India-based Airlines - AI to Amritsar

Hello everyone.. I will be travelling to amritsar from new delhi in september.. and after looking at the fares zeroed in on AI188 which comes from toronto.. But before booking the ticket i wanted to know how the flight was doing and is it fairly reliable? Also should i book it now or wait for some time so that i can get cheaper tickets.. Am getting one way fare of approx Rs3200 in economy.. Will i be getting any meal??

Appreciate your reply

inr 3,200 is a good fare....i doubt it will get cheaper....

Checked the website for September. 3293 seems to be the cheapest fare. 188 does not seem to be operating. Not showing on the air India website. There are 2 flights showing. You might want to recheck. Snacks in economy can be expected. Peanuts and juice i believe is what is given on short domestic sectors. Can't confirm though about this particular sector.

and after looking at the fares zeroed in on AI188 which comes from toronto.. AI188 is cancelled until September 16th due to IPG agitation.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, AI 971 operates at a similar schedule (1.5 hours later), albeit not on a 777.

But before booking the ticket i wanted to know how the flight was doing and is it fairly reliable? Before the strike, it was fairly reliable... However, it has been cancelled for a while now.

Also should i book it now or wait for some time so that i can get cheaper tickets.. Am getting one way fare of approx Rs3200 in economy.. It's probably not going to go any lower... E is the lowest fare bucket.

Will i be getting any meal??
DEL-ATQ is more than 1 hour but less than 90 mins, so you'll get sandwich, brownie, water, and coffee/tea.

AI cut their catering budget a few months ago, and nowadays the brownies are barely edible (at least on HYD-PNQ-HYD). A few months ago, the food was more substantial, and of higher quality as well.

Peanuts and juice i believe is what is given on short domestic sectors. Can't confirm though about this particular sector.
Peanuts and juice is for flights under 60 mins...

AI188 is cancelled until September 16th due to IPG agitation.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, AI 971 operates at a similar schedule (1.5 hours later), albeit not on a 777.

Before the strike, it was fairly reliable... However, it has been cancelled for a while now.

It's probably not going to go any lower... E is the lowest fare bucket.

DEL-ATQ is more than 1 hour but less than 90 mins, so you'll get sandwich, brownie, water, and coffee/tea.

AI cut their catering budget a few months ago, and nowadays the brownies are barely edible (at least on HYD-PNQ-HYD). A few months ago, the food was more substantial, and of higher quality as well.


Peanuts and juice is for flights under 60 mins...

I took this flight last year and it was probably 15-20 min cruise and rest was climb and descent and was served a Fruity nothing else.

Anybody else can chime in on the latest but for quick 40-45 min flight it seemed quite appropriate, was actually surprised they served anything :-)

DEL-ATQ is more than 1 hour but less than 90 mins, so you'll get sandwich, brownie, water, and coffee/tea.
That is completely different from my experience.

Checked the website for September. 3293 seems to be the cheapest fare. 188 does not seem to be operating. Not showing on the air India website. There are 2 flights showing. You might want to recheck. Snacks in economy can be expected. Peanuts and juice i believe is what is given on short domestic sectors. Can't confirm though about this particular sector.

Really coz i got that fare from the AI website..

AI188 is cancelled until September 16th due to IPG agitation.



but i will be travelling on 22 or 23 september... well if i cant get on AI188 then probably the one that flies out at noon

I took this flight last year and it was probably 15-20 min cruise and rest was climb and descent and was served a Fruity nothing else.

Anybody else can chime in on the latest but for quick 40-45 min flight it seemed quite appropriate, was actually surprised they served anything :-)

The flight is scheduled for 1h20m...

The flight is scheduled for 1h20m...

I know the flight is scheduled for 1 hr 20 min but actual flying time (roll, climb, cruise and descent) is no more than 45 min thus, whatever catering service they provide is going to be when Flight is at cruise level. Schedules are always cushioned for unanticipated delays (be it baggage, late passenger, etc.)

I'll be surprised to see if they bring out a cart for this 45 min flight, of which only 15-20 min (being very generous) is cruise. Hence the Fruity service :)

Now this is in normal flying conditions but if 777 is heavy and weather is not cooperating all bets in relation to flying time are off :D

I know the flight is scheduled for 1 hr 20 min but actual flying time (roll, climb, cruise and descent) is no more than 45 min thus, whatever catering service they provide is going to be when Flight is at cruise level. Schedules are always cushioned for unanticipated delays (be it baggage, late passenger, etc.)

I'll be surprised to see if they bring out a cart for this 45 min flight, of which only 15-20 min (being very generous) is cruise. Hence the Fruity service :)

Now this is in normal flying conditions but if 777 is heavy and weather is not cooperating all bets in relation to flying time are off :D
40 minutes of padding/taxi time is a lot for a flight of this length...

But if it is indeed padded that much, then yes, it'll be the packaged snacks and juice.

40 minutes of padding/taxi time is a lot for a flight of this length...

But if it is indeed padded that much, then yes, it'll be the packaged snacks and juice.


I agree considering ATR's flown by Jetlite/Jetkonnect are also scheduled for 1 hr 20m whereas 737's are 1 hr. Perhaps they are factoring in extra time for loading extra cargo...who knows its Air India after all.

Regardless I think its not reasonable to expect anything more than drinks/packaged snack on such a short flight :)

Peanuts and juice i believe is what is given on short domestic sectors. Can't confirm though about this particular sector.
Yep. This was on BOM-GOI:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/jasepl/goa12/03-11-volmeal01.jpg
Peantus, (imitation) Frooti, earphones, coupon booklet and paper napkin in a plastic package.

Thanks guys for your replies.. appreciate it.. well snacks or not my 1st preference is the 777 otherwise the earlier AI flight

I had checked for first week of September hence it did not show on my search result. The AI flights are padded by about 15-20 min more than IC flights. All our Bom del blocks were 2 hours and AI flight has a block of 215. It's the way they work.

I had checked for first week of September hence it did not show on my search result. The AI flights are padded by about 15-20 min more than IC flights. All our Bom del blocks were 2 hours and AI flight has a block of 215. It's the way they work.

Even the IC flights on DEL-ATQ are scheduled for 70 mins, which made me think that it would be sandwich+brownie. But I guess not.

Hi,

I travel this route very often and i would rather prefer some other airlines over AI.This is my personal opinion and YMMV.I would say it's a fair price, however the fares in this market is always around Rs 2700.

Have you checked Spicejet?

They are offering flights for less than Rs 2000. I think that would be the best option.Be advised that they would be offering Q 400 which is very small as compared to Jet boeing...( only exception being ATR flight in the evening from Delhi ).......

I would rather prefer Jet ( excluding the evening flight ) and you could also upgrade to Premier ( though not better than y+ and meal services ) for additional Rs 1500 - Rs 1800 each direction......

Though i am not a big guy, still hates these small jets with almost negligible leg room ....

Thanks and Regards
taran_2005

SG is likely to be cheaper, and the Q is very comfortable for a prop... However, there is no comparison between a Q and a 777...

Perhaps you should try both and post a comparison report for us? ;)

SG is likely to be cheaper, and the Q is very comfortable for a prop... However, there is no comparison between a Q and a 777...



Exactly.. like they say 777 toh 777 hai... SG is only 200 bucks cheaper on those days and jet timings are not suitable..

ATQ-DEL 187 when it used to operate used to be the last flight option out of ATQ: arriving it DEL just before midnight. Gives you a full day in ATQ.

service last few times was by tray: tiny tray with sandwich and frooty.