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yatrik
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Joined: 08 Nov 2012
Posts: 19
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 Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:55 pm Post subject: Dreamliner Debut - AI348 BOM-DEL |
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Background
The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon takes place every November. Last year I was supposed to cover it. It was also the first time I got a chance to visit Delhi ever since Air India deployed the Dreamliner on the BOM routes in early 2014. The first thing I did was directly go the Air India website and searched for flights on my reqd dates, selected AI 348 for Sat, and to make it a double selected the crazy red eye AI 349 for Monday morning. The fare was Rs. 7775/- now I was pretty sure this would be cheapest amongst carriers, but just to make sure checked on one of the OTA and indeed AI was the lowest. So went ahead and booked it.
22nd November 2014
Aircraft – Boeing 787-8
Airline – Air India
Registration – VT-ANH
Seat – 32A
Logbook Stats
4th flight for 2014
1st on B788
6th on AI
The excitement of flying never ceases, and that excitement is since the previous night always and never lets me sleep peacefully ! Was up by 5:30, quickly freshened up and left for the airport at 6. Booked an uber, ETA 15 minutes ! It was a Skoda Rapid, 16 minutes later he was waiting under my building and it took all of 10 minutes to reach T2 from there ! My first departure from T2 and was awed by its beauty right from getting out of the cab. Gate 4 was Air India. The CISF guy checked my ticket, tells me | Quote: | | "Tum to Dilli jaa rahe ho na, yahan kyun aaye, ye international hai, tumhe santacruz wale me jaane hai" |
I told him it was from T2, and showed him the Terminal on the ticket. His reply - | Quote: | | "Yeh Air India wale bhi ajeeb hai" |
The last time I flew Ai-348 was back in 2012, it was from the old Terminal and the aircraft was a 777-200LR !
Quickly located the counter, was pretty empty, showed the lady, err.. aunty my ticket, reconfirmed that it was a 787, her reply was affirmative. Asked her for the reg and was told it was ANH. Got my boarding pass. There is a separate area for Domestic flights at T2 (this was pre-Vistara) to the extreme left of the immigrations. The security counter seemed more like a temporary setup, just 1 counter and 2 officers present. I was the only pax there and it was a breeze.
From there on, I was strolling through the terminal admiring the beauty of the structure and some time later reached my gate. There I could see VT-ANH. Air India's first 787 ! Another thing that struck me was, all my flights on Air India widebodies were on Air India's first aircraft of that type. Except the 744 (flew on VT-EVA, cant fly the 1st AI 744 now !)
AI348 Oct 2012 77L - VT-ALA
AI102 May 2014 77W - VT-ALJ
AI348 Nov 2014 788 - VT-ANH
Boarding was called at 0730. Boarding was row wise. Boarded and got to my seat 32A. Immediately after being seated, started playing around with the window controls, it was quite fun ! Meanwhile STD of 0815 came... and went by. Captain Rajesh Bhatt came online and announced that there was an airconditioning issue so there would be a delay of atleast about 40 minutes. Runway 27 was in use, so had my camera sort of ready to get a nice shot of the coastline. An EK 777 came in and docked just next to us, and everyone around it just became active and lots of activity around. Meanwhile khabrilal came up with a garma garam khabar on the group that there was a Radar failure at BOM and all activity had stopped. The crew came to life all of a sudden and the carts rolled out ! At 0915, Capt Bhatt came online again and announced that the AC is now working, but there is now a radar failure at BOM so another hour's delay is expected. Breakfast was served, this was the first time I was having food onboard an aircraft at FL 0 ! The food was awesome, in Veg, I got Aloo Paratha's with a Paneer sort of subzi. Which was delicious ! Tea/Coffee service followed. Trays were cleared real quick. I watched the popular Indian sitcom, "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai" on the IFE.
The EK 777 next to us pushed back ! What a quick turnaround wrt to the timeline, we docked in, the EK came in, the EK pushed back, but we were still there ! Capt Bhatt was back, apologized for the delay and announced we were ready to pushback. 1030 we finally pushed back and now runway 09 was in use, so taxied to runway 09.
Disappointed of not getting a chance for the coastline shot, I suddenly realized, I could now get a shot of the T2 ! So fired up the camera and was ready as soon as we started the take off roll.
Here's what I got:-
The windows were dimmed to the darkest setting and the mood lights were now in full flow. It was bright and sunny outside, but with the windows at the darkest, and the beautiful mood lights, it didnt seem that it was almost noon. With such a setting, I was now feeling sleepy since I got up pretty early. With nothing to miss and the food service was already done. I decided to sleep and it was one of the best sleeps I ever got at 40000 feet !
Uneventful there on, even if there were any events, I was fast asleep. Pretty light flight, both the seats next to me were empty. Landed at 1230 on runway 29 at DEL. Did not have any check in bags so straight to the metro station and off to New Delhi Station from where I would change the line.
Once again will be flying to Delhi next month, for ADHM's latest edition. This time got an even cheaper fare for AI348 & AI101. Will try and get more pictures this time. |
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Dreamliner Debut - AI348 BOM-DEL |
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Magnificent once again, Yatrik! Planning details, plane'ing details, all with the wittiness with which we attest to you as a witness. And two top-class A.net shots! Your luck of the first flight being on the first of the type...is awesome. Too bad you missed the other contemporary wide-body: IWA. It was an avgeek delight, with its unique underfloor lav section, spotless interiors when based in Dehi, and the drop-down screens with all contemporary audio channels, and good leg-room. Put a famous Captain's name, and what more does an avgeek want?
I have travelled with Capt Rajesh Bhatt in command as well!
Awesome AI food at FL0: unique
Thank you, and we look forward to your AI 101-348 trip now!
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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yatrik
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Joined: 08 Nov 2012
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:19 pm Post subject: Re: Dreamliner Debut - AI348 BOM-DEL |
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Thank you Sumantra sir. Yes, a unique experience eating at FL0. Missed the chance to fly the A330. I had also booked a joyride for that on BOM-MAA sector but closer to travel date they announced induction of 787 on the route so cancelled the trip.
| sumantra wrote: | Thank you, and we look forward to your AI 101-348 trip now!
Cheers, Sumantra. |
Oops. My bad, typo... its AI348 & AI102. |
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