Airlines of India - 9W 18: DEL-SIN J meals

About to fly 9W 18 DEL-SIN in J in a few days time.

Departure 0855 Arrival 1705

Wondering what meal options to expect?

Only Breakfast
Breakfast & Lunch
Only Lunch
Something else altogether!?

Given the departure and arrival times, it would seem to suggest both breakfast and lunch, but then again it is only a 5 & 1/2 hour long flight...

Any inputs?

Thanks!

I think you'll only get breakfast. See here: http://secure1.jetairways.com/JetFlightInfo/FlightInfo.aspx?&fltNum=9W18&date=21Oct2009&dep=DEL&arr=SIN

On the return leg, its dinner...

Thanks aniruddh77. ^

Hmmm, that's a bit of a pain, given that it'll be too late for lunch after landing and too early for my dinner with friends which prob won't start till 9pm-ish!

Would the crew allow "breakfast" to be had about 3 hours into the flight? Or wonder if they serve some light snacks or something that can be had anytime...

If you're flying J, I reckon you can have breakfast THROUGHOUT the flight except for ascent and descent ;-). But more seriously, yes, even in the back cabin, 9w should be happy to accede to your request of a delayed breakfast.

Though I have to agree with you, because of the timing of the flights, breakfast only sounds ridiculous.

Though I have to agree with you, because of the timing of the flights, breakfast only sounds ridiculous.
Exactly. Even on an average day, an ordinary Joe who has brekkie at 9am IST, would have lunch at 1pm-ish IST (i.e. 3:30pm SIN time). As both these time slots are well within the flight time, it would make sense to atleast offer the option of two meals, or at the very least a decent snack before landing.

Blame it on recession, or 9w's interest in passenger health ;-)

I guess I'll just have to make up for it by getting thru a bottle of bubbly on my own. ;)

While you're at it, why not have one on me and make it 2???

Sounds like a plan, of course as long as the crew is <ahem> receptive though!

Ah, that's an improvement...4 responses before something like that came out...no wonder people used to rave about 9w's in-flight service.

Honestly dear, you were just asking for it! :p


Back OT though, I can't really think of any other proper 5 hour + "day" flight on 9W that covers two mealtimes but has only one meal offering. All the daytime Westbound (Europe and transtalantic) flights have two main meals, as do the day flights back to India from BRU and LHR.

DEL/BOM-HKG are overnights as is BOM-SIN.
SIN/HKG-BOM/DEL are evening dinner flights.

So is this flight a one-off exception in the catering schedule...

Agree to the logic, but 9W (and am not sure about other airlines) often does end up serving a second snack in J. I remember the mid-day DEL-MAA service that they used to run, where after lunch, they'd do a small snack service. May you get as lucky. If not, you can always rely on the bubbly and the wonderful salted cashews+almonds that go along with it, for that well-sated feeling when you reach SIN !!!

I'll be able to tell you for sure in a few days time!

Do let me know...I'm planning a MAA-SIN trip with family in December. Just looking that up, and for a 1.15 am departure on the outbound, they serve breakfast ! And on the return (inbound), which is a 9.20 am flight, its lunch! Seems like they align the meals to the destination time, which is quite the opposite to your DEL-SIN segment.

Just looking that up, and for a 1.15 am departure on the outbound, they serve breakfast !
That is mighty strange!! BOM-SIN,BOM-HKG and DEL-HKG all of which depart around midnight offer dinner but no breakfast. Why a 1am departure from MAA would not offer dinner but instead breakfast is just :confused:

No consistency whatsoever!

Do let me know...I'm planning a MAA-SIN trip with family in December. Just looking that up, and for a 1.15 am departure on the outbound, they serve breakfast ! And on the return (inbound), which is a 9.20 am flight, its lunch! Seems like they align the meals to the destination time, which is quite the opposite to your DEL-SIN segment.

No.. That is not true.. I have traveled Jet Airways frequently on the MAA - SIN sector..

On the MAA - SIN sector, it is more of a dinner actually.. I remembered that they served parathas and pulao.. As usual excellent catering from 9W!!

On the SIN - MAA sector, it is breakfast that they serve.. In Y class, there is an option of Indian North Indian (Veg), South Indian (Veg) and Continental (Non Veg).. In J class there are 4 options and one can have meals as many times as they want during the flight (depending upon the availability)...

No.. That is not true.. I have traveled Jet Airways frequently on the MAA - SIN sector..

On the MAA - SIN sector, it is more of a dinner actually.. I remembered that they served parathas and pulao.. As usual excellent catering from 9W!!

On the SIN - MAA sector, it is breakfast that they serve.. In Y class, there is an option of Indian North Indian (Veg), South Indian (Veg) and Continental (Non Veg).. In J class there are 4 options and one can have meals as many times as they want during the flight (depending upon the availability)...
Welcome, jetche2004! I'm currently looking at the details for my specific dates on MAA-SIN return, and here's the info:

MAA-SIN: http://secure1.jetairways.com/JetFlightInfo/FlightInfo.aspx?&fltNum=9W16&date=25Dec2009&dep=MAA&arr=SIN
SIN-MAA: http://secure1.jetairways.com/JetFlightInfo/FlightInfo.aspx?&fltNum=9W15&date=30Dec2009&dep=SIN&arr=MAA

According to the above info, it is breakfast on the outbound and lunch on the inbound. Will be happy if the breakfast is actually dinner, stupid as it might sound!

I'm planning to do J at least one way, so am wondering which of the two is a better time for the bubbly...sigh... AJLondon, do let me know what bubbly/cuvee they use on this route, will decide based on that!

Hi Aniruddh!! After being a spectator for long, finally decided to join :)

No idea why their website shows like that though... Maybe they are planning a change in December...

Just back in August when I flew them it was a dinner on the MAA - SIN sector and breakfast on SIN - MAA sector.. They used to serve the meals almost immediately after take off and then dim the lights to allow pax to sleep.. Maybe they are planning a later meal service.. No idea...

If you planning to take J one way, my option would be on the MAA - SIN sector.. Gives an opportunity to stretch out during the night flight...

I would be traveling them again in November.. Shall keep you posted about the meal options and drink list too...

Cheers!!

That will be really useful, Jetche2004. Are you flying J or Y?

I would be flying Y.. Tried for upgrades.. But the dates I tried were sold out.. :(

I'll be able to tell you for sure in a few days time!

Don't expect to much on tis flight. Given that it is on the 737, it is an average experience. The return is even worse, given the 2:30 AM arrival. Since they changed the flight away from the A330, I switched my business back to SQ for my Delhi runs. I still love 9W on my flights to BOM though.....

S.

Well, here is the update that absolutely everyone (well okay, just anirudhh maybe ;) ) has been waiting with bated breath for!

DEL-SIN:
In J, the printed menu offers only breakfast. (Omlette, pancakes, south indian breakfast were the choices.) However, there are sandwiches loaded as well. (Choice of chicken foccaccia or veg sarrnies on my flight.) These are not printed on the menu, but are served only on request prior to landing if & only if the pax asks the crew. The crew will not advise you of this option, so unless you specifically ask you won't get!! How they expect the average pax to be aware of this I do not know.

SIN-DEL:
Dinner was served as expected. Three choices: Indian chicken curry, snapper with thai rice or the indian vegetarian option. I had the snapper but it was rather dry and tough. No appetiser is offered as it is a "supper" service. The pear & chocolate cake was divine though. ^

Bubbly:
Louis Roederer Brut. Average at best. There was a decent Sauvignon Blanc though.

Amenity kits were not offered on either segment. (They used to be offered on SIN-DEL earlier, but not anymore since the last couple of months.) Socks & eyeshades were still offered though. No PJs of course.

Of course, given that its the 737s on this route, I won't waste bandwidth trying to describe the comforts of the J seat!! AVOD worked fine though. And of course, for those who fancy dancing queens, the Mamma Mia soundtrack is available in CD selection. :p ;)

Ground service was outstanding at DEL on both departure and arrival. I was escorted from check-in to the lounge by a 9W staff member who also insisted on taking my carry-on baggage. He then came to pick me up from the lounge when boarding was called and accompanied me all the way to the aircraft and deposited my wheelie into the overhead bin.

Or arrival at DEL there was a similar service with a rep waiting at the aircraft steps who assisted with both carry-on and checked luggage and escorted me all the way to the car.

...

DEL-SIN:
In J, the printed menu offers only breakfast. (Omlette, pancakes, south indian breakfast were the choices.) However, there are sandwiches loaded as well. (Choice of chicken foccaccia or veg sarrnies on my flight.) These are not printed on the menu, but are served only on request prior to landing if & only if the pax asks the crew. The crew will not advise you of this option, so unless you specifically ask you won't get!! How they expect the average pax to be aware of this I do not know.

:D Interesting! So how did YOU get to know? ;)

SIN-DEL:
Dinner was served as expected. Three choices: Indian chicken curry, snapper with thai rice or the indian vegetarian option. I had the snapper but it was rather dry and tough. No appetiser is offered as it is a "supper" service. The pear & chocolate cake was divine though. ^

As expected, their desserts are always great...unforgettable Belgian double choc chip i/c on LHR-BOM on several occasions!

Bubbly:
Louis Roederer Brut. Average at best. There was a decent Sauvignon Blanc though.
:td::td:

Amenity kits were not offered on either segment. (They used to be offered on SIN-DEL earlier, but not anymore since the last couple of months.) Socks & eyeshades were still offered though. No PJs of course.

:td: to amenity kits, though I didn't expect PJs in any case...

Of course, given that its the 737s on this route, I won't waste bandwidth trying to describe the comforts of the J seat!! AVOD worked fine though. And of course, for those who fancy dancing queens, the Mamma Mia soundtrack is available in CD selection. :p ;) :p

Ground service was outstanding at DEL on both departure and arrival. I was escorted from check-in to the lounge by a 9W staff member who also insisted on taking my carry-on baggage. He then came to pick me up from the lounge when boarding was called and accompanied me all the way to the aircraft and deposited my wheelie into the overhead bin.

Or arrival at DEL there was a similar service with a rep waiting at the aircraft steps who assisted with both carry-on and checked luggage and escorted me all the way to the car.

One of the privileges of this being DEL, I suppose..., but ^^ nevertheless !

This is absolutely great info, thanks very much, AJLondon ^^^

:D Interesting! So how did YOU get to know? ;)Well, I did have a long and cosy chat with one of the crew members in the galley where we discussed, among other things, the offerings on 9W. I guess the crew member must have realized that the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach... ;)

This is absolutely great info, thanks very much, AJLondon ^^^Entirely my pleasure! Always delighted to be of service...

I think the service comes naturally to you ;-)

Bubbly:
Louis Roederer Brut. Average at best. I thought it was pretty decent, compared to the horrible champagne they were using on NA routes as a replacement for Dom, as of the black day on 1 July 2009 - when it was pulled! (and of course, I was on board! :( ).

(Understand from 9w crew that Dom has been reinstated on BOM-BRU-EWR! ^ ^)

On my SIN-BOM flight recently, found that the 9w menu had "Dinner" for BOM-SIN and "Supper" for SIN-BOM - just for added info - but did it make any difference whatsoever?? :confused:

Food was mediocre at best - but at least edible...salad was decent though, which is where 9w shines.

On my SIN-BOM flight recently, found that the 9w menu had "Dinner" for BOM-SIN and "Supper" for SIN-BOM - just for added info - but did it make any difference whatsoever?? :confused:
From what I understand, "dinner" will have an appetizer/salad before the main while "supper" will start straight from the main course. Both should offer dessert afterwards though.

From what I understand, "dinner" will have an appetizer/salad before the main while "supper" will start straight from the main course. Both should offer dessert afterwards though.Well, our "supper" had a salad/soup option, but no appetizer. (unless one considers the salad an appetizer)

I was never handed a menu myself - not that great service these days...had to ask for a refill on the bubbly also... :eek:

(Flight was almost full in the front cabin, as well as the back, so this might be the reason, but it shouldn't really happen - for the first and only refill on the flight!)

Well, our "supper" had a salad/soup option, but no appetizer. (unless one considers the salad an appetizer)
Curiouser and curiouser! I've had supper that did not offer either soup, salad or any other appetizer! Just the main course staright away plonked on the tray. :confused:

Curiouser and curiouser! I've had supper that did not offer either soup, salad or any other appetizer! Just the main course staright away plonked on the tray. :confused:9w?

Doing this route in a couple of weeks [Sin-DEL-SIN]. Personal trip.

9W J fares not much higher than SQ Econ full fare [only available]. But given not planning to sleep [much] on either the flight out or in, a "great" meal experence is the big difference.

Cons of 9W - I lose my SQ status miles, no plan of gaining status above BluePlus on 9W. AVOD on SQ Eco is better that on 9W J as well, same screen size. On the ground, get the same [better?] baggage/lounge priveleges since am SQ PPS.

Can anybody advise on above? Everyone would say J class in 90% airlines better than Y class - how can I maximize/justify 9W J?

Thanks

Tough call. Unless you really really need the status miles on SQ, I would recommend 9W.

9W J, even on the 737, would offer a much better seat than SQ Y. And the food offering would certainly be more elaborate.

As far as ground services go, the lounge that 9W use is SIN is quite nice, with a hot foods buffet that has rice/noodles as well as 2-3 main dishes besides soup, desserts etc.

Plus 9W use the much nicer T3 at SIN, while the SQ India flights are relegated to the older and more dilapidated T2 IIRC. The T2 SQ lounge is okay, but much more crowded. The 9W lounge is almost always very quiet.


BTW, you can also credit 9W to many other carriers like AA etc. Do check around on your secondary FFPs if they have 9W as a partner.

Ive got a couple of sectors in Jan, BOM-BKK rtn on Jet booked in Y. Its me and my wife to be. Currently the J fares are only £350 more for both of us. a couple of questions:

1) Is it worth upgrading the tickets to B737 regional J class for a 2am departure and a 4 hr flight?

2) do Jet sell upgrades at the airport, i know that BOM-BKK is popular as it has connecting traffic from europe and if the flight is heavily booked. I am willing to pay a reasonable amount.

3) or shall i just ignore it, save the money and stick it out in Y. Its only 4hr flight and i can knock a few drinks down, stick the eye shade on and get about 90 mins shut eye.

At 175 quid per head, I personally would pay for it. Even for the 737 J seat. Believe me you'll notice the difference, especially if Y is packed in that tight 3x3 config!

AFAIK, Jet do not sell airport upgrades for anything other than the fare difference.

At 175 quid per head, I personally would pay for it. Even for the 737 J seat. Believe me you'll notice the difference, especially if Y is packed in that tight 3x3 config!

AFAIK, Jet do not sell airport upgrades for anything other than the fare difference.

also is the B737 guaranteed to be the regional J with 55" seat pitch and not the Domestic 44" seat pitch. This is the first time im going on Jet regional flight. Any past op changes to the domestic config for anyone?

also is the B737 guaranteed to be the regional J with 55" seat pitch and not the Domestic 44" seat pitch. This is the first time im going on Jet regional flight. Any past op changes to the domestic config for anyone?
Never say never, but it is pretty much always the regional J on the BKK/SIN routes. i.e. unlike domestic J, it will have AVOD, greater recline and a proper legrest.

I have now rebooked the flights into J. I have seats 1DF (or did he say EF) both ways. Are bulkhead seats good? or can anyone suggest a better option?

The total cost breakdown is:

Original Y class bookings through expedia: £610
cancellation charges of £13 per person so £584 refunded onto my credit card.

Jetairways.com fare for 2 x adults = 66120INR (£852) + CC foreign transaction fee + £26 cancellation fee from expedia booking.

Total cost = £897 (works out to £144 per person more than what i originally paid!)

interesting part was that if i had simply upgraded the fare through expedia, they were quoting an all in price of £979ish! it was cheaper to cancel and rebook on jetairways.com. Thank god, ex-india fares usually allow cancellations for 1000INR.

This flight will take me to the heady heights of Blue +!!!