingfisher rides.
Security had its usual goof ups by people, a couple nicely kept everything including their boarding passes in the bag which went in the scanner, obviously to be sent back by the security staff. I cleared the security and was really hungry by then. Checked out the stores and wanted to buy a nice scale model of MiG-25, which was priced at 4700, equivalent to one way ticket on this sector may be. Headed to the food court to check out the options. Most of the stores were closed and the option was more or less McDonalds. Headed back again to the floor below and spotted a Nirulas express store, Had a quick idli wada there – what a shame eating idli wada in Delhi !
Headed to the gates, it was still 0615 and a long way to go for the flight so decided to check out the terminal again. Saw a nice sculpture of Surya Namaskar posses at the entry of the peir. Many AI flights were boarding for various destinations, and so was the case with 9W. Kingfisher had very few flights boarding. One ATR to JAI at 6:50, A320 to BLR at 6:40 and IT 353 to DEL at 7:15. My flight was from gate 39A as per boarding card and 39B as per screens, not much of a difference since it’s the same gate. 39A was boarding to BLR, which was operated by VT-DNZ a DN bird with 8/156 config now. Spotted some AI and 9W birds and soon boarding was announced so headed to the gate.
My bird was VT-KFZ, a 20/158 config A321. This was also the only config in which I had never sat in a KF bird. 180Y,174Y,144Y, 32J/119Y, 20J,114Y, 42Y,66Y,72Y were the other config which the yhave operated before and have sat in all of them.
Settled in my seat, there were no newspapers and an old HiBlitz magazine in the seat pocket which wasn’t in a great condition. The screen was on and was showing the flight map.
Mind went back to the glory days, full flights, great seats, IFE, vanity pouch, wet towels, and what not. Just sad to see this state of something which had great potential. I came back home and told this to a friend, he gave a very good anology. Having potential and not getting a chance is like Irfan Pathan and having potential, getting a chance and not performing is like Ajit Agarkar. Not thinking much as to where KF belongs.
Flight boarded before time, the load was about 80% in Y and only 4 seats were full in J. We pushed back before time and used runway 29 to get airborne without waiting, banked left and climbed to 29000 feet – our cruise altitude. Service soon commenced with a choice of Veg (Idli sambar) and Non Veg(Omlette) breakfast, along with exactly 2 slices each of papaya and watermelon and a coriander bun, which I don’t think was consumable ! The empty cup took rest of the space. Knife did not form part of the cutlery. The tray was small white tray which was used by the airline to serve food in KF-Red flights. Again, long gone are those days of full meal with big sized trays, fruit juice, butter, jam, sauce, cutlery, and what not.
Settled for a quick breakfast followed by tea/coffee service. The service of KF still stands out, more so as compared to the LCCs. The crew is prompt, quick and efficient as compared to clueless people of Go Air. You will never figure out that they have not been paid for few months, well groomed, and up to the mark in whatever they are doing.
There were heavy clouds after STV and I did enjoy the free roller coaster ride for about 5-7 minutes before approach. Approached rwy 27 and landed before. Taxing quickly to the gates of T1-A. The aircraft was holding for a few minutes here, either waiting for a aircraft to vacate the bay or for a space in between the aircraft, good enough to accommodate a A321. Suddenly we started taxing again and after taking a turn, were not docking at T1-C between 2 B737-900s of 9W. Both in the current color scheme. Deplaining was quick with 1 coach at the back and aerobridge in place and I headed home.
The unnecessary wait after landing could have been prevented by MIAL – Operations team for sure.
Overall the flight was really good. Currently, you are going to from A to B, with meals and on time at lower cost than LCC, so it makes all sense to book KF tickets. However, the risk of stoppage in fuel supply and other things relating to disruptions continues to be there.
STD : 0715
Boarding commenced: 0630
Doors Closed : 0700
Pushback : 0705
Runway 29 to get airborne just before 0715
STA: 0825
Touchdown: 0805

The return leg TR posting in a while.

ameya · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:51 pm Post subject:

The return leg was this morning and I web checked in again. After a long ride from my place, reached the airport at 0500hr for 0605 flight. Kingfisher these days doesnt have a lot of departures even from BOM. The screen was filled up with AI flights to all across the country, CCU via HYD, DEL via JAI, IXC via DEL, COK via TRV, IXM via MAA and what not.

Saw one agent with a stamp in her hands so got my web checking prinout stamped and headed for security, which was quick.

The gate was A11, which was at one end of the airport, after a long walk reached the gate and waited. AI flights were boarding for DEL and TRV.

Jet had a few aircrafts, DEL and BHO where boarding was on. Boarding was announced at 5:35 and was done by 5:50. Comparatively light flight. only 2 in J and most of the middle seats empty in Y. It was again a 20/158 A320 - VT-KFY the two sister birds.

Taxied all the way to other end, saw a Ethiopian A330 and few 9W and 6E birds and took off right away. Much of the flight I assume was uneventful because I was asleep.

Breakfast service started and unlike previous years when FA were ensuring that people get up and are asked for food, here nobody was specifically asked. I again opted for the Non Veg meal. The meal options were same. But the chef in Delhi was better than Mbai.

Landed before time and headed to gate 39A.

They now announce that they have landed before time, and are operating a 100+ flights per day schedule, etc.

aeroblogger

ameya

aeroblogger

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nice, detailed report, Ameya! Was there anything else on the IFE channels, apart from the moving map? It is commendable on part of the IT cabin crew to provide good and efficient service in spite of going without their paycheques, this is something I have seen and admired on Air India, too.
Cheers, Sumantra.

ameya · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:06 am Post subject:

Nope, on BOM-DEL leg, my screen wasnt working at all. I dint complain.

Also the seats were not in the best of condition with reclining button getting stuck many a times

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Nice TR on the "newly IATA - suspended" Kingfisher, but I'm glad the crew still stands out while performing their duties. And remembering the supposed glory days of IT, this is what we have come down to ... extremely sad.

Nimish · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting this TR. How much cheaper were IT compared to the LCC crowd? The service on board IT is always good, even on short flights, they seem to manage to serve the entire plane. I wonder if they have fewer seats, more crew or just efficiency?
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

ameya · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject:

PAL@YWG · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:39 am Post subject:

Nice TR Ameya...got a pretty fair idea about IT's current status.
What is commendable that VJM is not throwing in his towel yet. By cutting down the operation to 100+ flights per day, IT is now at least draining out lesser cash than before. Hope that gives them time to emerge stronger eventually.

And IT still provides newspapers at the check-in area! Truly, the king is still not naked.
_________________
Tally Sheet:
41 Countries ||55 Aircraft types ||60 Airlines ||75 Airports

aeroblogger · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:42 am Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:26 am Post subject:

PAL@YWG · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:36 am Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

The only way out at this point of time is for VJM to put in some cash. Aviation is currently a cash intensive business and as an eg. there are periodic news about Marans infusing cash in the business at certain intervals. Though it is bad for the owners, the business is not suffering and making SG a prime contendor for sale to foreign airline as and when it opens. What goes on at 6E or G8 wouldnt come in public

As for 9W, cash is not infused because the business is too big for that and debt ismostly secured unlike KFA

PAL@YWG · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:53 am Post subject:

aeroblogger · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:06 am Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:17 am Post subject:

I really do hope that most IT employees manage to find alternate "paying" jobs - and that gives them the momentum to leave IT and move to greener pastures. Unfortunately the "India Declining" mood right now probably means that hiring is very slow, but hopefully at least a few of them can move to the gulf instead.
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

ameya · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:51 am Post subject:

Companies are using arm twisting tactics with KF employees. Have known so many people jump at lower salary and / or non relevant sectors at lower grade.

While its a good temporary solution, the employee is again going to jump at first opportunity so I dont think its a good thing for the new company to show dis respect towards an incoming employee just because of the state in which he is right now

All said and then, its business out there so companies get cheap resource and convince the person that here you will get less but you wil latleast get it, and on time

Kudos to the customer facing employees who continue to show smiles and welcome guests

I continue to think that VJM must be in a bad hangover when he signed the first cheque for the airline

Nimish · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:29 pm Post subject:

^^ Sad to hear about the "exploitation" from new jobs, but luckily for them, at least they have jobs and pay. I do hope VJM has to pay personally for the mess he's created, but it does not seem like it Sad

.
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

ameya · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, he has a lot of contacts which is helping him get away with minor frauds and not following the law

KF should really be handled like Satyam