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drpiru · Member Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 156 Location: LBA

Taking the plunge into TR writing (GAU-DEL-SIN-KNO-SIN-CCU-GAU; Oct 2014)

After many promises and breaking them finally I’m posting my first trip report. I had very little time to write/edit/correct. So accept my apologies for any errors/mistakes. As ever, your comments will be great encouragement to write more TR. Very Happy

I have photos of the trip-have to find the easiest way to upload it.

Medan, Indonesia via Singapore

Planning:
An invitation for a guest lecture from a University in Medan, Indonesia sounded very interesting both professionally and personally. I’ve never been to east of India (save a trip to Japan). My trip should be GAU-KNO-GAU; Official TA came up with an itinerary involving AI (mandatory) on GAU-CCU-GAU sectors and MH on CCU-KUL-KNO sectors as the cheapest option. However it needed a Malaysian transit visa since onward connection at KUL is with LCC (Firefly) for which I have to clear immigration. Next best was SQ/MI on CCU-SIN-KNO which was ok – but nothing interesting about MI narrow body aircraft. I found (on ITA software) an itinerary involving AI 787 (DEL-SIN) and returning via SIN-CCU in WB with SQ which was far more preferable and the price difference was very negligible. Moreover I being a Govt employee I’ve to fly AI as much as possible – hence the itinerary looked something like this.

GAU-DEL; AI890;5:20pm-8pm
DEL-SIN;AI380;11:30pm-7am
SIN-KNO;MI238;7pm-7:20pm

KNO-SIN; MI233;8:40am-11am
SIN-CCU;AI7262(Op by SQ);9pm-10:35pm
CCU-GAU;AI729;9:50am-10:55am

The long layovers at Changi are not big problems as I’ve never been there & heard loads about it. However O/N at CCU sounded horrible-but our TA was adamant that he wont book me at 5:30 am Alliance Air turboprop on CCU-GAU sector!

However before the DoT, AI as usual changed the timings – which made me worry. They have postponed GAU-DEL by 40 min and preponed DEL-SIN by 30 min which left only about 2 hrs for the connection. To give due credit to AI, I got about 10 SMS and 3 calls about the time changes. What was more worrying was AI889 has been constantly delayed by about 60 min for many days preceding my trip. Using manage my trip I tried to select seat but it refused to confirm it after doigns selections for all AI flights. On SQ/MI site, I could select seats for MI flights but for SQ SIN-CCU flight I could not do it-I presume it is because my ticket is booked as AI codeshare.

Travel:
OLCI did not work at T-24 hrs and I called AI who told that because of the SIN-KNO sector with MI, it is not possible. Anyway got to GAU airport at T-2:30hrs (you will understand it if you have visited GAU; I am based on North Guwahati and have to cross Sarighat Bridge to go to airport which some time takes more than 2:30 hrs; so I usually start 3:30hrs before flight) and the checkin lady tried to check me in through to KNO. Surprise Surprise! She could not do it! However she could tag my luggage through to Medan. I just got GAU-DEL boarding pass- not even DEL-SIN! On the top flight was showing about 15 min delay. My parents on that day travelled to GAU from MAA with 6E 292 which landed at 5:25pm. I had to get some things from them for my trip- so I was praying that their flight wont be late and it was not. They came down quickly and GAU has a simple metal bar between arrival and departure (pre-security) hall. So I got what I wanted from them easily. But a huge crowd waiting for the arrival of Hujj returnees on a charted flight made life bit difficult! After getting the pocket I ran through to security, which was empty because AI 890 is the second last flight from GAU apart from a 9W CCU flight at 7:30pm and waited for about 15 min and boarded the aircraft via one of the 2 aerobridges. The flight was uneventful and had a good dinner which was usual naan/chicken/veg. Load was very high (>90%) as usual for all GAU flights. I am yet to board a flight with less than 90% loads from/to GAU. Wonder why some more flights are not added – hopefully I5/Vistara will add GAU to their networks soon. Landed in DEL at 8:50pm. It was a bus transfer – first time for me at DEL- when I really did not want! But the advantage of bus is you are deposited just in front of arrival-better than walking miles if you deboard via aerobridge. I went to AI transfer desk and got the boarding pass for only DEL-SIN. Still they can’t issue SIN-KNO. Anyway I confirmed with them about checked baggage and went through immigration (took about 30 min- since there was only one officer and many gulf bound workers were in the line without the form!) and security.

Recently I got HDFC platinum JP MasterCard-one of the perks is lounge access. I quickly found ITC green longue and settled in. Had a coffee and light snacks (food was really horrible!- wonder who will pay INR1000 to get in there!) before the boarding was started. Boarded via aerobridge and settled in my window seat with vacant middle seat. Later I noticed the load was pathetic! Hardly about 40-50%. Lot of free rows in the rear-where people were sleeping stretched out! Although the leg room was very good in 787 Y, it was filthy to say the least! Stains on carpet, seats, windows, dirt and garbage everywhere. But the worrying thing was 3 or 4 oxygen masks were hanging down in one of the rows and one couple was sitting in that row! I don’t know whether it is security breach! I noticed that T/O and cruise were very quiet – but had never been able to control window brightness-being a red eye flight the crew had that in their control throughout. Had an ok meal – almost similar to GAU-DEL sector, played with IFE (which was good for AI standard) and had some sleep and we promptly landed at 7am SIN time.

Now I have 12 hours. I quickly booked for 11:30 am free Singapore tour in the counter who told me to report at 10:30am; went to transfer desk to get MI SIN-KNO boarding pass; spent time by having a quick breakie at McD and browsing (awesome wifi speed at Sin!-but annoyingly you have to get login from the info desk only). Went to Singapore tour counter at 10:30 am and people started gathering slowly- apart from me and two more persons who are Indians, all were from Visa free countries. So the Tour guy took only our passports (Indian) and told others to go through immigration and meet on the other side. We were asked to wait near immigration hall and he processed 1 day visa for us. I don’t know the reason – but mine and one guy’s passports were stamped with one day visa and another guy was refused entry! So only we two went through immigration and met with the group on the other side. Our passports were taken back by the guide and we all boarded the bus and went for the tour – it was nothing special. Just showed around and contrary to what I read, they let us out free near the river area to roam around for 30 min. But the heat/humidity combo was intolerable-so I just roamed for 15 min and came back to the cool bus. We returned to Changi around 1:30pm, got our passports back & passed through immigration. Until the boarding time I had two snacks, loads of browsing, 1-2 hrs sleep (in the reclining sofas in quiet area!). So it was good. SIN-KNO flight was pretty uneventful; 100% load - crying babies- a pizza slice/drinks service. But the highlight was wifi entertainment. Yes there are no IFE-but through wifi it was streamed. I could connect using my iPAD and watch an episode of Friends!

Landed on time in KNO and deboarded via aerobridge. But the arrival/immigration hall was dark with only emergency lighting! Apparently there was power failure. We had to wait for about 15 min before the power was restored and then lined up for VoA. First I paid $35 in a counter and got the receipt and went through to real immigration. Now all the problems started! The officer was not sure whether I was eligible for VoA since I’m not a tourist (but an invited lecturer). So he took me to his supervisor who was seated in a small corner room where few more were waiting. After about 15 min I was called in and asked to show all the papers and answer the same questions. Finally he told that he will allow this time – but next time I should get Visa before arriving. I am not sure he is correct- the Indonesian embassy webpage clearly says business and conventions are eligible for VoA. Anyway I was in no mood to argue since it has been more than 24 hrs since I started from home and I was exhausted to say the least. In hindsight I should have just told tourist and would have avoided all these problems and saved 30 min. I headed out of immigration hall to face another problem- my luggage was not there! Having to deal with people with next to none English skills made a frustrating experience– but somehow I lodged the complaint with SilkAir. Then it was time find my host/driver. Since it has been more than 1.30hrs since my arrival time, I was worried a little. No mobile/no contact! I tried to search for wifi – fortunately they had free wifi in the new Medan airport. I connected skype and called the driver using skype; but nobody picked up! Anyway, I came out and changed 100USD to IDR (atrocious sum of money-more than a million!) and searched for the driver.

Finally I found him in the coffee shop with the name board besides his back! Got to the hotel after about 1.30 hrs of drive (getting necessary supplies on the way). It was Madani Hotel which follows Sharia Laws! So there was signage everywhere to say many things are prohibited! Strangely they allowed smoking everywhere and the whole hotel was like a smoke house. After checking in, went to the shopping mall next door to have a very good but cheap Nasi Goreng (Love it!) and called it a day.
Will post the return in next part.

PS: Got the baggage back just the night before my return flight-nobody knew whether AI or MI messed it up. Anyway MI gave a handsome compensation without any fuss.

Nimish · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:52 pm Post subject:

Interesting first part - thanks for sharing! the long layovers at SIN sound like a pain, glad you were not inconvenienced too much because of them!
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jbalonso777 · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:52 pm Post subject:

Interesting, nice first attempt Smile

Thanks for sharing!
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thank you Dr. Piruthivi! I think I have pulled your legs enough
on trying to coax you into writing TRs for us, and you have
finally obliged us with a beautiful one. Yes, we await the
pictures eagerly.
- Your TA not giving you ant Alliance Air AT4 CCU-GAU: possibly
due to the baggage restrictions (cabin+onboard), where they may
not be able to honour your international allowance.
- I liked the part from the introduction, where the
sort of planning you did, is something most of us av-geeks
usually do. It strikes a cord deep down somewhere, in all of
us. I am a bit surprised with AI not being able to issue
boarding passes for other airlines, as I have seen this
happening with airlines they did not code-share with, in the
first place: and that was quite some time back, as well.
- A bus transfer from a domestic flight at DEL: your delayed
plane was next due for an international leg. They must have
parked it at an international gate, and bussed you to the
domestic arrivals.
- The lounge at my home airport does not sound too nice.I have
never had the exalted status to enter it, so I guess I have not
missed much, given what you have told us about the food!
- AI messing up with the Dream)liner insides: I guess you got
caught in the AI aircraft shortage period, where wide-bodies
have been pressed into action on domestic sectors. Else, to get
a dirty unserviced aircraft at theairline's main hub: is not a
nice experience for a traveller.
- The free Singapore tour: what did they show you?
- I am sorry to hear of your Indonesian VoA trouble, and the
baggage problem as well. If MI gave you a compensation, either
it was very nice on their part, or did they realise that
the long wait at SIN had something to do with a mess-up?
I do not think a check-in agent for a transit passenger, can
find if his/her luggage has been transferred to another flight,
more so, if the carrier is different. Second, I have heard
agents warn against both very long and very short transfers,
for through-checked-in bags. While the latter is
understandable, the former may be an issue at large airports,
which handle large quantities of luggage, for many airlines,
all at the same time. AI for all its flaws, is not too bad with
luggage, especially through check-ins. Will it be possible to
tell us what the compensation was like? Or you could send me a PM.
Thanks for sharing this with us: we look forward to more, after
the completion of the remaining part of this trip!
Cheers, Sumantra.

drpiru · Member Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 156 Location: LBA

Thanks for the comments guys. I am on road to shillong now. Will post my detailed replies once I come back to GAU.

ameya · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:01 am Post subject:

Thanks a lot of TR. Always fun to read and have more and more people writing.
I am surprised why AI cannot block seat because it has some leg on another carrier. This is stupid, since you booked with AI, you cannot do a check-in online for AI flight as well.
I had similar experience about boarding pass at PNQ when I did PNQ DEL SIN, but at the transfers desk at DEL. The transfer immigration and security at DEL could be a pain if lesser number of officers are present, however, it is one seamless experience
Never knew about this Singapore tour! Interesting concept. AI should spearhead that in Delhi.
Glad the baggage came and you had a safe trip!
Is Medan safe ?
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Nimish · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:36 pm Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

ameya · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

PAL@YWG · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 2:44 am Post subject:

Very interesting Part one, Dr. Piru that too your first attempt in TR writing.
The absence of pictures were compensated by your lucid easy flowing descriptions! Medan is not a regular destination, thanks for bringing it to us.

Your description of the missing Driver at Medan airport rings a bell to many of us who went thru similar situations!

drpiru · Member Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 156 Location: LBA

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Thanks for posting and congrats on your first report.

Your trip was a long journey almost as long as it takes to get to USA. The free tour is quite popular amongst tourists and they show you the usual tourist circuit in CBD/Little India area.

BTW how long did MI take to unite you with your luggage.

Sri_Bom

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Very interesting TR and detail, thanks.
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