Programs: AA (current EXP, occasional PLT, 0MM); UA; US; DL
Posts: 4,650
Is Jet Airways reliable now a days?
Is Jet Airways reliable now a days? More to the point will it be reliable in the 2nd week of February? (Is fog still a factor by that time?)
We have on hold a Gulf Air flight which departs DEL at 9:30 PM. (It is part of a DEL-BAH-LHR-ORD itineray, so a lot riding on not missing the first leg!)
AA (who are booking this) are suggesting a connecting flight LKO-DEL on 9W that will reach DEL at 5:30 PM. Looks good on paper, and the T3-T3 connection should be ok, even able to absorb a 30-40 min delay. However it cannot deal with a multi-hour delay or outright cancellation.
However, is Jet Airways reliable enough to take the chance? Or, should we take the morning flight getting to DEL at 11:30 AM and spend the afternoon at the airport with luggage?
Programs: SPG Plat, PC RA, HH Gold, Taj IC Gold, 9W Plat, DL Silver
Posts: 18,679
why would you think jet would not be reliable????
fog should not be an issue in the 2nd week of feb but there is no guarantee....i would just take the morning flight unless you have to be in lko during the day....
Programs: AA (current EXP, occasional PLT, 0MM); UA; US; DL
Posts: 4,650
Because this is an award ticket, I would actually get a flight connection for free.
Still, trains are inexpensive and when there was a possibility of booking a flight departing DEL at 3:00AM or so, just to add a different experience, I considered the Shatabdi train which reaches DEL around 9 or 10 PM.
As it turned out, the seats we needed didn't open up in that flight, and at least in my limited knowledge, there is no good train that matches the 9:30PM departure.
Anyway, I am curious why you think that spending several hours in a train is a better idea than spending several hours at an airport?
Moderator: India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hoos-ton ;)
Programs: YES!
Posts: 14,234
Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
Anyway, I am curious why you think that spending several hours in a train is a better idea than spending them at an airport?
Personally, I find the train to be an awful option here, and one to really avoid. And trains are also likely to be delayed by fog as well as a multitude of other ridiculous reasons. But that would be the least of your problems in this case. Without getting too OT and P/R, I personally would avoid the train option every time from UP/Bihar in general. The only time (ex DEL) I would ever look at a train would be to Amritsar/Chandigarh. YMMV.
Because this is an award ticket, I would actually get a flight connection for free.
If it's all going to be on one ticket, I'd go with the later 9W option.
If the 9W flight is delayed, you will be rerouted to your final destination anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
As it turned out, the needed seats didn't open up in that flight, and at least in my limited knowledge, there is no good train that matches the 9:30PM departure.
Depending on which day of the week you are flying, the Garib Rath Express may be timed reasonably...
Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
Anyway, I am curious why you think that spending several hours in a train is a better idea than spending them at an airport?
Airports are boring, while train journeys are rarely so.
I would not take the train. I have in fog season and taken 24 hours from Lucknow to delhi. Missed my flight and had to Change it to a later flight, though incidentally having an acknowledgement from tha station master that my train was late got me a free change to another flight.
AJ I am offended about avoidin trains from up/Bihar. Have travelled extensively and they are safe/reliable.
I would take the later flight. I hate long connection times. If your jet flight is late, it is quite likely gulf air will also be late. At 3 in the afternoon any fog affecting Lucknow would be over by 10, plus that airfield is cat 2 and you would be back in delhi before fog starts agin in the evening.
Moderator: India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hoos-ton ;)
Programs: YES!
Posts: 14,234
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeedFreak
AJ I am offended about avoidin trains from up/Bihar. Have travelled extensively and they are safe/reliable.
My comment was based on the recent experience of a colleague who had a 1st class sleeper ticket from a UP station to Delhi, but found that he could not stop people on the overcrowded train from sharing his berth while he was sitting, and a complaint to the ticket checker did not help at all. He actually felt unsafe, and decided to not to make further fuss, as he did not want to risk personal safety, which he felt was threatened after he raised the issue to the collector.
Again, this is just one incident and YMMV. No offense was intended, and apologies if it was unwittingly caused. Personally, I would not take the train on that sector, but again that is just my personal opinion.
As you said, getting from point A to point B safely and on time. I have no real expectation of service.
Then you likely won't have anything to worry about with Jet.
That said, Connecting on separate tickets between two different airlines (or the airport and the railway station) and all that business can complicate things, but leave enough wiggle room and you will be fine.
__________________ Die, Air India, die, die ! Kill, kill !