Before booking on this airline, I was a little vary, as I had a very tight schedule and any eventuality like last minute flight cancellation, major punctuality problem etc. could have offset my entertainer.
I tried to find out reviews of the airline on this website but I was surprised to find only one review and that too in the wrong category.
Nevertheless it was a positive review (albeit a little ambiguous)and therefore I finally decided to book on this airline (it seemed worth the risk, I being a budget traveler).So to make things easier for others, I thought about sharing my real experience with the readers, so as to help them make their choice in a more informed manner.
Since the above review had mentioned a pathetic website of the airline (and indeed it is!), I preferred to go with the travel agent. I chose yatra.com and as usual their booking was hassle-free (as it is not often with MakeMyTrip).
I gota confirmed e-ticket through their website; the booking was even refundable.Fare was extremely cheap, being more economic than other LCCs as Spice-jet and Indigo. However, it appears to be a marketing ploy of the airline. As I later found out while casually browsing the Internet, that about one week before the flight, they had increased the fare to more than five times the value at which I had bought the ticket. Incidentally while checking for aircraft arrivals/departures on flightiness (they track all the flights of the world in real time!), I realised that MDLR airline (code 9H) did not figure on their database!
I traveled as per my itinerary with my family from GOI (Goa, India) to DEL (NewDelhi, India) on 25-03-09 (flight no. 9H-108). They have added GOI in their route plan only from March 1. Ground staff of the airline was vigilant and willing to help; however some staff I found seemed to be too stressed and despite their trying their best to give their best looks to the passengers, they could not hide their stress/ rudeness; it appears that the airline is cutting down heavily on staff and their staff are therefore overworked.
The flight started about 11 minutes late as the incoming service was itselfsome 15 minutes late. The airline fleet consists of Avro RJ70 (Brtish make 70 seater aircraft). Aircraft therefore appears to be extremely cosy and as Ilater found out during the flight is extremely stable (perhaps because this despite being a smaller aircraft is equipped with four engines, unlike Air busand Boeing aircraft which are two-engine machines [except A-380]). The flight therefore does not cause of much of air-sickness, dizziness, ear numbness/ painetc. and is quite comfortable.
As per the airline handout on the flight they call themselves a full service airline and not an LCC. Therefore against our expectations, the in-flight food services were complementary and also some reading material like newspapers etc.was provided. The catering was from TajSats (which I think also serves the national carrier) and needless to say was exemplary.
But the biggest surprise-were the extremely classy and glamorous model-like, in-flight attendants (air hostesses) which is a far cry from other LCCs as Go Air etc.. I feel that such features are a big asset for the airline and they should advertise them aggressively so that people come to know of them. The in-flight services definitely remind one of Kingfisher and Jet Airways hospitality; it was indeeda pleasant surprise.
The flight arrived DEL 31 minutes late, presumably because of bad weather (asthe Captain informed the passengers) although I feel that this is because the airline schedule is too tight. Other airlines operating A-320 and 737 aircraft son the same sector take more time for similar non-stop flights, which to me frankly seems too improbable.
The aircraft take-off and landing were quite smooth. There was however a minor glitch after landing at DEL. All the passengers were made to sit on their seats for full ten minutes after the aircraft had been parked stationary on the terminal. As informed by the in-flight attendant, this was because the airport transfer cab of the airline did not arrive on time.
Maybe the airline being new-does not have sufficient cabs or it may be because the DEL airport has been probably the most mismanaged airport of the country after its handing over by the government to DIAL (the company that manages and fleeces the airport passengers at the moment).The cab was however air-conditioned (unlike the pathetic cabs of other LCCs asGo Air etc.).All In All, a wonderful airline for now (till they increase their fares) and aREAL Value For Money!