FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - $1,300 One Way (Biz) India-EWR (SIA Longest Flight)
Old Jan 25, 2019 | 8:10 am
  #336  
rukmi86
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Join Date: Dec 2017
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Posts: 44
Originally Posted by Repooc17
Flew this ticket last weekend and wanted to post my observations, especially the rather bad experience at AMD airport:

First, I positioned from the US to DEL (JFK-NRT-DEL) on JL. Experienced the wonderful SkySuite on the flight to NRT (77W) and SkySuite III on the flight to DEL (789).

After three nights in New Delhi, I positioned from DEL to AMD on a separate ticket with 6E. Position flight was delayed due to inbound but arrived at AMD around 830pm (2030) local time, about 2.5 hours prior to SQ departure.

Upon arrival, walked via tunnel from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. After ID and itinerary check at the door, I entered the terminal and was met with security check #1 - while I later learned I didn't need to go through this step since I wasn't checking any luggage, I was asked to line up anyway. Once through, I didn't realize I needed to wait for the guy to put some kind of sticker on my bag, and because he claimed not seeing my bag coming out, he insisted to rerun it, despite multiple folks siding with me. Even after the scan the second time around, he still wasn't paying attention (part of the reason for the long waiting line), I learned from my previous action, and just stood there...I waited until he reluctantly placed the sticker on my bag.

Check-in was smooth, and as a business class passenger, I was escorted to security check #2 . Bag was put aside after scan but no airport personnel there paid any attention to it. After a while, I finally got their attention, and was told things like earphones, wires, snacks also needed to be removed from the bag for scanning. Some signage and communication would have been better, and would have minimized the extremely slow security check #2 .

My bag actually has a small compartment inside, and it had another wire (charging cable) and other items probably not kosher, but no one had bothered to look there.

Lounge at AMD was small but adequate. Nothing stood out other than I couldn't use the WiFi (didn't have a local number). After all of the ordeal, didn't have much time anyway until departure, grabbed a quick snack and some drinks prior to boarding the flight to SIN.

The rest of the trip was amazing, including the 17 hour flight from SIN to EWR. My window seat was by the smaller J cabin at the front of the plane. My only gripe - FAs didn't pay any attention to bathrooms by door 2, it got worse and worse by the hour, was quite disgusting by hour 17.
Originally Posted by Bonaventure


re: #5 this is standard OP in India.

if you exit the secure area after checking in / depositing luggage (usually quite difficult) you will have to get a new boarding pass and all he’ll will ensue. (Personal experience)

supposedly this is is supposed to stop people switching identities but I think it’s due to the generally ineffective nature of Indian airport screening. They know their screening sucks, so they layer on rules and regulations galore instead.
Indian Security agencies do one of the best job's in the world in screening people. They have a much better rate of catching weapons & contraband then TSA or any other European agency. Indian airport take their security seriously as India has a problem with Terrorism. That's why so many rules & regulations.

Hopefully you appreciate getting back home 1 piece rather then lapse in security.
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