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Jet Airways combi bird to Pune - this evening

 
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:20 pm    Post subject: Jet Airways combi bird to Pune - this evening Reply with quote

I came up with this name at the very last moment, a little deviation from what I generally write 9W 2219 toPNQ... only because with the kind of flights which these birds now operate, FS, Konnect, it reminded me of the B743 Combi of AI. No relation to be honest, just some stupid pun.

This weekend was supposed to be in Gurgaon, supposedly and hopefully the last here for the time being. Till either the company works out a solution or I work out something for me, if it comes to that is.
However, suddenly some personal work has come up in Pune and there I go, booking one more ticket, one more ride and the whole thing starts again.
I wasn’t inclined to pay any more for these trips, have exhausted considerable amount of money on this engagement here and hence decided to check out dads FFP on 9W for some available ticket and wow what a luck, 9W 2219 on Friday is available at 8400miles ! The flight is a little too early for comfort when I am supposed to work the whole day, but then there aint much work, so I decide to take a chance. When I tried booking for BOM, it was blocked, I decided to check it again, though I dint intend to book and it was blocked. I am amazed, so many flights and redemption is blocked and just 2 flights and redemption is open on a segment which is profitable, congested and in demand.
I have not been good with 9W rotations, but I have known that this flight gets delayed quite often, so a day before in the afternoon, I decided to figure out the rotation for this bird and since the flight was delayed, I started mapping the delays and there you go with the rotation
9W 0822 : MAA-DEL : 0650 – 0930
9W 2255 : DEL-MAA : 1010 – 1245
9W 2256 : MAA-DEL : 1320 – 1600
9W 2219 : DEL-PNQ : 1640 – 1840
9W 2220 : PNQ-DEL : 1910 – 2105

Jet keeps on changing its evening flight to Pune from Mainline to Konnect and vice versa every 2 or 3 months. What I had previously thought as seasonal doesn’t seem to be anymore. So barring the first flight of the day, everything else is on Konnect for this aircraft, which means I should not expect a fancy plane.

A discussion on Wednesday with member Sumantra on something, throws up the fact that he is flying out on the same evening by AI to CCU, 20 minutes after my departure. So a quick plan is made to meet up.

Exactly at 1640hrs a day before, as the check-in opens, I log in to do my check-in and select 12A, essentially to avoid the sun setting on my side and me having to close the window all the way and also to ensure that the food comes early if I decide to buy something.

This flight is likely to get delayed almost everyday owing to its short block time on DEL-MAA-DEL sector, 2:40, 2:35 and 2:40 on the three legs it does before this flight. It typically takes 2:50 these days for DEL-MAA. A quick check on flight times of SG and 6E reveal that their average time on this sector is 2:45. When you are doing the same sector back to back, these 5 minutes suddenly matter a lot. I am more happy that it’s a 9W bird and not a S2 bird.

Jet has a very irritating Flight Status option. You can either select the arrivals or departures, even at the flight level. I don’t understand why cant they show the flights departure time and arrival time in the same window at the same time.



1500 to 1730 is generally considered lean for any airport in the country, but the speed at which Delhi is growing; most of the hours are congested. This time zone is dominated by the LCCs getting back their last set of flights from IXJ & SXR. If somebody has lately noticed, there are 15 flights on DEL-SXR-DEL which are direct and along with the one stop flights the number goes to 25. A random search would let you know that DEL-HYD has 18 , DEL-MAA 17 , DEL-BLR 24 and DEL-CCU 17. This route is now running neck to neck with metros in terms of frequencies. This number would not be accurate till the last digit owing to change in flights/day owing to NOTAM at BLR and MAA.

There aren’t much of international arrivals, but it’s the time for the flights from Kabul – the exotic birds from the dusty country landing and taking off has always been a great sight and then as they say, if you intent to spend close to 3 hours at the airport, then in all probabilities, you spot a EK bird. This also is time for arrivals from KTM.

On the domestic side, Jet flies to BOM/PNQ/BLR/RPR/MAA/IDR/HYD/IXC in this time bracket. This includes flights of S2. AI flies to VTZ/PNQ/LKO/BLR/CCU/BBI and IT to BOM/PNQ/BLR. In all probabilities, we would use the new runway for departure and hence my changes of having a look at the mystery blue tailed airline bird at T2 are less.

On the morning of the travel when I check my email, the idiots at Jet have sent me a standard email requesting me to web checking. “PS: Please ignore this eMail if you have cancelled, made any changes to your itinerary, availed any of our special services such as wheelchair assistance or if you have already checked-in.” Is the additional note with that email.

I start tracking the rotation in the morning, and wow, one of the flight is cancelled, one of the flight doesn’t exist today. Quick calls here and there, give me information that Jet has made their southern network changes effective today and some cancellations are reported across the network.

The cab was booked at 14:00hrs, and it came few minutes early. Reached T3 in 20 minutes flat. The 9W check was on Island C-D. The longest queue was at Web check-in / Baggage Drop, which had only 1 operational counter. Most of the counters were closed. I went to an agent sitting at a closed desk to request him for stamping my web checkin. The web checkin counter itself did not have the stamp. After being directed to few other counters, I finally managed to get the boarding card stamped and went thru security which was very organized and fast. A quick tour thru the retail area, which I missed last time and also the food court later, settled in the section – with a view of area between international and domestic. Reminded me of Changi. The view from one of the sitting areas in change, is exactly the same. Two piers and the area in between.

A few minutes later, I spot fellow member Sumantra, just as he had described himself, he was clicking some nice snaps with the camera around his neck. Now had we not met today, each of us would have enjoyed spotting the birds, but meeting a new gentlemen with similar interests is any day better than seeing the same birds one more time. With not much action happening around, we went on to chat about many things in which I got to learn a lot about spotting locations in T3 – this was just my 2nd departure, some more interesting facts about the nice gentlemen and his work. Time just flies when you meet people with similar interests and when you interact and speak so much in the web, it is a welcome thing to meet them in person.

As we were speaking, in the waiting area, another CRJ – VT-RJD joined the one already there, both would soon depart to BDQ and GAU respectively. Exactly at 1600hrs, my bird, VT-JNY docked at gate 37A. Seeing it, good byes were exchanged and we headed to our own gates, as I started walking, I heard the announcement of Sumantras gate being changed at the last minute, and he would describe it the best what followed. We discussed on the mystery bird – the blue tailed plane at T2, quickly looking around to see if CISF is over hearing our conversation, some secret mystery plane…

This is the historical bank of flights to PNQ, 1600 AI & IT, 1640 9W. Till this week, PNQ used to close at 1950 sharp and then reopen at 2200, but now there are more flights, 1650 and 1835 by SG and 1830 by 6E. I was impressed by AI deploying an A321 on this route. PNQ has a lot of defense, government and semi government organizations which have to book AI, besides it is their historical flight. When I checked the boarding of this flight, the flight looked full, with all waiting area seats occupied and few people standing. VT-PPV was operating this flight to PNQ and I saw the same later in PNQ as well.

The boarding started at 1620hrs for my flight, 9W 2219 to PNQ. At the same gate, the last flight to board was 9W 2330 to MAA and post this flight a 1800 dep to BLR and TRV on a S2 bird. Spotted VT-SJI in Konnect titles, VT-JBV, VT-KFT so far. The surprising announcement that followed boarding announcement was – for guests seated in row no. 1 to 2 to proceed for boarding. I figured out that this aircraft is a 8J, rest Y config plane, but it was very funny to ask people of 1st two rows to start boarding. One because J class pax can board at any time and why have a separate announcement for just 2 rows. Immediately, the next announcement – 21 onwards, 15 to 20 and the rest happened. People hardly followed. None the less, I was in the last lot for boarding.

As per DGCA site, this is 16/138 = 154 seater, however it is 8/162 seater B738 manufactured in 2002 and joining the 9W fleet in the same year. This bird had the Konnect titles on it.

The seats were the new ones, not so fancy, rexine type – but I hardly understand about them. Settled in my seat 12A. There were advertisements all around, on the tray, and on the partition of J & Y. One of the overhead compartments were inoperative. Boarding was complete by 1638 and it was certain that 9W has failed to turnaround a plane in 40 minutes, a lot to learn from their LCC counter parts. The seat belt sign went on and a recorded voice asking people to return to their seats and belt up started. This sounded like an extension of T3 – where the entire stuff is now recorded tapes only.

The seat in the middle was empty on my row and a quick look across the plane made it clear that the flight aint full, probably the reason why I got my redemption ticket ! only 3 of 8 in J and many empty seats in Y. VT-JBT docked at gate 37B and was running late by 30 minutes to operate to BOM. Other delayed flights included AI flights to PAT and BBI and KF had 2 cancellations, either because of pilots or lack of fuel supply !

As we taxied out, spotter KFV, KFY, JGC, SJI and 2 KF ATRs. Without waiting for any bird to land we quickly lined up and started the take off roll. At the end of this taxiway parallel to the new runway, there is a big space. I think it is an isolated bay, would appreciate if anybody has any info.

As we cruised in the Delhi skies, a few turns later stabilized at an altitude with clear views of the ground all the way till Pune. Just shows that monsoon hasn’t progressed as much. The pilot apologized for the 5 min delay but did not tell the flight details, which I disliked.

Soon the meal service started, I asked the crew what is available on board since I don’t have the menu card in the seat pocket. She told me to look properly and check out the menu. This pissed me off, they are in service industry and even if I hide the menu card they should help me out. Nastily, I showed the seat pocket of my seat as well as the middle seat to show that there is no menu, my co pax at 12C joined in and showed his seat pocket as well with a smile. With a grin the grew told me they have sandwiches and samosa. Now I had to create sum fuss, so I asked if they have hot meals, the answer was No, what type of veg s/w do they have, it was only one type and so on. Settled for a s/w and a coffe. The coffee packing was the best seen so far, absolutely fantastic ! The milk creamer, coffee, sugar and stirrer in a nicely packed small packet.
After eating the s/w realized that sandwich is better than airwich. I have made it a point to write in my every review to indigo that they need a serious thinking on their quality of food.

Pilot had announced that we would be on ground at 1830 and descend started around 1800. Lately the routing to Pune has changed with flights directly going to PNQ from STV and not going closer to BOM before changing course.

A quick round of crew, to do nothing, not serving water or feedback forms or anything. The seat belt sign came on again and same automated voice told the cabin to belt up.

Looked around on the looks on the face of people sitting on other side, the sun was troubling, felt happy of planning well and sitting on left side and enjoying the view.

The uneventful flight ended at 1840, landing on rwy 28 at PNQ and docked in between VT-PPV and VT-JNV with only Jet Konnect titles which was operating from HYD. Jet has funny operations at PNQ,
PNQ-BLR – 1 flight, BLR-PNQ – 2 flights, PNQ-HYD – 3 flights, HYD-PNQ – 2 flight, thus not giving good products on these sectors. VT-WAH was taxing out to BLR to operate G8 368.
Came out and headed home, pleasantly surprised to see all flights dot on time in PNQ.

A big thank you to Sumantra for meeting up and sharing some tips on spotting locations and as I come to the end of this TR session, thank you to you all for being kind to me and reading most of my long reports.
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ohh and the crew forgot to give back the coats and blazers of pax before landing. the pax on 12C before getting down asked the crew and then the crew stopped the entire deplaning and removed 3 hangers...

WoW ! 2 hrs seem to be insufficient for todays inflight crew
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ameya - superb - and thanks for posting!

1. The meeting with Sumantra and the happiness you express is what makes this forum tick. We're not all anonymous strangers, but we actually make friends on the forum - and enjoy the friendship for time to come! The common thread of interest in aviation provides a platform...

2. 9W seems to be a much worse choice that 6E - except for the crucial mileage earning. 6E did not pimp itself out at every turn, but that seems to be 9W's only way to make money.

3. The slow turn around, the lack of courtesy (around the menu cards), forgetting to give back the coats, all point to poor service standards, demotivated crew, or simply JetChildren at work.
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its Jet Children at work. I am not too old to say, these kids dont know their job. Its good to fun and frolic amongst themselves during the service but not at the cost of service - which is their bread and butter..
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ameya, thanks for the wonderful short period of time I spent with you. I admire your in-depth knowledge about rotations, route planning, and of course, noticing every small detail happening around you. And of course, describing it in your inimitable manner. Nimish is right - today's world has opened up other avenues of communication, while closing a few - the hustle-and-bustle of day-to-day life! While I expected to bump into someone typing hard on his keyboard at Gate 37A, I found a very pleasant and soft-spoken person who is an encyclopaedia of knowledge. Thanks once again for taking the time, to type out this report in such a fantastic level of detail. The blue tail eluded me - a quick fleeting glance as we took off from runway 29 revealed the blue stripe continuing to the bottom of the plane at the same angle, much like the violet colour of the Fedex strip continues its way down. This deepens the mystery further!
Cheers, Sumantra.
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can we have a sticky thread to put in your future travels, you never know how many of us are at the same airport at the same time and its always good to catch up with people
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ameya wrote:
Can we have a sticky thread to put in your future travels, you never know how many of us are at the same airport at the same time and its always good to catch up with people


Already there - http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=112096
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The mystery of the blue-striped bird at DEL IGI T-2 has been solved by a friend, on another forum. He has also posted a link to a JP picutre (all picture credits with the photographer):
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7293039
Cheers, Sumantra.
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