A YetiGuide® to Airlines, Airports and Domestic Air Travel

[panky12345]

just an update, I did DEL-SFO some time back on JAL (Japan Air Lines); transit of a day in Japan with stay in a five star hotel. Excellent service, bad food. CHEAPEST FARE AT THAT TIME.

[artofzen]

Originally Posted by vkochar

Embraer - I never knew an airline existed by this name !!

They are the third largest commercial Jet manufacturers after Boeing and Airbus.And come to think of the fact that they launched their commercial aircrafts very recently (1999).

And regarding their absence in North,not for very long.They are aggressively talking to Kansangra family for a stake in Spice Jet

[mail4ajo]

Paramount runs Embarer on all its routes. I would give 5 stars to Paramount. All Business class, Decent flights, good staff, comfortable seats and proper schedules, tasty food (Imagine this - Our member Diwa once got 2 meals on way to Hyderabad when airlines these days sulk to give water and in Sam Bhai's case SOAP)

I fly only Paramount on the Chennai - Cochin route. They are only about 400 odd rupees expensive than Air Deccan. They dont require marketing gimmicks. The quality speaks...

[Harrie]

Some more really frustrating moments with Air Deccan

My friend and his GF were supposed to get married on a fine wednesday morning in coimbatore. His GF was working in IBM, bangalore. This was supposed to be one of the cinema style quick dash, get married get back home type one.

Morning 7.00 AM 4 of us waiting in the airport for the air deccan flight from bangalore. 7.30 we get a call from my friend's GF saying she couldnt board the flight as she arrived at the airport only 45 min before flight departure. Air deccan rules say 1 hour. So they wouldnt let her board no matter what. All this when the flight was not yet announced.

With a heavy heart we called up the registrar and fixed the marriage for the next day. Again 7.00 AM we are at the airport. My friend's GF is at the airport by 6.45 AM after telling her mom early shift bla bla bla

7.15 AM we get a call saying she is the only passenger on this flight and hence the flight has been cancelled

Finally after threatening and shouting and endless wait, she was told that she will be given a ticket for the KF flight a little later

[vkochar]

Wow .. Harrie... this situation can actually be used as a ad - gimick for rival airlines. Imagine KF showing a girl stuck on a airport with Deccan refusing to let her fly as she arrived late & Voila- here comes Mr. Mallya, escorting her to the Plane, and then flies straight to the Venue. Fly Kingfisher - The King of Good Times....

Hehehe. I know that was a PJ. BUt seriously - Deccan has more horrible tales to tell. Its the most useless airline as SAM & all you have mentioned.

My WIshlist - Air Deccan should be stopped & INDIA TV should be banned

[Sam Kapasi]

Well that PJ won't work anymore, considering that Dr. Mallya now owns both those airlines.

[jango]

Yeah even i have had bad times with AD. Last year during dec when i wanted to fly down from Delhi to B'lore they cancelled the B'lore flight and informed the passengers that the flight would not be able to take off due to fog. Imaginie this happened after all passengers were issued the boarding pass and when SpiceJet were taking off at the same time []

[himanshugoswami]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Well that PJ won't work anymore, considering that Dr. Mallya now owns both those airlines.

Sam, i wouldnt make that statement anywhere within earshot of Capt. Gopinath.

Was reading an interview of his a while back wherein he said that he was rebuffing VM for a few motnhs since he thought VM wanted to buy air Deccan, and the Capt. was not selling. Only when VM called up our man Gopi and told him Saar, I just want to INVEST in your airline, did the good Captain agree. he is very touchy about ownership of his airline!

[diabloo]

Hey Harrie, thanks for sharing the snippet. Ok I forgive Air Deccan. But I won't forgive your friend & his GF. Isn't it a pity and two people in love can't get married in peace? Can't imagine the importance they have given to a special occasion for marriage. For most it comes just once in a life time. Man, I give more importance to my evening snacks than they have give to their special moment.

Originally Posted by Harrie

Some more really frustrating moments with Air Deccan

My friend and his GF were supposed to get married on a fine wednesday morning in coimbatore. His GF was working in IBM, bangalore. This was supposed to be one of the cinema style quick dash, get married get back home type one.

Morning 7.00 AM 4 of us waiting in the airport for the air deccan flight from bangalore. 7.30 we get a call from my friend's GF saying she couldnt board the flight as she arrived at the airport only 45 min before flight departure. Air deccan rules say 1 hour. So they wouldnt let her board no matter what. All this when the flight was not yet announced.

With a heavy heart we called up the registrar and fixed the marriage for the next day. Again 7.00 AM we are at the airport. My friend's GF is at the airport by 6.45 AM after telling her mom early shift bla bla bla

7.15 AM we get a call saying she is the only passenger on this flight and hence the flight has been cancelled

Finally after threatening and shouting and endless wait, she was told that she will be given a ticket for the KF flight a little later

[Sam Kapasi]

OK. Captain Gopinath owns the airline. VJM has a major stake in it. I stand corrected.

[vnabhi]

I protesl.
Unfair to delete a healthy post. I have used language that is far more indirect than posts in other threads, which are far more suggestive.
Looks like mods were sleeping on such posts.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Sam, i wouldnt make that statement anywhere within earshot of Capt. Gopinath.

Was reading an interview of his a while back wherein he said that he was rebuffing VM for a few motnhs since he thought VM wanted to buy air Deccan, and the Capt. was not selling. !

Have you tried dating? Similar approach until you flash the readies ..and not something else

[avkurian]

Just wanted to add my two-bits about lost luggage. Sadly, in my two experiences, I could not blame the airline, but the over-zealousness of fellow passengers. For those who hate sad endings, one of them ends happily.

Situation 1: Sharjah-Mumbai (Air Arabia) It was a quick hop to Mumbai for a friend's wedding, and was travelling really light (unthinkable with the family.. grrr). Some good offers in Duty Free, so picked up 3 Johnnie Walker Blacks, mainly for the free trolley bag. Also picked up some chocolates etc and lugged the bag as cabin baggage. Put it in the overhead and at Mumbai, noticed that the box was now in the next overhead bin.

Something seemed a bit fishy, and decided to open the box before deplaning. Found it was someone else's and frantically began the process of trying to find the other person with the identical box. Ran all the way till Immigration, customs et al, but no luck. Came across at least 4 people with the same box, made them all open it, but no go!

Checked even outside the airport, but the box had just vanished! Worse when I reached a pal's place and broke open the lock to find some ID, the fellow had not bought any hooch! Only some milk chocolates (LOTS of them), some Tang etc. No ID also, so no way to return box. Asked airline to let me know if anyone comes, but nope, no luck!

I just hope the person got into serious trouble with his wife/father/boyfriend/whatever for buying booze!

Situation 2: Emirates from Dubai to Bangalore. Reached obscenely early in the morning, and waited for 40 mins or so for my only checked-in bag. Hooch was of course in cabin baggage which I all but chained to my arm. Finally about to complain about lost luggage, when I saw my bag was lying on the floor, having been taken off the conveyor belt. Got home, went to take toothbrush from outside compartment and found some kid's face mask! NOT a good way to start a day, let alone a vacation.

Luckily, the bag had a tag, with a local phone number. Called and got an extremely worried-sounding lady, who said that her husband had taken my bag at the airport, come out, couldnt come back in, waited for around half hour for someone to bring their bag out, and then left the bag in the Emirates airport office and went home.

Whew! Was just a matter of going to airport, exchanging bags after proving my identity, and continuing with vacation.

On another note, I am a hard-core Air India flier. Maybe patriotism, or more that I just don't give a hoot about the frills. Even the 'sadistic old ladies' are not immune to a little charm, and I've never been obscenely delayed. On the contrary, even in Gulf Air, once took off from BLR, flew for half hour then returned to same airport because of tech issues.

Another airline I highly recommend is Etihad (Abu Dhabi-owned). Great space (Emirates sucks in this regard), super entertainment, and overall good service.

Was highly kicked first time in BritAir (Manchester-London-Paris), when saw that all seats were leather! Totally impressed, but not exactly the most comfortable.

And Cathay Pacific is the only airline I've ever been bumped up to First Class. So good memories there too..

[blueraven316]

Offtopic : Have there been frequent flight cancellations on Go Air in the Bangalore - Mumbai route on weekends lately ??
Anyone ......... please ??

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by blueraven316

Offtopic : Have there been frequent flight cancellations on Go Air in the Bangalore - Mumbai route on weekends lately ??
Anyone ......... please ??

It's not off topic at all. And no, not that I know of.