Decent enough but beware if you have an infant. Review on Simplifly Deccan

I first travelled by Air Deccan recently my flight was from Chennai to Bangalore and I was travelling with my wife and my 4 month old baby daughter. The staff at the airport were most courteous and very helpful during the weighing in of the baggage. I had a strolley bag which of standard dimensions, that was my cabin baggage. I've travelled on a few international airlines (SIA, Air India) as well as domestic ones (Jet Airways, Indian Airways). I'd always been able to carry this particular bag as cabin baggage. However Air Deccan were insistent that since the plane was an ATR it wouldn't fit. I mentioned that I'd just flown in to Chennai the day before in an ATR (Jet Airways) and I'd travelled with this bag as my cabin baggage. Rather than argue I moved all important stuff out and checked it in. At this point I was now a bit over the allowable luggage limit, but the folks there were kind enough to waive the extra baggage charge. Aside from the few baggage hiccups so far so good. The boarding call came and we proceeded towards the aircraft.

As we boarded the aircraft at around 7pm I noticed it was very dark apart from a few reading lamps switched on. There was also a musty smell, and it was unpleasantly warm inside and getting hotter with each passing moment. Also it was the first time I was able to see the planes interior, it really was a 'no frills' airline, the seats were covered with rexine or some other plasticky fabric, you pretty much got the feeling you were travelling by a bus. I've seen inter-state luxury buses better furnished than this, but then again this is a 'no frills' airline. I figured these were the ways they cut costs perhaps? Anyhow soon enough my little daughter had enough of it and let loose at the top of her lungs, so me and the wife took turns at fanning her with some magazines, however there were some other children as well who got pretty tired and pretty soon it became pretty noisy. Now me I personally consider myself as a very accomodating person, but when my baby is in great discomfort, you'll excuse me if my manners suddenly vanish. So a slight and pretty little airhostess came by and politely asked my wife to 'feed the baby'. I curtly responded that the baby had been fed, but that the aircraft was extremely hot and if they could turn on the airconditioning. I don't know if the airconditioning was broken or what however the overhead air jets (the little twisty nozzles that shoot out jets of cooling air on your face) started working and blowing some warm air. It made a slight difference but still no aircon. Next as the propellers came to life the lights came on finally. We were airborne pretty soon. Suffice to say during the rest of the entire flight me and the wife were fully occupied taking turns at fanning our baby during the entire flight. The airhostess noticed this but was unable to

provide any further assistance. This airline is Very Baby Unfriendly, I was literally kicking myself for not having shelled out the extra dough and hitch a ride on Jet Airways instead.

As we prepared to land at Bangalore I must mention that whoever their pilots were, they did a beautiful job of landing the aircaft, it was one of the smoothest landings I'd experienced in an ATR. We disembarked and made our way to the terminus. I had no issues with my luggage, it was all present and accounted for.

To summarize travelling by this airline is mostly for those who are regular commuters. If you have a baby with you I'd advise you to shell out extra money for a more comfortable ride, for you, your spouse and your child.