I took the NW 41 flight from BOM to MSP (Minneapolis) via Amsterdam and back the same route. They fly the DC-10 type of aircraft on this route. This is a very uncomfortable plane with a 2-5-2 type of seating arrangement. I was lucky enough to get the middle seat from the 5 seat set and it was really uncomfortable. Moreover, this plane does not have enough space for cabin baggage so people always end up being forced to put one or more bags under the seat ahead.
The seats are less wide and also have less recline so one gets stiff very easily. The entertainment system is bad with only one screen in front. The other ’’radio’’ channels are equally bad.
The Asian Veg meal was OK though it was not as good as what I have eaten on Lufthansa on my earlier trips.
The craziest thing is their security policy....probably comes to them from their American origin. They just bark questions at you at a rapid pace:
where was your luggage all along?
Was it with you or with someone else?
Are you sure you packed your bags? Are you aware of everything that is in there?
Have you accepted any gifts or parcels from anyone to be delivered to anyone but you?
I mean the questions are ok, but not when they are thrown at you at every possible location.They asked me these questions in Bombay, Amsterdam and MSP on my onward trip and in MSP and Amsterdam on my way back.
When they keep hammering these questions at you, you begin to doubt yourself :)
On the way back, my flight was delayed by 2 hours but there was no explanation given as to the cause. The boarding gate still displayed the regular time but nobody was willing to say when we would board. We finally boarded after two hours. They should have at least made an announcement of the delay.
As far as possible, I am going to avoid this airline in future.