Airliners-India.com

[jbalonso777]

Link to previous TR: http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=116948#116948

16th July 2012
On the road back home
Mumbai, MH, India.

There I was in Mumbai. 9 months later! It felt long. Really long. There were many changes in the city for sure. But one thing hadn't changed: Bad roads. I was ready for my spine to take a spanking anyways! And as for the physiotherapy appointment, we took that 6 months before, because that's how it is! But anyways, the aim of the trip was simple: waste nothing! Not even a second, not even a rupee! I didn't have too long, and I had to save on money, because I had other things to buy, repair, etc. There were many people to meet as well. My first appointment in Mumbai was at 5 pm that very evening. So I didn't have to change or anything, just talked to my friend, who actually had everything ready for me to come over and crash.

As for the airlines, here are the standings:
1. AI-9.0 points
2. 6E-8.0 points
3. 9W-5.0 (maybe 4.0?) points.
This meant, the flight on 9W-256 was a do or die for Jet. But anyways, I didn't care about this, I had 8 days of loaded energy ahead of me!

I clicked pictures like a tourist, that's all. I treated this as my last time in Mumbai (won't be for sure!).
So here was the plan for the next few days, no travel agent needed, I did this on my own!
16th: Friends in the evening..
17th: Meet school friends in school, take Dad's lens from the camera shop, evening get together in McDonalds
18th: Continuation of my dosage (remember the illness from the BBI TR?)
19th: My friend fell sick, nothing could be done, stayed at home.
20th: Went to my cousin's house..
21st: Came back, evening with friends..
22nd: Stayed at home the whole day, evening with frinds
23rd: One final meeting with my friends..
24th: The all important spinal check up
25h: 9W-256.

There it was then. A lot energy packed stuff! 17th I woke up, looking at the wall. I said to myself, wait, I remember this place...I'M IN MY BUDDIE'S PLACE IN MUMBAI! AT LONG LAST! 17th July was there, and I got ready for the day..
The awesome start of the trip was over shadowed. Badly. Mum kept Whatsapp-ing me. And this time, I was told that my dog was badly ill, and had to be taken to the hospital for drips every 12 hours. I was broken to be honest! I tried not to think about it. But staying in Cuffe Parade, I kept walking down the foot paths, the very place where my dog used to do his things. I remembered taking him out in heavy rains, wiping his body with the towels, which he loved, etc. Anyways, I went to school, and I received a grand welcome! Even the Principal called me to her office! Oh my, I felt like such a VIP!


I left this very school for Sri Lanka. SL is a Buddhist country. This Buddha was placed after I left school. Therefore, I assumed that this placed in memory of me

Ah, the very corridor where we used to 'manage' to play cricket. To irritate everyone around!

Cuffe Parade at night. Somehow, I got the settings into perfection on Manual in the Camera! Biggest fluke EVER!

A political place, I don't need to talk about it. (Kasab)

Well, I remember doing my homework on that table. And like mis-behaved teenagers, if we made a mistake on the notebook or paper, we'd tear it, crush it and throw it out of that window!

If it wasn't for my brother. I wouldn't have known about Top Gear. If it wasn't for me, my friend wouldn't have known about Top Gear!

Taught a lot of tricks to him, because now even he owns a DSLR.

Yup, lots of teaching.

Testing Dad's lens!

Political place once again...

More teaching!

And now, in the Cuffe Parade Boulevard...






Well, that's a fail!

I was already having a super trip. Fernando Alonso made it better, by taking pole position and winning the German Grand Prix in an under-performing Ferrari!

Metallica on VH1? Dream come true?! Is this actually happening?!

All the foodies out there, this one is for you!

More from Cuffe Parade!

Money was well under control and time was being utilized wisely. Until the last few days. Because Alonso won, I decided to treat my friends. Instead, they looted me! Well, how often will I meet them anyways? I didn't mind. But on the last day, I slipped on a rock on the rocky beach in Cuffe Parade. This impacted on my spine. What was worse, the physiotherapy appointment the very next day! Oh Hell no! Well, I just had to pray everything was fine.
The last full day in Mumbai arrived, and I gave my old D40 for sensor cleaning. All this time my brother was in Mumbai, he got transferred to Kolkata. So he had to go on Duronto Express. Anyways, after a not-at-all problematic spine check up, I picked up camera and went back home. Last day, mood was certainly turned off. I didn't know everything would fly by so quickly. But, reality said 24th july. Anyways, I packed up.

Testing the camera, after sensor cleaning..

A rainy day does make your mood worse, when you already are quite sad.




We all know who lives there!

Anyways, being with my friend at home, we never slept before 3. Although, he had school, he simply didn't mind! True friends for sure! Then, I also did my web check in. Seat 23D was already selected for me! Oh hell no! I'm not taking an aisle seat, no matter what! So I changed it to 22F. In the meantime, Jet had also changed the timing of its flight from 0210 to 0200 hours.

PRE-BOARDING STUFF
So the last day of Mumbai arrived. The rainy weather made up for the sad mood. I got my camera cleaned, and headed for the airport that very night. Going by the construction site of the new terminal, it looks very good! I can't wait for it to open! Lucky for me, a 2200 hours arrival at the airport was just right. There was no crowd.

The short line was moving quickly. Everyone was off to BRU, EWR, YYZ, LHR, HKG, BKK, etc, while me? Well, uhm, you know

Empty lines..

To be honest, after 9W-253, I wasn't expecting too much from this flight. My expectations were low. As a few people would call them 'JetChildren', the agent did a great job! In less than 5 minutes, I had my boarding pass in my hand. Then she wished me a good flight and went on with the next set of passengers. Looks like the Children did a good job, yeah? The baggage check read 23.6kgs. I was really surprised, that she didn't even tell me to remove anything from the bag! Something was wrong, that's for sure!

Immigration followed, once again, with a relatively short line. I asked the friendly guy to put a stamp on a new page. He said that it would waste pages, and I replied back: 'That's the whole point of it ' Likewise, even he wished me a good flight and told me 'hope you come back soon!' Well, so far, everything was looking bright, at 2230 in the night!


Security line was a tad long, because of a skating team going to Guangzhou, via HKG on CX. Those little seven year old's, showing off as much as they want to! They wouldn't put their gadgets in the bags, they won't remove their headphones, blah blah bleh. All of us spent 10 minutes extra there for sure.

Sorry about the shake.

Now I had to wait for two more hours before boarding began. No Dad in the airport for entertainment. So I went to one of the gates, and found a sleeper to rest on. To my surprise, ALL my friends were online that night, just to say a final goodbye!




While I was lying there, there was a lot of movement in the glass behind the gate. Then, about 50, maybe 60 Africans, who looked like they missed their MH flight, filled the empty chairs as pictured. One agent took all their passports, and asked them to wait there. Anyways, I spent an hour there. Then I came out of there, went to the duty free and bought a few cold drinks. I had one more hour to kill.



Took me 25 minutes each to finish one can TIME: WASTED!!!

Just like last year's wait for the flight




Finally, with about 10 minutes before boarding (1250 hours), I got up, and a very sad walk towards the usual Gate 12, via the washroom.


They've opened one in CMB also

Oh no

I have taken this escalator thrice. All three times, I was super excited and happy. But, the fourth time, I wasn't in a mood to go down.

BOARDING
The minute I reached, boarding was underway. Boarding pass stuff removed, mandatory baggage tag check followed. I had my DSLR strapped, so the CISF lady told me to put in. I said I shall do so in the bus, and so, she let me go. I LIED!!! I was going to get these following beauties for you all!

9W B77W to LHR.

DL B763 to AMS! I thought its always an A332?

Taking low light pictures isn't easy, so, yeah, atleast I got it!

9W A332 to BRU and EWR.


BA B772 to LHR.

LX A333 to ZRH.

Look who just docked in! LH B744 from and to FRA!

What a mammoth!


AF A343 to CDG. Just for the record, the last time I flew 9W-256, I spotted (and heard the start) of this flight, B77W. Why the changes?!

As we came around the terminal. We waited for a certain A319 to depart.

The bus was just silent and cold. Awkward feeling!


EU in BOM!








The first AI aircraft of the day!


Maybe a delayed 9W076 to HKG?

AI A319

As for my aircraft. I knew it would be internationally configured, but I wouldn't have minded JGE, JGF or JGG. (by now I'm sure you all know what they are, yes?). But, it was on the plus side: VT-JBE, a new registration for me!


Well another 9W aircraft then. I was hoping to fly SriLankan on this route. Well, hopefully a next time beckons.
As you can see, boarding was through stairs, and it was quick.


For once, it was soothing to see the plush leather BIG roomy J class seats. Unlike the A332 to HKG or the B73H from MAA to CMB, this didn't have the dark red and beige blankets (which smells good!) and pillows on the seats. Anyways, one positive thing was that IFE was working. I anyways wasn't going to watch it, for the first time, I was too tired to sit on a flight. So I took my seat.

Ah, the winglet!
Now this what I love about BOM: uniformity.
The aerobridges at BOM have all sorts of random aircraft, but the parking bays have something else. As many of you know, there are many remote parking bays in BOM. But, the aircraft parked are in a pattern. I have observed in previous times also. Like in the above picture, you see my JBE, JBQ and another hiding 9W B73H. You also saw the B77W trio parked together. Other times I have observed: a few AIX B73H's parked together, a few narrow body Airbus planes of AI parked together, and as always, all the 9W B737's parked together. Its just like airline territory! 9W has a part, AI has a part, IT (once had) a part, etc.! I wouldn't driving around looking at the beauties parked like that!

Well, its working..


ATC has a spooky appearance here


Meanwhile, the flight was getting packed really quickly. For the first time I was about to see 90%+ loads on this flight. But the people who sat next to me, were, Sri Lankan. The guy, of my age, spoke fluent sinhala with his sister, father and mother (the lady in the middle seat, was there an incident between me and her? Unsurprisingly, yes.). But, when he spoke english. Oh, Lord, you know, ain't a sadder tale. It was possibly the fakest (not sure if that's correct, but you get the point, yes?) British Accent I have ever heard! Why are you doing this machan? You are on an Indian airline, talk in normal english for god sake! I simply couldn't take it! I was hoping he kept quite, which he did. He took out his Subway sandwhich, and munched. Well, maybe he flew 9W253 before!
Did I forget to mention the crew? Fourth time I boarded 9W256 (5th time I boarded a 9W flight in wee-hours), the crew were, as usual, smiling. Three other crew members smiled and welcomed me as I went to my seat. One female FA was there, and I'm 98.73% sure that she was there on my last flight on 9W256, 9 months ago. I remember the same chirpiness and 'Hello, welcome aboard!' She helped everyone but their bags in, etc. And before I forget, she kept smiling. This is a sign that Jet Airways are surely the same! 9W253 was just a sad one-off experience! So the Sri Lankan family had this big thing. Was it a game? I don't know. But it was for home entertainment. And while helping them put it in the over head compartment, she commented: 'That's a pretty set you've got there!' Obviously, the little girl was happy.
The next situation. The person sitting in the aisle seat finished his Subway snack. He didn't call the crew! The male FA came with a tray and cleared up the trash! I anyways had low expectations for this flight, but the check in agent, and crew members turned everything around for yet another great flight with Jet Airways!
At around 0130, I asked for a blanket and pillow, which was given and I was: disappointed. The same grey blanket which I pictured on AI, expect, it had the 9W logo. Sign of cost cutting here. I then switched to IFE, to listen to, quite obviously, Death Magnetic.


Proof enough IFE was working.


DEPARTURE
At 0150, announcements started, ensuring an on time departure. 2 minutes later, push back began, with the safety demo being showed.

And now, the episode with le Madame. There were a few seats empty, so the lady, talking in sinhala with her son, had a problem with my taking photographs. I heard 'camera' and 'photographs', so she moved away, quite obviously, having a problem with me. Well, okay. Anyways, the CFM56's were fired up, after a fairly and usually long push back. The flaps were deployed and we were ready to go.





Blue Dart B757!




THEY HAVEN'T LOST IT YET: 9W-256 BOM-CMB 25th JULY 2012
Aircraft: VT-JBE, Boeing 737-85R
Seat: 22F, Economy
Loads: Nearly 90%
Departure time: Scheduled-0200, Actual-0152
Arrival time: Scheduled-0430, Actual-0431


So then, the long taxi to the active (Rwy 27) began.




The new bird in these bays: 6E A320



And then, we held short of runway 27, possibly the most boring 7 minutes in an aircraft ever spent.


Somewhere in the lights, you see the 9W livery. Yes, the LHR departure. Once again, this moment proved what monsters power the B77W!

Air Mauritius A330.

Rivals on this sector!!


Take off roll!












This was it then. Goodbye, Mumbai
It's absolutely uncertain when I'll be back into Mumbai. Oh well, reality is ahead, Colombo, studies.

INFLIGHT
Lights were turned on, and the lady who moved away, came back, jumping over her son. Anyways, by her actions (and body language, obviously), she was feeling cold. She kept doing that shivering thing. Unfortunately, I didn't open my blanket. She gestured to me that she wanted the blanket, yo know, those facial expressions, and pointing at it. Was obvious that she couldn't speak in English. Being a good person I am (and courteous), I gave her the blanket. She took it and kept acting as if she was shivering. I then started feeling really cold. I asked for another blanket. Oh yes, there wasn't any available. FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC! Being generous in today's world (and economy) doesn't work! All this damn cost cutting...first they didn't give the blankets and pillows which were supposed to be there on ALL international flights, and then they run out. Yay. I'm going to selfish on ANY flight I go on. I won't let ANYONE see out my damn window for the next time. HUH!
Anyways, flight was into its cruising altitude, turned south east. Then the drink service began, where I took the usual Pepsi


And, some route following followed. That's all I did, because I was falling asleep half of the times anyways.

The food service followed. And surprise surprise! The SAME meal as on the AI flight! Except, the quality was a tad bit too bad. But, it looked sad, really sad. Not the proper 9W meal I would have expected.

Really 9W? Fruits in the middle of the night? That leads to acidity!

Anyways, the minute I finished my food, I fell asleep. Until, another incident. Because my tray table wasn't closed when the tray was taken away, the lady, very conveniently, PUT HER BIG PURSE ON MY TRAY TABLE! And fell asleep on her seat. First she takes my blanket and then half of my seat! Burn! I tried to wake her up, but sadly, CFM56's were too loud. Then, she suddenly jumped up, went to the washroom. I seized the opportunity, put her purse on her seat, closed by tray table, and put my leg there, to make sure, she didn't open it.

DESCENT AND ARRIVAL
The next thing I remember was the FA waking me to put my seat up, when I saw the bug killer spray (which smells good!) being used. The next thing was the smooth landing and hard braking. There I was, in Colombo, back home.





To my surprise, we taxied into a remote bay, a first time for me! We parked a bit far away from a neighboring A332 from UL.



Reality



As usual, I was one of the last to get off, going to sleep for five minutes



At the stairs, there was a dent, which felt like you could fall down from the door to the tarmac! That was scary. We had to wait for a while before a bus came. In the mean time, a report came that a passenger lost his bag. Oh well, I was sleepy anyways, so I didn't listen to it. The bus was cold, but comfy. It took us to the other part of the terminal, where I saw a few Gulf Carriers standing.
Immigration was quick, bought some stuff from the duty free, but bags took forever to arrive! Reason? FlyDubai, another packed Boeing 737-800 had its baggage claim from the same carousel.
Mum and Dad picked me up, and now, I was back home, Sri Lanka. When I got back, my fit dog gave me a really warm welcome, as I went off to bed. The last thing I heard from my Dad was '...october...mandatory leave...'
That then, concludes my TR for all flights so far, since 2010.
I will post the my conclusion in a while, and other important stuff.

Regards,
Jbalonso777

Link to next TR: http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=12624
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http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

[jbalonso777]

And now, for the verdict.

Air India: Despite being late and having an old aircraft (I didn't mind it!), AI had the best food and crew (its just one person who can change everything!). I assume AI is the only airline which has hand wash soaps in lavs.?

IndiGo: On time is a wonderful thing, on time is a true story! Despite having some sad food (and quite expensive, 600Rs. is bit of a steal just for selecting a seat and getting cold food for free), they were on time, and I particularly loved the announcements they made (although, copied from Emirates!). Aircraft was, as you saw, neat and clean as well.

Jet Airways: they were the worst, and one of the best. 9W253 was a sure one off. But 9W256 was the usual Jet Airways, except for the food, once again a let down, and the blankets not being there, was sad. PTV's had a few markings getting smugged off, the aging is showing. Although, crew were fantastic! Both flights were on time, so 9W is keeping up there as well. 9W253 is surely the worst flight of mine with 9W, bad crew, food, service, etc. I hope I don't have to see this ever again!

Now these are all for my picture TR's, there are many short TR's, dating back to 2006, without pictures. I will start a single thread for that, covering about 15-20 flights, as there isn't much that I can recall. I will be writing those, before I begin work for the new TR, which I have given many hints, that it is something big. REALLY big! A separate thread will be started for that as well.

Thank you for all your support throughout!
Regards
Jishnu
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

[rakesh959]

AF A343 to CDG. Just for the record, the last time I flew 9W-256, I spotted (and heard the start) of this flight, B77W. Why the changes?!

First of all a very good tr Jishnu hats offf to you

And regarding AF there are frequent changes in aircraft and the aircraft sent to BOM are A332 A343 B77W and these are rotated very very frequently but the reason is unknown

[jbalonso777]

Okay, so here goes the preview for the next TR, thread will be started next week. Oh, I'm so super excited!

_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

[jbalonso777]

[sumantra]

Lovely conclusion to a long and enjoyable set of reports!
I pray that you are back to the pink of health now (and ready to write more trip reports for our enjoyment )
Mumbai in the rains...I do miss the city.
Your favourite camera repair shop is near Flora Fountain/Hutatma Chowk?
I used to patronise J J Mehta, at Dadar, for my frugal needs.
Jishnu, can I request you to put each trip report as a separate one?
This will add to the joy of having a separate thread for each journey.
No, it will not matter if you do not have pictures - Ameya's wonderful reports with all the details - the last few do not have a single picture. But his words and descriptions more than make up for the absence of pictures.
Yes, I loved the sneak preview into one mega report coming up.
Along with the few pointers you have thrown in, in your last few reports.
Looking forward to it all!
Cheers, Sumantra.

[jbalonso777]

[rakesh959]

My pleasure reading ur TR Jishnu hope to see more of that soon.

Any videos on this flight??and regarding AF I hope and wish they dont send the A380 soon as I'm also a boeing man like u so Cheers

Regards,
Rakesh.

[jbalonso777]

[Nimish]

Jishnu - thanks for sharing - great report! I realize the crew on the return flight were great (which is incredibly helpful), but keeping the aircon turned low, running out of blankets and sub-par food - the return flight does not sound like 9W used their entire potential.

One request - you've embedded a JP photo of JBE - could you change that to embed a picture which is smaller in width? This one causes a horizontal scroll bar on my laptop, which means I have to scroll left and right to read each line .
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We miss you Nalini!

[rakesh959]

Maybe u can even expect a b787 soon.And in BOM next time u visit surely one of them will be there to welcome you

[abhijith16]

A fitting finale to the TRs! Splendid!

Oh, maybe it was one off again. But I'm certainly not pleased with 9W over the cost-cuts!

Anyway, as luck would have it, I'm flying 9W again this November to Mangalore! Will try to make a TR!
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[jbalonso777]

[jbalonso777]