I had the opportunity to fly in Spice Jet three round trips in the last eight months. Particularly the flight from New Delhi to Chennai via Hydrabad proved to me a best bet on mingling my official duties at Hydrabad and personal work at Chennai. Two such flights (one evening and other night) are being flown every day by Spice Jet.
Check in at New Delhi Airport – Went off smoothly all the three times and kudos to the clerks at Desk. A pleasant welcome and good work by their staff in showing us in to the airport. Though Spice jet also does not have reserved Xray machines, we were not allowed to pull our trolley with luggage. The Spice Jet attendants’ responses were very impressive. Kudos Spice Jet..
In the boarding Lounge – Nothing special to mention here except that one set of toilets were under re-construction so we had to go to other in the other side.
Bus to the flight – It was Spice Jet’s own buses all the three times and the mini journeys were good.
Boarding the flight – No comments except that in one of my boarding the bus was parked in between front & back entrances of flight away from flight and we all had to walk a bit. The vigil on the passengers by flight staff while boarding is better.
In the flight – In one of the three up journeys, one particular flight manager was very choosy in welcoming the passengers in to the flight. I had given such feedback to Spice jet also. In other two flights, welcome was very hearty. Seats as usual are okay but with less legroom. The flight managers and hostesses did a fairly good job of caring the passengers. Turbulent weather announcements were prompt except once in the three trips. Safety instructions were routine. Free cookies are served in Spice Jet flights and other eatables are to be procured. Quality of cookies & sandwich were good.
Good work Spice Jet – Personalized safety advice for the passengers with children and for the passengers who are sitting in the row of seats across the centre entrances were given very religiously by the hostesses of Spice Jet very meticulously. Kudos Spice Jet!. This row of seats is the only row in the economic flights that have good front legroom thanks to the centre entrances.
The take off – In one of the three flights it took more than 45minutes between boarding and take off. Air Clearance was said to be the reason. Other two take offs were prompt. Spice Jet pilots however have to fine tune their skill in giving the passengers a comfortable take off. The best of take offs and landings that I have experienced were that of INDIAN (Airlines).
The landing – In one of the flights the landing was so bad at Hydrabad in that there was a loud thud and the wheels of aircraft touching the run way was (alternately losing of altitude was) very sudden. Very bad work by the pilot. Other than this incident other landings were only fair.
Return Journey – In two of the return journeys we had trouble in knowing that our flights were announced. So poor was the announcement in Hydrabad. Further only one gate is being announced for an Air Deccan flight and for a Spice Jet flight. Those two were very bad experiences. I do not know whether it is a problem with Airport Managers or that of Spice Jet. Spice Jet passengers had to squeeze themselves into the gate because Air Deccan Flight’s passengers were too much going through the same gate.
Passengers going through the morning flight by Spice Jet from Hydrabad to New Delhi are requested to be vigil on this problem at Hydrabad.
New Delhi Airport - The worst possible luggage service, clubbing of more than two different flights’ luggage in one escalator, long wait for luggage, loot by the private pre-paid taxi service inside Airport premises are some of the typical conditions of Delhi Airport.
Good Spice Jet! Keep up the record!
But Train your pilots better on take offs & landings, particularly landings!