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DEL-CCU-DEL

 
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VABBy
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 823
Location: DEL

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:59 pm    Post subject: DEL-CCU-DEL Reply with quote

It’s been more than a month since I visited my maternal grandparents in Calcutta and as each day passed by I used to wonder about my pending trip report. So finally guys here do I present my Trip Report DEL-CCU-DEL titled “BACK TO THE ROOTS”

Before I start shooting down details about the usual airline jargon let me give u a bit of a background about this trip. It was in July when I was sipping cup of with my colleagues I realized that it was almost a year since i was back from Australia. And since my return my job hadn’t given me enough time to catch up with my relatives, cousins and grandparents. That’s when I decided to make a quick dash to the City of Joy. I called up my cousin and enquired about his plan and luckily he was very much in town as his exams was about to finish and he would be taking his much anticipated break and that’s what finally gave me the go ahead. A quick search at the clear trip website revealed that a clear divide existed between the Low Cost Carriers and the Full Service Carrier. While the LCC tickets were in range of 2K to 3K the full service duo made a starting around 3Kwith prices going as high as 8K

After a lot of intense calculations and browsing various portals I zeroed down upon IC because a the tickets were cheap in compared to 9W and IT at the same time I wouldn’t have to go through the Bus Stand mess which is present at the Terminal 1B plus as we all know that shoddy customer service of the Government owned Carriers is always the hot topic of discussion on the forum so this time once again I decided to check out IC. When unfolded my plans of going to CCU at home I realized that I had got company because apart from me my brother was in too for the trip.


DEL-CCU

On the D day my brother and his friend picked me up from my office in the evening and we drove down straight to the airport. I could see some kind of construction in progress right in the front of the Terminal 1A and trust me till this date I don’t know what they are making over their. Anyways after seeing off varun,s friend we quickly wheeled in our strollies inside the terminal when I was approached by a valet with a warm smile and enquiring if we were flying Kingfisher. After getting a negative response he moved on and so did we. Check in baggage was X-rayed and labeled. And we stood in one of the numerous Air India counters waiting for my turn to come. Yes you heard it right all the signage’s inside the terminal carry the new logo of Air India though the boarding passes being used is still of IC. I had done web check inn at the Indian website itself but since my brother was interested in changing the seat selection we had to get a regular one printed.

As usual the terminal looked pretty much the same as I saw the last time in Dec 06. We passed the security check and seated ourselves strategically so that we could have a clear view of the domestic apron and the activities happening around it. In the mean time my brother decided to check out the great Sino Punjabi cuisine served by YO CHINA. It was during munching chilly chicken with fried rice we came to know that our flight had been delayed by 20 mins and we were eligible for a free soft drink or tea/coffee. So that took care of our drinking part. As usual finally the boarding was announced after the 15 min delay and we had tata buses with body manufactured by ACGL for our company right from the gate to the aircraft. As the buses drove down across the tarmac I could see the various AI aircrafts lined up for PM, s review at the palam technical area which is nothing but just a medium sized apron with parking space connected directly with the secondary runway.

Surprisingly our aircraft was parked on the extreme left hand side just besides the secondary runway. Sorrie guys forgot the registration no of the aircraft. But unlike my previous journey on IC this A320 baby was well maintained. Though a lot of crumbled DNA newspapers could be seen in the seat pockets. I know one of our esteemed member is an in flight crew in IC mate one request tell all your colleagues that crumbled newspapers are a big turn off so either they should be removed or if u want to keep newspapers ensure u keep fresh crisp ones.

Our flight was piloted by Capt. Sandeep Sharma who informed we would be cruising at FL 360. Flight was pushed back ASAP as we were already late. Departures were from the secondary runway today towards the dwarka end. So we lined up. Our aircraft was third in que with line being led by an IAF AN-32. Before us we also had a B738 waiting for its turn to come. It was during this waiting period to take off I saw the B772LR being towed to the palam technical area. So the pictures which you saw are the first ones of the aircraft taken on the Indian soil I guess.

Finally after a 5 min wait it was our turn to roll. The engines were spooled up and we thundered across the runway and took off smoothly and made a u turn while gaining altitude. Soon the aircraft leveled and the much awaited meal service began. IC takes its airline meals from TAJ SATS. This reminds me of one query ie apart from IT who all airlines take their meals from SKY GOURMET. The meal surprisingly was the same Sino-Punjabi cuisine which we had tasted at the airport ie chilly chicken if u have taken a non veg option and veg Manchurian incase one have taken a veg option . Extra helpings were easily offered when we asked for some which is always a big plus with IC as FA,s with other airlines often tend to raise their eyebrows.

Most of the flight was dull apart from the fact that there was plenty of turbulence during final few mins as it was raining cats and dogs in Calcutta and that too we realized only when our plane was taxing at NSCB Airport. But I would have to mention that on this flight I witnessed the smoothest landing I have ever been part of. Kudos to the pilot I couldn’t feel a thing no jitters nothing even when he braked. We docked into the aerobridge at 7:50pm and we were out of the airport in flat 15 mins after collecting our bags.

CCU-DEL

As all good things come to an end my trip was also about to formally come to an end when I would arrive back in New Delhi that same night. But I guess it’s the memories which always stay on. So with those happy memories we drove for the airport. And the 3 days which I spent in Calcutta have been imprinted in my mind. From Clubbing at Park, to eating puchkas at the street, to exploring the Ganges. NSCB Airport has a common building which has been divided into two parts . The left caters to the international terminal while the right one caters to the domestic. Got our baggages Xrayed. They weighed 50Kgs indeed flying IC helps as they offer a 30kg baggage limit to pax flying eco class as well.

We got a rude shock after the security check that the flight was delayed by 30 mins due to late arrival of incoming aircraft. This time we were lucky we were bussed to our A320 which was standing lonely on the international side of the airport compared to the crowded domestic end.
As we pushed back I could see the Bluedart 757 parked at a remote stand. We taxied and waited for a spicejet flight to land after which we were given the clearance to take off.

Our journey time was 1 hr 50 mins I guess probably captain tried to cover up the delay as much as he could. Surprisingly we didn’t get any congestion over the delhi airport and we landed from the dwarka side on the main runway . Luck favored us more and we docked right in the front of the domestic arrivals which made us leave the arrivals hall in flat 10 mins
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice report - any pictures? How would you rate the service levels on ground and on board IC?
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VABBy
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 823
Location: DEL

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are the pics.

http://vabby.fotopic.net/c1340368.html
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crew320
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Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 301
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good trip report mate and nice pictures too.

From the looks of the aircraft seats n tables, it seems you flew on either the EVx or EYx series aircraft. How well was the seat recline?

Judging by the (crumbled) DNA newspapers in the seat pockets, I guess the incoming aircraft came in from BOM, and a 20-minute delay meant that the aircraft had to do a quick turnaround. Probably, the reason why the used newspapers were left in the seat-pockets and not cleared by the ground staff. Always a turn-off for me too.

I hope you enjoyed Tantra as much as I did the last time I was there.

Keep the TRs coming. Anymore pictures of the cabin?

aM
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HAWK21M
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Mumbai, INDIA

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice TR & great Pics.
regds
MEL
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VABBy
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 823
Location: DEL

PostPosted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crew320 wrote:
Good trip report mate and nice pictures too.

From the looks of the aircraft seats n tables, it seems you flew on either the EVx or EYx series aircraft. How well was the seat recline?

Judging by the (crumbled) DNA newspapers in the seat pockets, I guess the incoming aircraft came in from BOM, and a 20-minute delay meant that the aircraft had to do a quick turnaround. Probably, the reason why the used newspapers were left in the seat-pockets and not cleared by the ground staff. Always a turn-off for me too.

I hope you enjoyed Tantra as much as I did the last time I was there.

Keep the TRs coming. Anymore pictures of the cabin?

aM



Oh yeaa it was the EY series well next time i am flying IC i will ensure more pictures of the Cabin Oh well Tantra was awesome as usual... Very Happy
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