DHad flown Sri Lankan in Jan - Feb 2009 on the Bangalore - Colombo - Male - Colombo - Bangalore sector.
The main reason for choosing Sri Lankan was it was the cheapest flight available on the route, and the fare difference to the next best option was about Rs 7000. Got the entire above sector for about Rs 16000, in economy class.
strong textFirst Flight - Bangalore to Colombo UL 171 - 24/1/2009
Check in counters opened 3 hours prior to departure at the new Bangalore airport. The flight was not full, just 30% of the seats were occupied, check in was smooth and easy, got the window seat on request. Flight departed 30 mins later due to late arrival of the incoming aircraft.
Inflight seating configuration was 2-4-2. The flight to Colombo takes 1 hr and 20 mins, a short flight, The legroom is quite good. Personal Tv screens are present on each seat, there is a camera too provided to view the take off and landings.
The choice of music channels and Video channels is very poor, they were screening just one program, just for laughs and they did not even provide microphones so it was like watching a silent movie, anyways its a very short flight, There are a good selection of games available to kill time, plus there is an inflight manager program which shows you the speed of the plane, outside temperature etc.
The seats are rather old, the blue and green cushions look faded, leg room is good and you are provided with a leg rest. Inflight meals, a small snack was provided, you do not have a choice of veg or non-veg, in the snack you get one muffin, salted peanuts and some kind of veg pattice and a cold drink like frooti.
Tea and coffee is also served. This aspect was disappointing as the meals looked stale and cold, you had no choice of veg and non veg. Jet Airways on shorter flights serve full course meals. Announcements made in the cabin were at a very low decibal and could hardly be heard.
We landed 10 mins later than our scheduled arrival time, the baggage came quickly, no problems there.
Second Flight - 29/1/2009 to Male - Maldives - UL 101
Similar experience to the first flight, same inflight entertainment and same food, Many europeans on this flight as it was heading to Maldives, Agian the flight was not full just half full. The flight took off and landed on time.
Third Flight 31/1/2009 to Colombo - UL 102
The same flight goes back to colombo and had a similar experience like all flights, same entertainemnt and same food. Flight was delayed by 20 Mins as it took of late from maldives due to the congestion at the airport.
Fourth Flight - 31/1/2009 Colombo to Bangalore
Flight took off on time and reached 5 mins early.Over all we found sri lankan a good experience, staff were very polite at the check in counters, baggage arrived on time. Seats had god leg room and flights were on time with a small delay of 10 mins due to traffic congestion
Scope for improvement would include changing some of the old seats, having a better selection of movies and audio channel, s actually providing micro phone sets to listen to them, better choice of food, a proper meal and not just stale snacks.If you have a confirmed ticket no need of reconfirming it 48 hrs prior to departure.