LHR-DEL (and back)
Jan 17, 2008, 1:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, AS Gold 75k, IHG Aspire, Marriott Titanium , National Exec Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 382
LHR-DEL (and back)
Hi, this is my first post here so sorry if it's in the wrong place or anything like that!
I'm going LHR-DEL on a Saturday and coming back DEL-LHR on a Thursday, has anyone here done that journey and if so which flights work out at the best times coming back? They both seem to be pretty bad! Both directions are in Club World.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Well done the crew of BA38, I've flown that route before, staff always excellent (plane always empty)
I'm going LHR-DEL on a Saturday and coming back DEL-LHR on a Thursday, has anyone here done that journey and if so which flights work out at the best times coming back? They both seem to be pretty bad! Both directions are in Club World.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Well done the crew of BA38, I've flown that route before, staff always excellent (plane always empty)
Jan 17, 2008, 1:20 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,433
Night flights both way are easiest for managing jet lag . The airport can be challenging (especially if not familiar with India). There is post somewhere by me that sets out the 25 stage plan for negotiating DEL on departure where most of the fun is.
Jan 17, 2008, 3:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA/BD Gold/IC A/*Wood Gold - Certified BodyCombat and BodyPump Instructor
Posts: 6,070
goodison:
Firstly welcome to FT.
We've got a big discussion thread on DEL.
I was there about six weeks ago. You might want to have a look at this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...67#post8802667
Personally I hate overnight flights. I opted for the daylight ones. I prefer a few extra hours kip in a real bed over any airplane flat one.
Have a read through and it should cover most bases.
Firstly welcome to FT.
We've got a big discussion thread on DEL.
I was there about six weeks ago. You might want to have a look at this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...67#post8802667
Personally I hate overnight flights. I opted for the daylight ones. I prefer a few extra hours kip in a real bed over any airplane flat one.
Have a read through and it should cover most bases.
Jan 18, 2008, 4:54 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,433
However, the day flight out from LHR is a bit of a killer for getting to sleep on arrival. Going to bed at 2:30 and then waiting 2 hours before my body decides it's bed time is irritating when you have to be up at 8. With the night flight I can get 6-7 hours sleep, have a productive afternoon and evening and then sleep well.Coming back, 10 hours during the day is just so very boring, as it trying to stay awake when you get home. While IGIA isn't fun at 2am, at least you can get on and crash out.
Still, horses for courses.
Jan 18, 2008, 7:27 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 9
My first post on here too, couldnt resist adding one more tip to the other excellent posts having done this particular journey a couple of times this year.. And that is, buy any alcohol you might want to consume during your trip/bring back home, as you arrive into IGIA. Prices are pretty competitive, about $40 for a litre of Grey Goose vodka for example. You'll not be allowed to buy any spirits in the duty free on your way out 
although cigs and perfume are OK.
Enjoy your trip, keep your wits about you at the airport and you'll be fine!
although cigs and perfume are OK.Enjoy your trip, keep your wits about you at the airport and you'll be fine!
Jan 18, 2008, 7:53 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA/BD Gold/IC A/*Wood Gold - Certified BodyCombat and BodyPump Instructor
Posts: 6,070
Well welcome to FT lestat132!
Isn't the restriction because duty free is before security (IIRC)? That said, I couldn't be bothered last time.
Suppose two 4am starts do that to you.
Isn't the restriction because duty free is before security (IIRC)? That said, I couldn't be bothered last time.
Suppose two 4am starts do that to you.
Jan 18, 2008, 8:51 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Ireland
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, IHG Plat
Posts: 3,566
Welcome to FT, goodison! Will you be changing your handle to "Tesco" when you move to Kirby?
Jan 18, 2008, 9:45 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 9
Thanks for the welcome LHR Tim - Think it's more to do with bringing liquids from certain countries into the UK specifically - never had any issues when flying with FinnAir or JAL for instance. I just paid in the shop and collected the goodies at the gate with my receipt. But the minute the shop assistants see you have a BA boarding pass they warn you about not being able to purchase alcohol.
Last edited by lestat132; Jan 18, 2008 at 9:50 am Reason: wanted to thank Tim for the welcome ;)
Jan 18, 2008, 12:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North Carolina
Programs: AA Advantage, Starwood, Hilton Honors, Points.com
Posts: 339
Hi, this is my first post here so sorry if it's in the wrong place or anything like that!
I'm going LHR-DEL on a Saturday and coming back DEL-LHR on a Thursday, has anyone here done that journey and if so which flights work out at the best times coming back? They both seem to be pretty bad! Both directions are in Club World.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Well done the crew of BA38, I've flown that route before, staff always excellent (plane always empty)
I'm going LHR-DEL on a Saturday and coming back DEL-LHR on a Thursday, has anyone here done that journey and if so which flights work out at the best times coming back? They both seem to be pretty bad! Both directions are in Club World.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Well done the crew of BA38, I've flown that route before, staff always excellent (plane always empty)
about that 3:25 a.m. departure but it couldn't be helped.Would be curious to know what your experiences end up being like on both legs ...
Jan 19, 2008, 1:48 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, AS Gold 75k, IHG Aspire, Marriott Titanium , National Exec Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 382
Yes, thank you for that oiRRio. I'll be happy to change it to anything you like when our new stadium catapults us to doestic and european greatness and all my questions on here are about flights to Madrid, Barcelona and Milan.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted ncdecolover. I'm out 9th of Feb back 14th doing the same flight times as you. Can't be worse than the experience my friend had with Air India recently, 48 hour delay out of Mumbai!
Anyway, I'll keep you posted ncdecolover. I'm out 9th of Feb back 14th doing the same flight times as you. Can't be worse than the experience my friend had with Air India recently, 48 hour delay out of Mumbai!
Jan 19, 2008, 4:37 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 347
Hahaha, just try to enjoy the experience, smells, sights and sounds.
It tends to take longer to leave India than it does to arrive, the queues to leave are crazy, so take a chill pill first if you are easily wound up.
One tip, once you come through passport control and queue for the scanners, go to the other end, they tend to have signs pointing to one place and not the other end and those queues can be shorter.
It tends to take longer to leave India than it does to arrive, the queues to leave are crazy, so take a chill pill first if you are easily wound up.
One tip, once you come through passport control and queue for the scanners, go to the other end, they tend to have signs pointing to one place and not the other end and those queues can be shorter.
Mar 5, 2008, 7:00 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, AS Gold 75k, IHG Aspire, Marriott Titanium , National Exec Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 382
Hi all, a quick update on DEL. It appears that the airport is going through a refit. Queues were as predicted, bad on the way in, worse on the way out. The BA porters are great but can't help you skip the queues unfortunately.
Club seems to get you access to the Oberoi lounge now as I think the other is being worked on. It's a fairly average lounge. Our flight was delayed by about 45 mins on the way in waiting for a gate and an hour on the way out, just what you want at 3am! Having said that I think I was asleep before we took off.
Club seems to get you access to the Oberoi lounge now as I think the other is being worked on. It's a fairly average lounge. Our flight was delayed by about 45 mins on the way in waiting for a gate and an hour on the way out, just what you want at 3am! Having said that I think I was asleep before we took off.
Mar 5, 2008, 7:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North Carolina
Programs: AA Advantage, Starwood, Hilton Honors, Points.com
Posts: 339
Hi all, a quick update on DEL. It appears that the airport is going through a refit. Queues were as predicted, bad on the way in, worse on the way out. The BA porters are great but can't help you skip the queues unfortunately.
Club seems to get you access to the Oberoi lounge now as I think the other is being worked on. It's a fairly average lounge. Our flight was delayed by about 45 mins on the way in waiting for a gate and an hour on the way out, just what you want at 3am! Having said that I think I was asleep before we took off.
Club seems to get you access to the Oberoi lounge now as I think the other is being worked on. It's a fairly average lounge. Our flight was delayed by about 45 mins on the way in waiting for a gate and an hour on the way out, just what you want at 3am! Having said that I think I was asleep before we took off.
I might mention that this Chinese water torture occurred after we had to practically fight our way into the airport as both open entrances were jammed with like 150 people massed around each one. We'd love to return to India but until that DEL airport completes the renovations it's currently undergoing, I think we might try to go through BOM instead.
Mar 5, 2008, 7:47 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, AS Gold 75k, IHG Aspire, Marriott Titanium , National Exec Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 382
It was about that, definitely over 2 hours but it was cold when I was there (not due to the a/c!
Arrivals at DEL does prepare you for what it's going to be like on the way out, that was a bigger shock! From the upper deck to a packed arrivals hall and huge passport control queue. All this next to a big advert for "Incredible India" - that's one way of putting it.
Arrivals at DEL does prepare you for what it's going to be like on the way out, that was a bigger shock! From the upper deck to a packed arrivals hall and huge passport control queue. All this next to a big advert for "Incredible India" - that's one way of putting it.