Pars pro toto: a mini trip report of a trip (Jumbo Fare)
First off I would like to thank you VIE380 and his contribution of the recent mistake fare. Link.
And here is my trip report, my very first one. I would love to hear all you guys’ feedbacks.
Background
My original routings:
RGN-KUL-BOM-EWR
RGN-KUL (C- Malaysia Airline)
KUL-BOM (C- Malaysia Airline)
BOM-EWR (F- Air India)
And this is how I get there:
PHX-SFO-NRT-SGN-RGN
PHX-SFO-NRT (C-UA)
NRT-SGN (C-NH)
SGN-RGN (Y- Air Asia)
Everything was fine and dandy until I logged into Air India’s website to checked on my reservation and noticed DEL-JFK instead of BOM-EWR. I was a little bit intrigued since earlier in the day, I have checked Cheapoair’s website and Jet Airways, there were no indication of (schedule) change at all. Being a good FT, I know to trust the metal’s own website than others.
Moreover because the flight changed from BOM-EWR to DEL-JFK, my routings are now RGN-KUL-BOM-DEL-JFK. However the flight DEL-JFK scheduled to depart earlier than the suppose BOM-EWR, therefore would create a misconnect.
I leave the reservation alone for two weeks until I noticed the status of ticket is now already indicated, “Cancelled.” I, immediately, fired off an email to Air India’s reservation office in NYC by looking up “Contact Us” on their own website. I basically just stated that I want my reservation to be reinstated (no mention of the DOT however). The very next day I received an email from an AI reservation agent in NYC stating that they have reinstated the ticket for me however it would be a day later since KUL-BOM-DEL will create a misconnect. And two hours later, I received a voicemail asking to see if the change is ok (I was in class at that time, that’s why I said voicemail). I called back and negotiated my routings like any good FT would do. ;) And I asked to see if it would be ok for me just to show up for the DEL-JFK flight only and forfeit the other flights. “So you just want to show up to the DEL-JFK flight only?” “Yes Ma’am, since it would be easier for me to fly straight from SGN to DEL.”
It took the agent three seconds to agreed to that change. After all of that is complete, she send me the receipt and I’m all good to go. I did make sure to put that note in there so that when I don’t show up for my first two segments the reservation won’t get cancel out. Therefore my final itinerary is now: PHX-SFO-NRT-SGN-SIN-DEL-JFK-PHX.
In this case, I guess I lucked out, because the ticket stock was on AI metal, and thus if I don’t show up for other segments, as long as my main metal still intact. I’m golden.
One thing to mention, on my way from PHX-SGN, SFO-NRT experienced almost a three hours mechanical delayed. Therefore caused me to missed my NH flight from NRT-SGN, and I got rebooked the next day on Vietnam Airlines business class (it was a business class saver award). Since I don’t see a lot of reports of Vietnam Airlines business class products. I will include that here.
flyer89
Jul 17, 12, 10:34 am
VN: Business Class: NRT- SGN (6 hours flights)
Business Class check in, it was very full that day, I didn’t even get to check in at the business class kiosk, the line attendant walked me over to an agent work in economy, total wait time: 4 minutes. After that the agent gave me directions to the lounge.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1469.jpg
Before I headed to the lounge, I visited one of the gift shops located right behind security. Oh and talk about security, I swift through it in a record time of 2 mins, very polite and fast. TSA please take notes.
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The lounge attendant greeted each and every one of the customers the moment they walked inside the door, not even at the desk.
Self pour liquor and drinks: since I’m not a drinker, I picked ginger ale.
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A little of snack: eggdrop soup, ginger ale, and cheese Danish.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1489.jpg
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flyer89
Jul 17, 12, 10:35 am
VN bird is located right under the lounge:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1485.jpg
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Famous NRT signage:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1494.jpg
VN C boarding pass:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1496.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1497.jpg
Lunch service: (sorry I didn’t take pictures of menus and its offerings!)
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1503.jpg
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http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/IMG_1510.jpg
Verdict: the beef wrapped asparagus was really good. Service was kind of slow. Seats are kind of old and outdated. And the thing that bugged me was the entertainment system was out for that flight. For a six hours flight, it was not a good experience.
flyer89
Jul 17, 12, 10:37 am
Air India: First Class: DEL-CDG-JFK (15+ hours of flight)
After a swift “vacation” in Vietnam for two nights and days. I headed back out to the airport to take advantage of this mistake fare. In able to get from SGN to DEL, I booked a one way business award from SGN-SIN-DEL on Singapore Airline.
At the Singapore’s check in counter, I asked the ticketing agent whether or not she can interline my checked bags straight from SGN to JFK (I already checked the night before, Singapore Air and Air India does has interline baggage agreement. And I also inquired about the visa issue since travellers are required to have visas in able to visit India, I told the agent I was just transit, she checked with her supervisor and everything is ok, I don’t need a visa in able to transit. The agent tag my bags all the way to JFK, but she asked me to double check in regard of my checked bags once I get to Delhi, India.
The moment I got off the plane from SIN-DEL, there was already an agent standing right in front with my name on it. We walked from there to the AI counter located right in front of “International Transit”. International Transit located on the right side with Air India ticket counters and other airlines. On the left is Immigration check.
It took the ticketing agent a while to issue my ticket since he kept mentioned “Bombai…” and kept asking me about that flight. I asked him to read the note in my reservation that the agent in NYC ticketing office in there. But for some reasons, I do think that note got lost or disconnected somewhere. And then I explained to him the reason why I didn’t board the Bombai flight is because it would cause a misconnect. I was then asked for my passport and checked bag tags from Singapore Airline. It was promptly provided. About 20 minutes of typing later, he came back with a boarding pass, a first class boarding pass baby. Note: at no point, price mistake or anything with “mistake” word was mention.
After that one agent was assigned to looked after me. She walked me through the security screening. And walked me up to the lounge. Since the lounge is very “normal” nothing really special about the lounge. It’s a contract lounge, AI doesn’t offer a first class lounge or anything like that to its customers.
Two hours later another agent came up to me, and walked me to the gate. At the gate, once again, security and documents check. Once the boarding commenced, the agent walked me all the way to the plane, right before the door, another documents check. Apparently, security check once by international transit, two right in front of the gate is not enough, have to do documents check once more by the door.
When I was handed off to greeting flight attendant, my first impression was wow. The business class seat is very nice and modern (too bad I didn’t take a picture of that cabin). The first class seat is spacious and a little bit outdated.
flyer89
Jul 17, 12, 10:39 am
“Welcome to India” taken while waiting for my ticket to be issued.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1649.jpg
AI First Class boarding pass, same design as business and economy.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1651.jpg
AI First Class seating:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1654.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1655.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1656.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1657.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1658.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1659.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1660.jpg http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1661.jpg
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Entertainment contrl:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1669.jpg
Since I was the only customer in First, the flight attendant offered to make my adjacent seat into a bed, so that I can go to sleep whenever I want.
Seat in Bed-Mode:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1676.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1681.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1682.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1683.jpg
A light snack before I went to sleep: there was no menu handed out, literally no menus. And for some reason I forgot to take the picture of the main snack (lol) just the “side dishes”.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1678.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1679.jpg
After a good six hours of sleep, I woke up with two hours away from France, here is breakfast.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1684.jpg
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Some plane shots of Air France while taxiing to the gate:
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http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1692.jpg
For some reason AI stop there for 1 ½ hour. I thought it was to refuel. However according to the meet and greet agent in NYC for AI First customer, he said it was because of fasting. Hmm…maybe that’s the reason why there were no menus loaded? Except food? Huh? But anyways, let’s get back on track.
Once we stopped at France for 90 minutes, there was also a change of crews including pilots. The new crew greeted me, and asked when I would like my lunch to be served, I asked to be served immediately right after take off so that I can sleep some more. As mentioned above, no menus were given.
AI lunch:
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1700.jpg
lentil soup
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1701.jpg
coconut shrimp with carrot/potatoes and right, the shrimps were tasty.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1702.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1703.jpg
Dessert: coconut custard with macadamian nuts.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1704.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1705.jpg
I again slept like a baby for 5 hours, woke up with about 3 hours till JFK. So I got some light snack before landing to JFK.
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1706.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh602/flyer_89/air%20india%20first%20class/IMG_1707.jpg
Verdict: it was an ok experience. Quite frankly I expected a little more in regard of food choices. There are rooms for improvements. The seat and the atmosphere are good. The flight attendants, when I was just laying there in bed, talked very quietly among themselves behind the curtain to not wake me up. It was very considerate on their part, and every time I’m in bed, they dimmed the cabin’s light without me asking. (Hopefully just the cabin I’m in and not the whole entire plane)
And there, that my fellow FTers is my first trip report. I’m looking forward to your inputs. Thank you.
isaifan
Jul 17, 12, 12:10 pm
Good report. The food on AI first doesn't look too impressive.
pvdecastro
Jul 17, 12, 5:51 pm
Thanks a lot for sharing! Not many AI F reports out there. Both hard and soft products look rather shaby.
dandandan
Jul 17, 12, 6:54 pm
Thanks for the time and effort you put into your trip report flyer89, good work for your first one.
I must say as others have said, the food did not look that good at all, hopefully it tasted alright. The Vietnam offering you got in their J class looked a whole lot better and tastier. Would you agree with that? they must make some improvements on their food offering and presentation I think, hopefully by the time I fly with them. I know they do not charge as much as other airlines but from the trip reports I have seen even other airlines in their J and PE serve up better looking meals than this.
The seating looks like it offers plenty of room, how were the amenities on the aircraft and what about alcohol, do you know what they served up, no menu's is very strange.
flyer89
Jul 17, 12, 10:58 pm
Thanks for the time and effort you put into your trip report flyer89, good work for your first one.
I must say as others have said, the food did not look that good at all, hopefully it tasted alright. The Vietnam offering you got in their J class looked a whole lot better and tastier. Would you agree with that? they must make some improvements on their food offering and presentation I think, hopefully by the time I fly with them. I know they do not charge as much as other airlines but from the trip reports I have seen even other airlines in their J and PE serve up better looking meals than this.
The seating looks like it offers plenty of room, how were the amenities on the aircraft and what about alcohol, do you know what they served up, no menu's is very strange.
The seat does provide a lot of leg rooms, however for some reason though, when you put in the "lounge" mode, the leg doesn't extend out long enough. So I kind of have to sit, lounge and reach at the same time, lolz, good thing I'm good at "multi tasking";). The foods...let's just say I did left the plane feeling a bit hungry.:o I am very openminded and somewhat cultural awareness of where the airline coming from, so the whole entire time I kept telling myself this particular airline's food is catered to a very specific type of customers. When I asked about lunch and drinks menus, the flight attendant told me they don't have any menus for my lunch, and in terms of drinks "You can just say the name of drink and we very likely have it." :confused: That was me. Since I don't drink, I can't name anything out of top of my head. :) Like I mentioned maybe due to fasting? That's why they don't expect anyone to eat...but then... they did load food as we can see... so I'm kind of dumbfounded on the no menus part too.
In term of VN, food is alright, kind of like Japanese meal that served on UA...bland, unflavorful...and the picture of a tray with white tofu dish on the top left screen, it tasted like gelatin, one bite of that and I was done.
Carfield
Jul 17, 12, 11:53 pm
Wow this is a fascinating trip report!
Vietnam Air looks okay - too bad the entertainment system went bad, but I am sure you do not miss much. The Japanese lunch looks quite good though.
Air India is definitely interesting... the food looks very uninteresting, but at least the service seems to be courteous. I think the amenities and pajamas look good, but it is pretty poor not to have a proper menu in first class for perhaps its signature route or a prestigious route to New York. However, the quantity looks sufficient and there are multiple meals. But the pre-arrival meal to JFK looks very weak and that needs some work.
Thanks for sharing!
Carfield
amolkold
Jul 18, 12, 1:06 am
Great report, some airlines we don't get to see often.
Despite having family in the subcontinent, I've never flown AI, not even domestically. I've heard decent things about their long-haul Y product, but that F product leaves a lot to be desired. So long as I can't earn miles in a lucrative alliance program, I won't be trying them out anytime soon.
pogonation
Jul 18, 12, 5:42 am
I'm surprised to see that people are saying the hard product looks shabby or outdated. I would say it looks pretty decent, nice and wide and definitely competitive. It appears to be like all new non-suite F products such as LX, KE etc.
Food however looks pretty poor. And there is simply no excuse for not having a menu! Cheers for the TR ^
MKE-MR
Jul 19, 12, 2:17 pm
Thanks for this. I had an AI trip scheduled RGN-KUL-DEL-(CDG)-JFK, in Business, which I cancelled in favor of Y on Royal Jordanian. Just couldn't resist saving that little bit more money! :D
In looking at this, I do feel like I'm glad I made the choice I did. By a bizarre coincidence I ended up flying AI business ANYWAY last week, and it was pretty underwhelming on both a hard and soft product side.
Just a note, by the way, the reason for the stop in CDG was the pilots' strike which lasted about 60 days from April-June. Air India rejigged their schedules to combine NA and European traffic throughout the strike and beyond, so all US flights stop once again in Europe. Not a good sign that this didn't result in massive overbooking--must mean loads were pretty bad.