[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

If passenger is of Indian Origin , better use Air India . They use newer Aircraft and Seat Pitch is better besides choice of Indian Food .

The passenger is of indian origin. I got to know of 'Jet Airways' flight to EWR, but with a brief stop over at Brussels. They promote it as, non-stop flight to EWR.

Originally Posted by Hayek

Air India crew can vary a lot - if you are lucky, you will have a fantastic experience but if you are not, they can hopelessly incompetent. I don't trust their maintenance, and find their timings inferior as well - hence have stopped using them once the United flight started.

What is with 'Air India' maintenance? Hope there is some improvement, since their joining the star alliance.

[Turbanator]

The passenger is of indian origin. I got to know of 'Jet Airways' flight to EWR, but with a brief stop over at Brussels

Well stopover has its advantages as well , one can take showers & quick breakfast however if travelling in economy it will be entirely on passenger - will they prefer to sit continuously for 12-14 hours or 8 + 9 hours with 2 hours of break . I try to fly non stop in case of coach & with stop-overs when flying in business .

you land at 5 am in Newark and beat the crowd at immigration

Newark is still better than JFK but given the age he can probably use counter specific for passengers with special needs .

Another option will be to use Etihad with pre clearance at abu dhabi

http://www.abudhabiairport.ae/englis...-facility.aspx

What is with 'Air India' maintenance? Hope there is some improvement,

with new planes , such issues are a thing of past .

[liferocks]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

A senior citizen accompanied by an adult has to travel from Mumbai - Newark(non-stop) and the options are United or Air-India. Both fly, Boeing 777 wide bodied aircraft.

What would be a better choice? Could members advise on pros/cons of flying on these airlines?

A sincere advise would be to use Air India in case of Non Stop service or Jet Airways with stopover at Brussels.

Click the link below and check the average aircraft age of the airlines. A newer aircraft would definitely be more comfortable. I am not sure if there is any reason to doubt their maintanance.
Boeing 787 does have its share of snags, but not Boeing 777. However no one can predict a machine failure.

http://www.airsafe.com/events/airlines/fleetage.htm

Go make an informed choice.

Wish you Happy Landings.

[kraft.wagen]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Thanks for the hotel information. He does not want anything as grand as ITC, but a budget hotel will do. It is strange that there are no transit rooms at the airport. Hyderabad does have one that was used by mobike008 for a modest fee of 900 for around 8 hours.

Originally Posted by noopster

New terminals have opened for both domestic and international but the locations haven't changed. My pet peeve is that the authorities have named both the airports CSIA though in certain traffic conditions travelling between them could take an hour. Now that the elevated road to international (Sahar) airport has opened things may be a little better though.

I'm in a similar situation, arriving Bombay at midnight and my domestic connection is at 10am. Is there any lounge that is open 24hrs in Domestic Terminal?
Or does the new terminal have slumber zones?

[noopster]

Originally Posted by kraft.wagen

I'm in a similar situation, arriving Bombay at midnight and my domestic connection is at 10am. Is there any lounge that is open 24hrs in Domestic Terminal?
Or does the new terminal have slumber zones?

Why do you want to ruin a good night's sleep? Check into any of the hotels in Andheri or Vile Parle (East) that are close to the airport. Just checked on makemytrip and there are options from 125 (dorm room) to 20000+ (your choice of 5* hotels). Mid-range business hotel will be best I reckon.

[Gannu_1]

Had been on an Indigo flight A320 from Bombay to Coimbatore and the seats were wafer thin! The seatbacks barely measured 50 mm thick and did not provide a good cushion. This looks like a new move from the airline to reduce costs and squeeze more seats? At this rate, plastic seats would be implemented sooner or later! The flight was on time though. I have noticed that Indigo flights are almost always on time compared to Spicejet, Go Air and Jet Konnect.

I used to experience intense ear pain during landing and would usually stuff my ear with cotton before the flight took off. When I forgot to carry cotton with me on my return trip, I asked the cabin crew for some cotton and she said the flight doesn’t stick cotton. I was shocked to hear that! But she suggested drinking a cup of warm water before take-off and surprisingly it worked! I was tensed when the flight was about to land but the trick worked.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by Gannu_1

Had been on an Indigo flight A320 from Bombay to Coimbatore and the seats were wafer thin! The seatbacks barely measured 50 mm thick and did not provide a good cushion. This looks like a new move from the airline to reduce costs and squeeze more seats? At this rate, plastic seats would be implemented sooner or later! The flight was on time though. I have noticed that Indigo flights are almost always on time compared to Spicejet, Go Air and Jet Konnect.

I used to experience intense ear pain during landing and would usually stuff my ear with cotton before the flight took off. When I forgot to carry cotton with me on my return trip, I asked the cabin crew for some cotton and she said the flight doesn't stick cotton. I was shocked to hear that! But she suggested drinking a cup of warm water before take-off and surprisingly it worked! I was tensed when the flight was about to land but the trick worked.

IMNSHO Cotton is a placebo.

You need to pop your ears to equalize the pressure. Do it 5 - 10 min after takeoff and on landing ;you will never ever need cotton.

Consuming Warm water is the same as swallowing or yawning, which has the same effect but doesn't directly relieve pressure.

[kraft.wagen]

Originally Posted by noopster

Why do you want to ruin a good night's sleep? Check into any of the hotels in Andheri or Vile Parle (East) that are close to the airport. Just checked on makemytrip and there are options from 125 (dorm room) to 20000+ (your choice of 5* hotels). Mid-range business hotel will be best I reckon.

Yea very true, and I can get my share of vada-pav as well. I was checking Orchid its around 8k for a night. When you mean mid range are there any better ones?

How far is the Marriott courtyard? considering I have a 10am flight should I worry bout traffic in the morning?

Thanks

[noopster]

Google maps says 5 km/ 9 minutes from there to the airport. Heard there are some good offers on Courtyard Marriott, should be a good option.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by kraft.wagen

Yea very true, and I can get my share of vada-pav as well. I was checking Orchid its around 8k for a night. When you mean mid range are there any better ones?

How far is the Marriott courtyard? considering I have a 10am flight should I worry bout traffic in the morning?

Thanks

Hey man!! Welcome back!

In mumbai you should always be worried about traffic. If company is paying then push for sahara star (9k on most nights). you can walk from there to your flight.

[Gannu_1]

Forgot to mention this in my previous post above. Happened to come across this in Indigo's in-flight magazine:

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by kraft.wagen

: When you mean mid range are there any better ones?

How far is the Marriott courtyard? considering I have a 10am flight should I worry bout traffic in the morning?

Thanks

There used to be a "Parle International" hotel, closer to the Vile Parle station and I have stayed there many times, but those were about 6-7 years ago. Reasonably priced hotel and used to be clean those days. You may want to check that. Its closer to the Domestic Terminal. Shouldn't be more than 15 minutes one way, and Parle International used to have Shuttles as well to the airport. Again, not sure if their service is as good as it used to be then.

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

IMNSHO Cotton is a placebo.

This condition is known as Barotitis Media & i suffer from the same since last 10 years.An eminent ENT Specialist from GGN Dr R.R.Thukral advised me to use cotton plugs whenever i fly and this has immensely helped me.

Waseem.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by SILVERWOOD

This condition is known as Barotitis Media & i suffer from the same since last 10 years.An eminent ENT Specialist from GGN Dr R.R.Thukral advised me to use cotton plugs whenever i fly and this has immensely helped me.

Waseem.

Waseem bhai,

I have used cotton plugs till almost eight years back when I became a consultant. Learnt it from a senior who flew every week and now do the same. Turns out its called the Valsalva maneuver, recommended by the World famous Mayo Clinic!

For the last couple of years I have been taking about 70 flights a year. I have never needed cotton. Not even once.

Again, on the last 3-4 trips I took with my mom who refuses to do this for some reason, she was not the slightest bit benefited by using cotton OR ear plugs.

But then again, to each their own. if it works for you, great.

Suckling / yawning is recommended by US NIH:

Have your child chew sugar-free gum or suck on hard candy when taking off and landing. It helps with ear pressure. Most children can learn to do this at about age 3.
Bottles (for infants), breastfeeding, or sucking on pacifiers can also help prevent ear pain.
Give your child plenty of fluids during the flight to help unclog the ears.
Avoid letting your child sleep during takeoff or landing. Children swallow more often when they are awake. Also, waking up with ear pain can be frightening for the child.

Note: They don't mention cotton on either site. Now - who would you bet on knowing the right approach? Dr Thukral? Mayo Clinic? US National Institute of Health?

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

US NIH:
Note: They don't mention cotton on either site. Now - who would you bet on knowing the right approach? Dr Thukral? Mayo Clinic? US National Institute of Health?

Sir.

This problem in Neonates/Infants/Kids is a different matter altogether.(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/002427.htm).

People like me who suffer from Perennial cold always have difficulty in flying and hence cotton buds help.

Waseem.