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kam · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 54 Location: CVT

Hi chaps

This is my first trip report so go easy on me Laughing

20th July 2007

Route: LHR – HEL
Flight Number: AY 836
Equip: Airbus A320 OH LXL
Seat: 23f Gate: 27a
Scheduled Departure: 07:30
Actual Departure: 08:30

The journey began with catching the 4.00am National Express bus from Pool Meadow bus station in Coventry, by 6.00am I had arrived at Heathrow central bus station along with very heavy rain couldn’t be duller and grey than it was. I have flown from LHR numerous times but today was going to be the first time from Terminal 1. The route from the Bus station to the terminal resembled dark and dingy alleyways to be found in the numerous ‘sink estates’ that are dotted around the UK.

One word describes terminal one “ZOO” place was packed full of people not necessarily knowing which zone to check in at or do when they arrived at the zone. Folks who had checked in using terminals had to use the same check in desks as those using the more traditional method to drop there bags. While waiting in line the queues to go air side where half the length of the terminal. The time waiting to be checked in was made more tolerable by chatting to a fellow traveller about our boy’s performance in the first test at lords. Got checked in eventually which went without a hitch and check in staff where pleasant considering the mayhem that surrounded them (BA handle Finnair at LHR).

Security checks where quick and efficient considering the events at Glasgow Airport a few weeks earlier. Didn’t have much time to dilly dally as I was running late due to the time it took to check in, but airside was just a shopping mall a collection of your usual high street names.
Boarding was ok, I just can’t fathom why people get up on mass the aircraft isn’t going to leave with out them! The plane appeared to be 100% full. I didn’t bother to take any pictures on the ground at LHR as the weather was so bad it would have made the pictures rubbish but for colour purposes we had a SAA B744 and a BA A320 as neighbours numerous BA 320 taxied by along with BA 744s and a Cyprus Airways A330 taxied past and parked the other side of the SAA 744 and for some reason the Cyprus A330 looked enormous (more than A330’s are normally).
Leg room was ok this considering I’m approaching 6 feet in height and weigh in at 21 Stones around 125Kgs too many of Mums samosas and pakoras but I think to much amber nectar may be the real reason. I did feel a little squashed due to the arm rests being down as when I travel it’s with the family so we have the arm rests up. The aircraft was spotlessly clean and with the blue fabrics used on the seats very crisp almost surgical looking but not unwelcoming.
The meal service on this particular flight was breakfast, I asked for ‘Hindu’ meal when I made my booking at that’s what the label on the meal tray stated, the meal consisted of a very small Nan which had the consistency of rubber a dish of chickpeas in tomato and a dry cous cous, a pot of vanilla yoghurt and a strawberry cereal bar tea or coffee al in all a very poor meal no more than a score of 3 out of ten
IFE wasn’t very good a number of documentary style short films viewable via over head flat panel monitors and the music selection was rather dull

A Full load for the LHR - HEL segment

Aproaching Helsinki

Helsinki Airport

Route: HEL – DEL
Flight Number: AY 021
Equip: McDonald Douglas MD11
Seat: 44a
Gate: 14:15
Scheduled Departure: 14:15
Actual Departure: On Time!

Boarded the aircraft without any hitches, once again the seat was rather narrow but the leg room was sufficient, the thing that stood out was the interior of the aircraft it had the look of having done a few miles shall we say although spotlessly clean with the same seat fabrics but not as crisp looking as the previous flight. The seat layout of 3-4-3 in the rear section of the aircraft gave it a claustrophobic feeling Disposable hot towels where distributed and I settled in for the 6 hour flight to Delhi

Our Route

Our neighbour at gate 31 being prepped for its journey to New York, the tail section and the double winglets makes the MD11 so ascetically pleasing

The view from seat 44a the monstrous wing of the MD11

Our other neighbour a Finnair A340 at gate 33 being prepped for it journey to Shanghai.

Once again I had opted for the ‘Hindu’ meal at time of reservation and that’s what the label said a rather disappointing chicken curry with rice, it tasted as it looked not very good. IFE on the MD11 was very poor a couple of films on English and a crappy Hindi film viewed via a flat panel mounted on the bulkhead, My Ipod and a good book kept me distracted long enough in between sleeping to make the time pass pleasantly enough. With a short time remaining to our arrival in Delhi another meal service took place which was consisted of a mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich with orange juice to drink followed by tea or coffee, three out of ten not very good. The flight attendants where efficient and polite while carrying out there duties and what I though was a nice touch all children on both flights where given a pack to keep them busy during the flights.
By now it was dark outside and I saw some real spectacular lightning in the distance.
The approach in to Delhi was smooth and uneventful and deplaning was quick. Passage through IGIA took around 45 – 60 minutes the deadpan looks from the immigration chap was almost comical and I had to stop myself from laughing. On leaving the aircraft I was handed a green card, which at various points of passing through the airport it the time was noted.

Overall not the best journey I have experienced but considering the price of the ticket it was just about OK, given the choice to fly this route again I wouldn’t .

Birendra · Member Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 1411

Nice.

Especially the pictures.
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Nimish · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:54 am Post subject:

Excellent report and great pictures.

Given the bad food, the cramped seating, the layover at HEL etc., what would make users take this flight? Was it substantially cheaper than a non-stop? How friendly were the crew (LH like or BA like or SQ like)? And how was the level of service on board? Any hindi/Punjabi speaking FAs?

kam · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 54 Location: CVT

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Nice TR kam, the MD-11 certainly is a great looking aircraft.
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VABBy · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 823 Location: DEL

Hey watz the story with the green card... Is that some kind of pass which allowed u to pass thru the green channel. Last i remember we just had to hand over the custom declaration forum to the guy before coming out of the airport
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kam · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 54 Location: CVT

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Nice TR & Photos, good too read TR's from a different airline and world...

Sri_Bom