I have flown Deccan at least 6-8 times on 2-3 sectors and what I will mention below is an account of only my personal experience.
Let’s evaluate AD on these parameters:Comfort, Space, In Flight Experience, Ground Staff, Fares, Punctuality, Image, Overall Experience.
Comfort: The Jets used by AD are ATR’s or Air Buses (bought/leased/hired)..Other Airlines also use the same jets. AD squeezes the space inside to get more seats inside. The fabric used in the seating positions is quite ordinary, not cushiony, neither comfortable. Many a times, they are torn at some edges and have tea/coffee stains on them. The seat can’t be reclined more than 10-15%..You will feel locked/imprisoned with no leg or body movements...If your flight is delayed (which it will ALWAYS be in AD), you will not feel very different than sitting in a 4"X4" small room.
Space: All possible thoughts have been made to decide on giving minimal space to customers. If you are more than 5’8", you won’t be able to put your legs properly (there is no space).If you are 6" and above, you CAN’T travel in AD. Honestly, you will be strangulated to death.
In Flight Experience: Horrible to say the least. Once, I was flying from Guwahati to Delhi and my flight was predictably delayed by 1.5 hours, the cabin crew started to give demonstrations on how to use the safety precautions (Oxygen Mask, seat belts etc), and suddenly the captain said "Crew, please get ready for take-off”. So, they stopped the demonstration even before they could start and our flight took off :) Such is the regard for safety measures.One of my friends was going to Calcutta. His flight was ready for take off and then the announcement came "The Pilot is in Bangalore" and hence there is a need to find an alternative pilot, so flight is delayed. I am sure you must be thinking I am making up a story here, but it is true. Once, when I was traveling, our flight was about to go to the runaway and then announcement came one of the passengers do not want to fly, so, right now, she and her luggage are being taken off. So, the delay.Come on guys, give us a break. Is this a bus?? That you get on at your will and get off at your will? AD is a flight for the "Common Man”. They even have R.K. Laxman’s common man picture on their flights and yet they do not even offer water to passengers. If you are thirsty, buy "Mineral Water" at exactly 100% more price (A 5 Rs Bottle Costs 10)...Let me ask them, why should the "Common Man" pay double for a water bottle?
Ground Staff: AD’s staff is common people. They do a good job considering the limitations they have. I will give them 6/10 on courtesy and general behavior. Honestly, no complaints here. Sahara staff is worse at times.
Fares: This is the biggest misnomer. Almost everyone believes AD’s fares are cheaper than other airlines (they even proclaim that) and this is one of the biggest USP’s of AD. But, ironically, the truth is it isn’t any cheaper than some other airlines. Let’s try a simple test. I am considering 3 sectors for different airlines and comparing the fares for my journey 2 months from today (Journey on 26th Sep, 2006)
Delhi-Kolkata :
Airline/Fare: AD 3474 Spice 2723 AirSahara 3200 Indigo 2624 Jet 4315
Difference: -751 -274 -850 841
Delhi-Mumbai :
Airline/Fare: AD 2574 Spice 2524 GoAir 2250 AirSahara 3400 Jet 4315
Difference: -50 -324 826 1741
Delhi-Bangalore :
Airline/Fare: AD 4074 Spice 3423 Indigo 4074 AirSahara 3600 Jet 4455
Difference: -651 0 -474 381
As, we can clearly see, AD’s fares are only lower than Jet on Delhi-Kolkata sector. All other airlines are lower than AD on this sector. On Delhi-Mumbai, Spice and GoAir is lower than AD. On Delhi-Bangalore, AD is only lower than Jet.I hope this simple illustration will help dispel the myths about the “cheap” fares of AD.
Punctuality: No AD flight I have traveled so far was on time. The delay is between 1 to several hours and if you happen to travel on business, please avoid AD totally.
Image: For me, AD is very non-airline like. You never feel you are flying in an airline. The seats are cramped, no water to drink, delays which are the norm rather than exception. I can’t but feel AD is an airline I will always try to avoid and only on the rare occasion, will I travel. For me, the image is not positive at all.
Overall Experience: My overall experience has been very bad till now. Not a single flight I traveled was on time. The fares I paid were actually higher than some other fares on same days. I always traveled cramped (I am 5‘ 11”).
I would urge you to consider other airlines when you have to fly. Always weight your options, do a fare search (Not on sites such as travel guru, makemytrip) but by opening all the individual airline sites and then comparing the fares. As far as possible avoid AD, and prefer to travel by Spice jet/Sahara/Jet. At times, even if you have to pay 2-300 Rupees extra, I would say avoid AD.