Sunday 18 June 2006

cloud nine

We meant to post about Kingfisher Air when we first flew with them last year, not long after they started up and were maha-impressed. But then, we told ourself, hey, everyone launches with their best foot forward (to mangle a few metaphors), let's see what they're like next year.

Well, we flew the airline again a little while ago, and we're happy to report that they still rock.

Before we go on to tell you why, let's tackle the hot flight attendants bit. People—well, okay, male people—like to say that all Kingfisher flight crew look like models.

Not true.

Some of them look like supermodels.

Right, now that we've got that out of the way..

We're not a frequent flier by any stretch, and we're pretty nervous about flying in the first place, but we've flown quite a few of the domestic airlines: IA, an Air India connector, Jet, Sahara, Deccan, even Vayudoot (and there lies a tale—and it also shows our age), and Kingfisher kicks butt big time when it comes to service.

It starts before you get to the airport. Their site isn't fabulous, but it's easier to get around in than the other airline sites. When you actually get out of your car / rickshaw / cab and walk in to the terminal, there are alert chaps on the lookout for people clutching KA tickets. They offer to help you with your bags, haul up a trolley, lift your bags onto the X-ray machine for you, get to the other end before the bag does, usher you to the check-in counter.

The check-in is prompt and polite, and their counter is spic-and-span (and yes, that does make an impression when, as in Delhi, it adjoins the peeling Air Dakkan—as we refer to it—counter). While you're looking for a tag for your hand baggage, a polite chap standing by with a full supply is already slipping one on for you.

Inside, you get a little goodie bag—no biggie, a pen, earphones, and the wee bag itself—but none of the others give you more than your boarding pass. Crib here: we like the damp towels that some airlines give you as you sit down—there's something very refreshing about them, and you're able to cover much more skin than you can with the wee packed tissue in the goodie bag.

The earphones plug you into the inflight entertainment system. The video (which you watch on LCD screens built into the seat-back in front of you) isn't much to write home about; recorded stuff, of course, some unfunny comedy show, Walk the Talk, and old cricket footage is all we remember. We much preferred the graphic that showed the plane's position, speed and altitude. But the audio is much better. There's pop and bollymix for those who like it, but also some seriously good jazz and lots more.

The down-side: everthing on audio and video gets overridden by Mr Mallya's booming welcome address. We think the bit about instructing his staff to treat us all as guests in his own home was a bit over the top, but that's because we've heard about his parties. The safety lecture comes to you on the screen instead of live. Mixed feelings on that one: no legit excuse to stare attentively at the lady doing the demo, but then the lass on your screen is a super model.

Food: we've heard complaints, but we actually like the food.

Oh yes. And despite *ahem* hot competition from the cabin crew, the thing that really made converts of us? We first took a KA flight to Delhi. We do not have happy thoughts about Delhi's airport, as a rule. But here, in pushy, rude, inefficent Delhi airport, as we got off the flight and looked for our flight number in the baggage conveyor section, we saw KA staffers (listen carefully now), lining up trollies around the right conveyor before the passengers even got there!

And the experience continued even outside, in the taxi line. More staffers, ushering passengers into cabs.

Irritants: the lousy stuff on video. And the announcements that said things like "hum land karne ko aa rahe hain (or something like that). And the inflight mag sucks. Basically an extended Page Three on glossy paper and bound. Mr M, we're passengers, not, despite your welcome, the kind of guests you have at your parties.

Wish-list: How about a power outlet for laptops? Our battered machine runs out of juice very fast, so we're always on the lookout for electricity. Even the Rajdhani gives you plug points these days.

Oh yes. As we were scribbling this in our note pad, we asked for another coffee. We were asked how we'd like it, and it arrived shortly, as per specs, and accompanied by a large chocolate biscuit.

Mr Mallya, your airline has class.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, and I was so happy with Jet Airways from Madras to Bombay. I must try Kingfisher next time.

Their ads were all over TV in Bangkok in March, almost as much as Aamby Valley.

I especially like the bit about the guys lined up with the trolleys. In a nation as populous as India, that is surely a luxury that other airlines could also indulge in for their clients and it shouldn't break the bank for them.

Here's hoping the other guys catch on...

My only complaint is with the whole we-ve-got-hot-babes-for-flight-attendants angle. If they're going to do that, they should have an equal amount (ok, maybe 40/60) of hot, STRAIGHT guys for their female clientele to ogle in flight.

Maria

Space Bar said...

i was deeply envious of the KA folks when i was stranded at ahmedabad airport with stupid sahara. i mean, these guys have an order in which they board the flight!!! neat, orderly and the other end of the spectrum from air deccan where there's a regular scrum for the gate.

Swathi Sambhani aka Chimera said...

having taken the KF a couple of times ,I must say that sad but true is the fact that the service is not the same in VM's home state Karnataka , no one escorted me to the taxis and also there were nobody at the conveyor belts.
but my biggest grievance of them all - wat about us ladies? can we if not John-Abraham-look-alike guys , atleast a few guys on the cabin crew :)

Anonymous said...

I will agree with Swathi, KF at Bangalore airport is not that helpful but it rules. I had teh same cribs which ofcorse i will ignore on my next flight with them namely video content, mag, food, n hot males lol...have heard abt kingfisher first class need to try that sigh the prices...n i hate deccan...even if they offer to fly free :((

neomatrix said...

I agree with you Peter. International class, better then the inspiration (Virgin Atlantic) That too with cheap fairs.

Indian industry should learn what service means from these people.
cheers

Ujj said...

wooh..now your one Uber-impressed person, no pun intended. Though I havent ever travelled with KA, your description makes one wanna go on a better flight the next time need be..but is it true that the KA provides LCD screen for every passenger..but yes the Laptop problem is a pretty common one..power sockets is not a big issue, even Ac 3 trains now provide it..so i dont thnk itll be long before you see them..may be even in your next flight..

uday said...

nice. but i suspect that the next time around u'd want a facility for a hot shower in-flight...and would say everything else is passe.
consumer is not just king - a dictator ;)?

zigzackly said...

filmiholic,
Let's see what we can do about that. Won't be trying to hard, I will confess. :)

space bar,
Methinks the Dakkan scrum is because they have free seating. Major irritation, that. Now, not only do you have morons struggling to be the first ones off the plane, the but there's a bun-fight in the bloody boarding lounge.

swathi,
Sympathies on your main peeve. Well, not really. And it's weird that KA service in Karnataka sucks so bad.

sapphire,
Ditto. Dakkan is the pits!

neomatrix,
Haven't flown Virgin, so can't compare.

usg,
Hopefully!

uday,
Well, actually, I'd really like a bathtub. :)

neha vish said...

Chocolate biscuit! Really?

The Marauder's Map said...

And... and... (breathlessly) they even let you keep the ear-phones! Not even SINGAPORE AIRLINES does that, and they're like supposed to be the greatest and all!! Plus, I was on a stop-over flight, and they gave breakfast twice to those who wanted, no questions asked.

Wanderer said...

I agree with what you said about KF, although must add that the services of all airlines vary from place to place- sad but true!:(
Although as of now, with Mallya hopefully intending to buy over another airline, the service should get better!:)

ps: In case you are interested, the airlines is planning it's IPO in the second half of 2006.