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malQ

I live in Delhi, work in Pune & Bangalore, and travel to the West Coast of USA, prefer to route with overnight stops both ways via London. This gives me a BA or VS routing as the best option, usually out of DEL or BOM. Personally, prefer DEL for obvious reasons.

VS messed up big time with me on my last trip, so currently I want to stay off them.

Last week, was looking at prices, and saw the options from BLR-LHR-SFO on BA for the first time. In WTP and Club, the prices ex-BLR were very attractive, as compared to ex-DEL and ex-BOM.

At this juncture, another colleage, who is to travel with me, made a telling statement - BLR Airport, though small and inadequate, is still far better than running the gauntlet at BOM.

So, question here is - are we willing to forgive the inadequate facilities at the smaller International airports like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Amritsar (even Pune!!) in favour of "running the gauntlets" at DEL/BOM/MAA (and shudder shudder - CCU)?

I mean, anybody who has tried to take a taxi from BOM to Gujarat or from DEL to Punjab, knows what I mean, right?

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

i know what you mean but if there is a good connection to my hometown ill use that anyday rather than fancying my travel to BOM

i live in pune and the moment any foreign carrier comes in ill stop mumbai for good my parents stay in doha i had asked AI so many times why cant they give a connection to doha with a changeover in dubai as the flight is pnq-dxb-pnq but no result

but the point is if i can travel to my hometown or to any other mnajor country
in the world ill use pune even though the facilities are inadequate .. first of all i dnt have to go early to the airport can reach the airport 45 mins b4 dep so no time to use the so called facilities

Nimish

malQ · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject:

By "running the gauntlet" I mean that every time there is some new obstacle and/or scam for passengers trying to do a transit or transfer.

One of the constant scams at DEL domestic arrivals, for example, is that if you don't spot the international airport free transfer bus table, and ask any porter or similar person for help in going to International Departures, then they will escort you to their private taxi friends.

Likewise, if you are travellling by taxi from DEL to any place in Punjab, then there are the Delhi and Haryana traffic cops as well as RTOs to contend with at various points.

Nimish · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the explanation.

Now that I understand the phrase, I can certainly state that bypassing the transit stop at BOM and DEL is the most important thing I look for when booking my flights! MAA is far better in that regard, and nothing like a direct flight from BLR - even if it's a slower connection or more expensive.

ssbmat · Member Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710

malQ · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:43 am Post subject:

I agree that Kolkata as a city has really made major strides in cleaning up its act lately. The perception and the fact is that the worst of the last few decades is now behind it and the only way for Kolkata city is "up".

That, however, is not true for Kolkata Airport, which is still in a time warp of its own as far as customer service and passenger amenities are concerned.

In brief - Kolkata city OK, Kolkata Airport not OK.

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject:

the_380 · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

aarbee · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 328 Location: WAS/AMD

AKLDELNonstop · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1066 Location: Auckland

aarbee · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 328 Location: WAS/AMD