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Spiderguy252 · Last edited by Spiderguy252 on Tue May 20, 2014 5:33 pm; edited 1 time in total

Work trip to HYD coming up this weekend, the return is a flight on an SG Q400 departing HYD at 1820.

Company had initially booked Air Costa's LB 681 for the trip, but due to frequent delays and/or cancellations of the flight through the latter half of April, the booking was quickly changed to a more reliable operator - Spicejet. Pity, as Embraers trump props anyday.

Of course, I get all the bling - there's something called Spicemax which gives me a front row extra legroom seat (2D).....

.....and the ever delightful Spicejet sandwiches as always. Wink

Will catch up over the weekend then.
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:30 pm Post subject:

Hehe, not too 'progressive' in the end, more like a one (two)-shot. Anyway, here are the photos that I clicked.

Very successful trip in the business side of things by the way, and the Hyatt is a great place to stay too - though a little inaccessible from the 'old' city, being all the way to the West at Gachibowli.

The ORR to Shamshabad.

The side of the terminal.

FIDS. The only international arrival in the vicinity was the AI flight from ORD, due at 19:00.

The self-check in kiosk which printed out the boarding card.

IndiGo is clearly the king at HYD, with numerous arrivals and departures throughout the day. There is however a bit of a hiatus in the departures to BLR between 13:50 and 19:30 which is a little odd.

Hung out here until boarding.

Boarding was announced 10 minutes earlier at 17:40 and 25B - the assigned gate, was downstairs.

I like this fuselage - bit like a pencil.

Departing HYD after yet another 6E bird clears the runway.

Now the catch with the premium seat is that you don't get a window right next to you. Other than that, the legroom is okay I guess, and there's a bit of a hold luggage allowance I think. Of course, the seat next to me ran empty amidst the FA's attempts to plug it for sale. My colleague was on the window seat at the other end of the cabin.

The sandwich and a complimentary coffee.

Very uneventful flight, as always barring the FA harping about how running early by 10-minutes 'proved' that SG and its staff work together to ensure continued success and sustained services to passengers that has made them one of the 'leading' carriers today. No mention of the thousand+ something crore from a couple of days prior, obviously. Smile

Thanks to skipper Iqbal Khan for the cockpit trip though - very genial and didn't miss pointing out how much better the Q400 was than the ATR.

Leaving the stairs I spotted a majestic Costa ERJ alongside that I would've flown in another world. But soon.

Exiting BLR.

Cheers,
Varun
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abhijith16 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject:

Nice TR, Varun!

Would've liked a more pictures of the seating area, but that's alright!

Hope you get better luck with Air Costa!
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 10:53 pm Post subject:

sabya99 · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject:

I feel good to see major desi airports are modernized and well maintained!
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Sabya99

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 11:01 am Post subject:

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

Thanks Varun for posting the report eventhough it was a short trip. Interesting to note that you departed and landed from a privately managed airport which has maintained good international standards.

Sri_Bom

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

Nice to see some greenery HYD airside (tiny bit but better than nothing). Don't know if they planted grass but I wish all airports did that Smile

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eP007

Optimus.Prime · Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 3:29 pm Post subject:

Nice TR Varun. Beautiful pics.

To the guy who told u how much better the "Dash" (yea, pun intended) is compared to the frencho-italian, I just have two words for him - FUEL BURN.

Stealthpilot, I am waiting for said grass to turn into a rainforest come monsoon. I might have to ask for a follow me since i wont be able to read the damn signs hedged in tall grass!
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:53 am Post subject:

From a passenger's perspective, the Q400 was a lot quieter than the ATR, it flew several thousand feet higher, and of course, it's also a shade quicker. Smile

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ameya · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:59 am Post subject:

Great pics !

I have been wanting to go to RGIA since it was inaugurated. . .no luck yet Sad

jbalonso777 · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 10:28 pm Post subject:

Great TR, Varun!
Nice pictures too - with the hint of Instagram, of course!

I look forward to flying with SG after more than 6 years - my last flight being a heavily delayed late BLR-BOM B73H flight in 2008.
And this will surely give me a heads up - since my next flight is indeed on a Q400!

Air Costa: yes, even I tried to book with them, but as you said, there have been irregularities (and a short transit time), which drove me away from them, sadly.

As for SG, I look forward to trying out their new menu, which changed recently I assume. The sandwich which you had is not on the menu no more.

Speaking of which, here's why I like the ATR even before I've flown on the Q400 - they at least have ovens for a decent hot meal! While this may be an airline specific thing, expect this opinion to perhaps change, soon Smile

Speaking of which, the sandwich does not look too good Sad

A question though..
How easy is it for a passenger arriving on a domestic flight..to head over to the international (entrance)l gates? I mean..is it on a different floor, or are there two completely different entrances...?
I'm clearly trying not to throw away too many details here Embarassed

but if this sounds confusing, PM me and then I'll let you know properly what I want to know Smile

me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

nice TR Varun! Too bad you couldn't fly Air Costa on this route!
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 12:27 am Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject:

Catch this TR now on A.net:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/253483/

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

Progressive, or two-shot, thanks for a lovely TR! The SpiceJet food has got much better after the catering changed to CCD/Taj SATS, though the odd stale food items still creeps in. I enjoyed the series of pictures, and of course, the highlight of it all...the cockpit visit, and that too, in a Q4!
Cheers, Sumantra.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:00 pm Post subject:

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