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malQ
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Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Delhi, India
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 Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:30 pm Post subject: UK-933 DEL-BOM Y upgraded to PE 22sept'15 |
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The first surprise was how pleasant T3 at DEL is compared to T1 at DEL for outbound domestic flights. That is going to influence future choice of flight-also because I can take a cab to Dhaula Kuan and then take the Airport Metro Express from there straight to T3.
The next surprise was the upgrade. From Y to PE. Window seat as requested, 8F, middle seat empty. Very kind of Vistara, thank you, or the lady at the check-in counter (from Air India). Brisk and efficient at check-in.
Small interlude - the airline offered the male passenger part of a couple with infant an upgrade to PE. When the male passenger said either all of us or none of us, I applauded, and eventually he refused the solo upgrade.
Gate 39B, visibly light flight, probably about 50-60 passengers. VT-TTD was already at the gate. Boarding completed well before time, roll-back before time, airborne before time too. Even with such a light flight the person at the counter managed to cock up the announcements.
Onboard VT-TTD, new aircraft, clean, smiling people, full female crew.
Meal service included tetrapack of Amul spicy buttermilk followed by a snack service which was as good as a full meal, flight was 1555-1810 DEL-BOM, so a hot meal was welcome. Yellow glass noodles, mystery meat in some random gravy meant to be Sino-Ludhianvi, two tikkas, one part piece of a heavy maida roll, random pudding in random custard. Orange juice, black coffee, and decent branded sugar and creamer. Stainless steel cutlery in PE. As much water as you wanted. Thank you for a full meal at the price of a ticket cheaper than the no-frills flight going same pair same time. Plenty of magazines and newspapers but the inflight magazine is a bit of a bore.
Smooth flight, delayed arrival with some slow loops before landing at BOM, disembark, baggage, drama with cabbie booked for me who called up and said "Vistara bolne ko Air India, kyaa", and then started arguing with me so I told him to forgive me, and took a Cool Cab instead. Cool Cab driver usual moans and groans about how he has to wait 12 hours for his turn. Went through town to Churchgate side instead of by SeaLink.
Would I fly Vistara again? Yes. Would I pay a premium over other airlines? Again, yes, about 500-1000 rupees, all other things being equal.
What more do I want from Vistara? I want a better Frequent Flyer programme. The current one appears to be too complex. |
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi
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| Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:20 am Post subject: Re: UK-933 DEL-BOM Y upgraded to PE 22sept'15 |
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Veresh-ji: it has been ages since you posted your iconic trip reports with your witty comments, and pithy remarks!
| malQ wrote: | | The first surprise was how pleasant T3 at DEL is compared to T1 at DEL for outbound domestic flights. |
I am actually quite surprised that a hard-core Delhi'ite like you has not experienced the beauty and comforts of IGIA T3 for such a long period of time! The GMR group are upgrading T1-D and more visibly, T1-C, to be more like their flagship T3, but the crowds and lack of tarmac views at T1-D almost always send me towards T3, when I have a choice in the course of my official travels.
| malQ wrote: | | ...and then take the Airport Metro Express from there straight to T3. |
The Airport Express is a shadow of what it started off with, but the reduced rates make it more attractive now, in spite of the reduced speeds, from what I remember.
| malQ wrote: | | The next surprise was the upgrade. |
Attempt to woo future frequent flyers, I guess, but inconsistent, from what you have written, below.
| malQ wrote: | | ...the lady at the check-in counter (from Air India). Brisk and efficient at check-in. |
AI-SATS. They do both Air India and Vistara.
| malQ wrote: | | ...the airline offered the male passenger part of a couple with infant an upgrade to PE. When the male passenger said either all of us or none of us, I applauded, and eventually he refused the solo upgrade. |
This is extremely random (pun intended). Perhaps they were on two different PNRs (We have done this quite often, with The Wife and Junior on my points, or The Wife on points, or Junior on an infant ticket, linked to her PNR).
| malQ wrote: | | Gate 39B, visibly light flight, probably about 50-60 passengers. |
As has been pointed out on this forum and elsewhere as well, this is a serious issue Vistara need to tackle!
| malQ wrote: | | Meal service included tetrapack of Amul spicy buttermilk followed by a snack service which was as good as a full meal, flight was 1555-1810 DEL-BOM, so a hot meal was welcome. Yellow glass noodles, mystery meat in some random gravy meant to be Sino-Ludhianvi, two tikkas, one part piece of a heavy maida roll, random pudding in random custard. |
Classic Veeresh-ji. 
Sino-Ludhianvi, or Punjabi-Chinese to most of us Delhi'ites. Though I am a bit surprised Taj-SATS would get that wrong, and Mr. G.-M.T. would not be aware of it.
| malQ wrote: | | Plenty of magazines and newspapers but the inflight magazine is a bit of a bore. |
The quality of in-flight magazines has dropped to such levels now-a-days...it is sad to hear about Vistara not putting effort into this. I remember IC's Swagat, CD's Darpan and even AI's Namaskar - all fondly, and find it reassuring that Jetwings is actually much better than what it started off with, in the 1990s.
| malQ wrote: | | drama with cabbie booked for me who called up and said "Vistara bolne ko Air India, kyaa", and then started arguing with me so I told him to forgive me, and took a Cool Cab instead. Cool Cab driver usual moans and groans about how he has to wait 12 hours for his turn. |
Typical Mumbai, at least the latter part 
| malQ wrote: | | What more do I want from Vistara? I want a better Frequent Flyer programme. The current one appears to be too complex. |
Thank you Veeresh-ji for accepting my request to post TRs...please be more regular here. We enjoy what you write, and how you write it, as well.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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Very interesting TR Sir. Glad to have read it.
A lot seems to be right and the same time wrong in case of Vistara, lets see where they are headed
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Glad to see you back on the Forum Veeresh - and the report on Vistara was great to read.
Speaks volumes about 6E's positive brand/ reputation in the market that they are able to sell tickets at prices higher than UK and without any of the frills.
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We miss you Nalini! |
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sri_bom
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 2365
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2015 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the quick short report.
Seems like Vistara is still learning the ropes, but the low load factor seems to be their biggest challenge for now.
Sri_Bom |
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