Short hop on a little red flight!. Review on Kingfisher Airlines

Background :

I must confess that I'm not a frequent flyer and have started flying only very recently ever since I got into the aviation industry . My trips are always very short and I fly the ever so purse-friendly Air Deccan on most of my trips .. and contrary to the reviews in here I never had any trouble with them on the sectors I flew.

Plan :

I had to make a one day trip to chennai from bangalore last month and with some extra savings.. I thought " Lets try some full service this time" .. Logged on to the internet and got some good deal on Kingfisher and Paramount airways..

Booking :

Kingfisher airline website is now modified with a Sabre (?) booking engine and it was pretty decent. I got an online itinerary and got an email of the link where I can download my e-ticket as well. Since the flight was early in the morning at 6:30 i decided to e-check in and got a window seat easily... I'm a late waker and so the e check in proved useful for me.

• : Easy interface , email facility , e -check in was smooth

  
  




• : the E-ticket format can be improved -

  
  

Day of the Journey :

Woke up late as usual.. Got a cab and reached the airport at 6:00 AM for the 6:30 flight.. Met a KF ground staff and showed my e boarding pass.. no hassles . She gave me a luggage tag and directed me to the security check and waiting area. It was crowded for that time of the day at bangalore airport with some international arrivals and some early mornign departures. I missed the boarding call for my flight in that noisy waiting area.. but was soon approached by a gentleman who actually called me by name and put me in a car to be taken to the aircraft . Thats quite a royal treatment for a clumsy/sleepy traveller.

• : Great customer care

  
  




• : --

  
  

The Flight :

It was the ever so familiar ATR 72 on this sector. I have flown 72s on Deccan about a dozen times so it wasnt a surprise until I stepped in... Carpeted floor , Red leather seats (which appeared to be broader )and wider A/c vents overhead and wodden panelling of the foward walls near the cockpit door. Almost missed the point you wanted to hear.. the flying models on board. I'd say they were pretty but not HOT as others claim to be.. Very courteous and attentive. Obviously ..because we were only 10 passengers on the 66 seater aircraft.

We were given a welcome pack ( a pen, copy of their schedule , face tissue , toffees and the menu inside). Then the Capt made the welcome announcement .. followed by the safety demo and take off on time.

• : Posh interiors

  
  




• : Seat allocation was bad : all pax in the aft rows I was the lone pax in the first 5 rows

  
  

  Food:

  
  

I opted for the Vegetarian breakfast. I'm quite old fashioned for my age and I prefer indian veggie in the morning than continental.. Food was hot . Garam Garam sambar mein doob gaya idli , a mini Masala dosa , B'fast roll + jam , a fruit salad , Lemon juice.

• : Hot tasty food

  
  




• : Where's my morning coffee!!!

  
  

Arrival:

I had to finish the last part of my food rather fast since the pilot informed that we'll be touching down soon. Within a few minutes we were makign a U turn over the sea to aling with the runway. The cabin crew cleared the cabin in a jiffy and took positions. Landing was the usual grrrrrrrrr.Thud! .. and since I had only my back pack (with no liquids or gels) I went straight to the taxi stand to go ahead with my trip :)

Overall experience was good and I'd recommend KF to anyone who can spend a little more to have the luxury they want or for the hot breakfast which is absent in other LCCs. I chose KF for the full service experience , saved time by having breakfast in the flight (i still prefer coffee to juices) , and also matched my planned timing.

Haree

P.S Return trip on paramount airways .. review up in a few hours time.