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me111993 Member
Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 1:19 am Post subject: Jai Jumbo : AI 744 BOM AMD Y |
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Hello all,
Recently, flying back home (BOM-AMD) for the Independence Day long weekend, got incredibly lucky, when AI subbed the 77W with the Queen, sharing my experience with a photo TR, please accept my apologies for the average quality of the pics, they're a combo of awkward weather, dirty windows and a not so good photographer.
Booked these tickets for an absolute steal, round Rs 2500/- bucks return for the 15th Aug weekend, flying out to AMD on AI 144 Aug 12 (EWR BOM AMD 77W) and returning on AI 614 Aug 16 (AMD BOM 787), a few weeks later though, AI announced the AMD LHR EWR flights and put an end to all WB international connectors on BOM AMD and back, luckily enough, the flight was due to be launched on the 15th, thus only one of my two flights were affected, AI 144 was a scheduled 77W but AI 614 was a 320 instead of a 788.
Anyways on with the day of the journey now,
Used my card to access the loyalty lounge a.k.a the Dungeon with Daaru. Strange to see a recently constructed lounge with a fairly average design, especially considering some of other lounges in T2.
Alcohol selection.
Helped myself to an Old Monk with Pepsi. (Was headed to a dry state, you know).
None of the manage by booking features or web check in worked for my booking. Had checked FR24 and was aware that VT-ALS was operating the EWR BOM leg, and thus would operate the BOM AMD leg too.
ALS had already arrived by the time I got out of the dungeon. Had an eye on the 744 being towed.
Bang! Turned onto my gate instead of heading to give some company to the 9W 333.
I literally had all my fingers crossed, hoping that AI would stick to the assigned gate.
VT-ALS.
Went off to the usual pilgrimage of the departures area hoping to catch some nice movements.
VT-WGB, NEO.
Headed back to the gate, hoping everything was as I'd left it, and yes it was! Infact boarding had begun too.
Over 370 pax onboard in Y, 15+ in J.
VT-ALS was operating the JED nonstop.
Pushed back 15 mins behind schedule.
Power!
Meal pic isn't really worth posting, unless someone is interested how AI manages to cut one slice of bread into 4 equal pieces and serve it as SNX.
Not a seat empty!
Did not even feel the landing, it was that smooth.
Took off 25 mins late, landed on schedule !
Had no bags, and was sitting right next to L2, the door they used to deplane, was out of the airport within 10 mins of landing.
Upon leaving it really hit me, how much i was going to miss these AI connectors, over the past 2 years, I have flown the 788, 77L, 77W and the 744 on BOM AMD, in addition to the 321 and 320s in the past.
As for the flight, the ac's were not working on the ground, crew was slightly grumpy, seat was a little cramped, but who the hell cares, I'm still pinching myself.
Thanks for reading.
Rishul _________________ Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.
- Greg House |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Oh Rishul, this is a real treat. I have been pestering you for trip reports for quite a while. Thank you very much for a gripping report, with your trademark writing style, and subtle humour. As usual, a very nice introduction, and background for the TR. You really got an excellent offer on ticket prices, on a popular sector in India.
Reading this TR with all the fine details was even more enjoyable, given that we had seen the gist, and some photos, on the WA group.
The lounge: I remember the comments on the WA group
I loved the photos as well: I remember geing excited when you gave a blow-by-blow account on the WA group: the suspense, and the sheer joy of getting the refurbished AI B744 for your short sector!
Old Monk with Pepsi...Hmm...I had thought that it went better with Coke. I guess you did not have a choice.
The `Manage my booking' or web check-in issues: usually one of them works fine (the latter, usually with regard to seat selection), but if you have issues with both, it usually points to a equipment sub...which perhaps raised your hopes, even before VT-ALS `Mizoram' stood beside, and VT-ESP `Ajanta' came in!
All the BOM shots look quite exquisite, with the movements, and the excitement of seeing the B744 coming in. The 9W wide-bodies, the AI wide-bodies, the El Al B763, the SkyTeam liveried KQ plane: it was sheer eye-candy.
It has been all the more exciting for me, since I have last flown on Ajanta (and for that matter, on an AI B744) in 2007, and have been yearning for an experience, since then. I had missed VT-EVA `Agra' by two days on the DEL-CCU sector (AI 20-AI 701, IIRC), which had done the route for lucky passenger. The other trip reports include the HYD-BOM leg of the JED service. This was a first, and an exciting one, thank you very much!
I remember asking you about this on the WA group as well: were you in the forward economy section? I seem to remember this view from a 2005 flight on an un-refurbished VT-EVA `Agra'. Your interior pictures seem to suggest something else, but then, after refurbishment, I guess they may have changed some of the seating arrangements is a small way.
Meal pic: ha ha! But then, you did not experience the UA sandwich I got on a ICN-NRT flight, a `bonsai' sandwich.
F.East'12-3: The Morning Calm, The Rising Sun!
http://www.airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/airlinersindia-ftopic13108.html
Section 43.4 is the part in question.
You have some really lovely sunset pics, winglet pics in different types of lighting, and some nice interior pictures, and yes, the thrust reversers! I could almost hear the lovely sounds.
Question: power-ports on the seats. How many, and where?
`seat was a little cramped': I really wonder, why. Pre-refurbishment, the AI B744 seat pitch and width, was a dream, in Economy. And this I speak, after having experienced the Jumbo Jets of SAS, NorthWest Orient, British Airways, and Cathay.
Thank you once again, for a lovely TR!
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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stealthpilot Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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Nice pics of BOM, and a 744 on a short hop! Wow lucky, id take a short fight on a 744 over a long one any day hehehehe
Thanks for the great RT! _________________ eP007 |
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me111993 Member
Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 2:26 am Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot guys.
Sumantra sir,
I was behind door L2, the tiny economy section you're referring to is infront of L2, in which case, I wouldn't have been able to take pics of VT-ALS while onboard, because my view would have been blocked by the aerobridge.
I didn't notice any power ports !
Thanks again. _________________ Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.
- Greg House |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 8:52 am Post subject: |
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me111993 wrote: | I was behind door L2, the tiny economy section you're referring to is infront of L2, in which case, I wouldn't have been able to take pics of VT-ALS while onboard, because my view would have been blocked by the aerobridge. | As always, I end up showing my stupidity, in my excitement. sorry!
me111993 wrote: | I didn't notice any power ports | You mean, no power-ports in the seat cradle, just under the seat cushion, where they are on the AI B777s, and close-by, with one for each seat, as in the B788s? I am a bit surprised, though.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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avbuff Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Impressive pictures!!! loved the ANA 787 and EL Al photographed at sunset.
Indeed very lucky to have a B744 operate that route and yes the connectors would surely be missed.
You really should have put the meal picture, just to show how NOT to make one.
Thanks for sharing. |
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Karan69 Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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lovely pictures RiS, a blessing in disguise getting the jumbo especially given you couldnt make your actual jumbo darshan |
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Aseem Member
Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 4:15 am Post subject: |
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In another photo you can see other two AI jumbos parked. _________________ [url=http://openflights.org/user/aseemsjohri]
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