Comparison on 9W Biz Vs. IT Biz (Kingfisher First) – MAA-CMB-MAA
Apr 4, 2011, 1:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LONDON
Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, SQ PPS, BonvoyTit, UK, VS, UA, DL, AA
Posts: 1,715
Comparison on 9W Biz Vs. IT Biz (Kingfisher First) – MAA-CMB-MAA
So, I recently flew down to visit some friends in CMB and normally take 9W. 9W and IT used to operate at identical times (15 mins apartment) in the afternoon. I would normally pref 9W, but due to schedule changes, it was more convenient to fly IT.
Since the reschedule from afternoon to evening departure on 9w (to feed connections to / from BRU) I have also flown on 9W evening, and the service is very similar to the day flight (meal is called Dinner instead of Lunch but otherwise no difference)
On Ground:
EX MAA:
9W: If you are among the few that rate as high value customers at MAA the Premiere team takes excellent care of you – handling check in, escorting you the lounge and on to the aircraft. The ground service in general at MAA is outstanding – very professional, customer oriented and extremely polite.
IT: While they try, they aren’t 1/10th as professional and together as Jet. Check-in took longer due to inexperience. Their CIP team is not nearly as well equipped to handle regular fliers, even though they claim to offer the same service as Jet. They use the Royal Meridien lounge, which is I think is a lot less classy than the Oberoi lounge, although both are quite bad.
EX CMB
Both use the araliya lounge. Check-in is fine on both – nothing to write home about. 9W used to be excellent but due to change in airport manager at Colombo it’s no where nearly as personal as it used to be.
VERDICT: 9W – They are far more professional, better equipped to handle transfers, much faster at check-in etc.
Comfort:
9W uses their regional config 73H on this route with AVOD and IT uses their A321. As far as seat is concerned yes IT is more spacious, but my seat was worn out and not fully functional (collapsing leg rest) on both my IT flights. Also, on both flights the inflight entertainment wasn’t working on IT where as 9W was fully functional with a good selection of movies, short features and the option to create one’s own playlist.
Had the flight been longer than 1 hour, the IT seat factor would have won, but given that it wasn’t functioning and run down I would give this 9W again. I would prefer a working average seat to a non-functioning good seat.
Food:
EX MAA:
IT offers Lunch while 9W offers Dinner. IT spread my seem more elaborate and portions larger, but in terms of quality 9W’s experience kicks in where they have learnt to serve simpler but better food.
Verdict: 9W by a slight margin
EX CMB:
On the return IT serves a cold snack (9W used to serve a full lunch for the same time flight and now serves a full hot dinner – same menu as MAA-CMB). I would give this one to 9W again
Beverages:
So Kingfisher is quite pathetic on this front. While 9W has a proper winelist with spirits, mixers, champagne, red & white wine – IT serves nothing other than – you guessed it, Kingfisher Beer. They also serve it with a tacky plastic cup. Very economy.
Honestly – IT was a huge let down on this front. I overheard multiple PAX requesting for wine only to be stared at with the an empty glance by the crew.
VERDICT: 9W HANDS DOWN
Entertainment:
As discussed in the comfort section – 9W quality of IFE wins, and the fact that it actually works.
Service:
9W hands down – crew are far more refined. For a one hour flight, my champagne glass was almost never empty from when the seat belt sign went off to when it went on. Really top notch compared to IT that struggled to serve 5 biz class pax on my return in spite of it being a cold snack.
Arrivals:
Nothing special on either end really.
Overall:
For me there is a clear winner here. 9W provides professional service, a full wine list, good inflight entertainment and a true business class experience. Kingfisher first is truly a sorry comparison and other than for timing, I would never opt to fly IT on this sector over 9W.
Since the reschedule from afternoon to evening departure on 9w (to feed connections to / from BRU) I have also flown on 9W evening, and the service is very similar to the day flight (meal is called Dinner instead of Lunch but otherwise no difference)
On Ground:
EX MAA:
9W: If you are among the few that rate as high value customers at MAA the Premiere team takes excellent care of you – handling check in, escorting you the lounge and on to the aircraft. The ground service in general at MAA is outstanding – very professional, customer oriented and extremely polite.
IT: While they try, they aren’t 1/10th as professional and together as Jet. Check-in took longer due to inexperience. Their CIP team is not nearly as well equipped to handle regular fliers, even though they claim to offer the same service as Jet. They use the Royal Meridien lounge, which is I think is a lot less classy than the Oberoi lounge, although both are quite bad.
EX CMB
Both use the araliya lounge. Check-in is fine on both – nothing to write home about. 9W used to be excellent but due to change in airport manager at Colombo it’s no where nearly as personal as it used to be.
VERDICT: 9W – They are far more professional, better equipped to handle transfers, much faster at check-in etc.
Comfort:
9W uses their regional config 73H on this route with AVOD and IT uses their A321. As far as seat is concerned yes IT is more spacious, but my seat was worn out and not fully functional (collapsing leg rest) on both my IT flights. Also, on both flights the inflight entertainment wasn’t working on IT where as 9W was fully functional with a good selection of movies, short features and the option to create one’s own playlist.
Had the flight been longer than 1 hour, the IT seat factor would have won, but given that it wasn’t functioning and run down I would give this 9W again. I would prefer a working average seat to a non-functioning good seat.
Food:
EX MAA:
IT offers Lunch while 9W offers Dinner. IT spread my seem more elaborate and portions larger, but in terms of quality 9W’s experience kicks in where they have learnt to serve simpler but better food.
Verdict: 9W by a slight margin
EX CMB:
On the return IT serves a cold snack (9W used to serve a full lunch for the same time flight and now serves a full hot dinner – same menu as MAA-CMB). I would give this one to 9W again
Beverages:
So Kingfisher is quite pathetic on this front. While 9W has a proper winelist with spirits, mixers, champagne, red & white wine – IT serves nothing other than – you guessed it, Kingfisher Beer. They also serve it with a tacky plastic cup. Very economy.
Honestly – IT was a huge let down on this front. I overheard multiple PAX requesting for wine only to be stared at with the an empty glance by the crew.
VERDICT: 9W HANDS DOWN
Entertainment:
As discussed in the comfort section – 9W quality of IFE wins, and the fact that it actually works.
Service:
9W hands down – crew are far more refined. For a one hour flight, my champagne glass was almost never empty from when the seat belt sign went off to when it went on. Really top notch compared to IT that struggled to serve 5 biz class pax on my return in spite of it being a cold snack.
Arrivals:
Nothing special on either end really.
Overall:
For me there is a clear winner here. 9W provides professional service, a full wine list, good inflight entertainment and a true business class experience. Kingfisher first is truly a sorry comparison and other than for timing, I would never opt to fly IT on this sector over 9W.
