India Trip....

[imhotep]

Never really wanted to visit India but eventually did. Took the Air India flight at 2.50 AM today from BIA. Though I purchased an economy ticket, at the last moment just bid for an upgrade to Business class. There were 12 business seats and only 4 occupied. When I bid just one day ahead there was zero occupancy.
As soon as we entered the aircraft the typical Indian smell. There were two beautiful air hostesses who were very nice. The rattling of the Airbus 320 was so bad that I thought that the undercarriage was about to disintegrate. Anyway we took off and landed safely and ahead of time in Delhi.
The food - the crappiest of any airline food I have ever tasted. Also only Chivas & Black Label available, I had no intention to drink at that time and with my KrisFlyer membership I always have access to the lounges where enough drinks & food is available before getting into the aircraft.

Delhi airport wasn't bad, they had a separate immigration counter for Business & First class passengers and didn't take five minutes to clear. I noticed that they took the fingerprints of travellers but didn't ask us to do so. Even at the customs Green Gate where they scan all baggages, one customs officer came to my wife and asked in Hindi where we are from - she had no clue but I answered in English. He just said you please just exit, no queue, no scanning.
The driver was at the airport, took us around, stopped for breakfast at a very good place and also for lunch at a very nice place. We visited the India Gate, Himayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and a few other places of interest and arrived in Agra - long drive.
Staying in Taj View Agra, IHCL SeleQtions. They upgraded us to a Suite... (Tourists are very few)
Planning to visit the Taj at 5.45 AM tomorrow.

 

[Stimulus mind]

Good luck! brother.

 

[Emios]

Whats your skin color

 

[NRTG]

Thanks for share. Wishing you a safe journey and a relaxing holiday when you arrive.

 

[Emios]

What did you wear?

 

[imhotep]

What did you wear?

Yes... It matters. Your look counts.

 

[vishamacharya]

Never really wanted to visit India but eventually did. Took the Air India flight at 2.50 AM today from BIA. Though I purchased an economy ticket, at the last moment just bid for an upgrade to Business class. There were 12 business seats and only 4 occupied. When I bid just one day ahead there was zero occupancy.
As soon as we entered the aircraft the typical Indian smell. There were two beautiful air hostesses who were very nice. The rattling of the Airbus 320 was so bad that I thought that the undercarriage was about to disintegrate. Anyway we took off and landed safely and ahead of time in Delhi.
The food - the crappiest of any airline food I have ever tasted. Also only Chivas & Black Label available, I had no intention to drink at that time and with my KrisFlyer membership I always have access to the lounges where enough drinks & food is available before getting into the aircraft.

Delhi airport wasn't bad, they had a separate immigration counter for Business & First class passengers and didn't take five minutes to clear. I noticed that they took the fingerprints of travellers but didn't ask us to do so. Even at the customs Green Gate where they scan all baggages, one customs officer came to my wife and asked in Hindi where we are from - she had no clue but I answered in English. He just said you please just exit, no queue, no scanning.
The driver was at the airport, took us around, stopped for breakfast at a very good place and also for lunch at a very nice place. We visited the India Gate, Himayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and a few other places of interest and arrived in Agra - long drive.
Staying in Taj View Agra, IHCL SeleQtions. They upgraded us to a Suite... (Tourists are very few)
Planning to visit the Taj at 5.45 AM tomorrow.

I'm surprised to hear about the Air India flight. I've travelled to India too many times and I always found that Air India is the best in the country for service and cleanliness. I'm comparing it with IndiGo, Jet Airways (former), Indian Airlines (former) and Spicejet. I've also done domestic flights in India and found Air India the best of the lot.

The customs officers in Indian airports generally look out for indians who carry expensive goods such as designer wear, laptops, phones, perfumes in to the country. I once traveled to Bangalore wearing a MontBlanc belt and the customs guy stopped me. He let me go after seeing my Sri Lankan passport. Indian customs are strict about Indians bringing in expensive goods.

I didn't see Red fort on your list. I'm sure you've visited it too.

Have fun!

 

[jamiezue]

bump

 

[shenat]

Yes... It matters. Your look counts.

Please explain

 

[War Fighter]

TFS. Have a nice vacation and please share some valuable tips with us

 

[cuteoz]

your trip includes the driver picking you up.. ?

 

[RealityOfX]

Yes... It matters. Your look counts.

Universal truth

 

[NaiRobi]

There were two beautiful air hostesses who were very nice.

Photos nethuwa mukuth kiyanna ama...See more

 

[warwickuni]

Cant expect more from Indian Air but Indigo (which busted) and Jet were comparatively ok. Business Class in both are small and not as the same SIA or Emirates but good as SriLankan!
If you are planning to to Taj go as early as possible . Hope had watched Slum Dog Millionaire. May be hotels have buses. the only decent one I saw around the area was Redission Blu but that was 5 years ago.
I do not want to go again!

 

[aruna1]

Never really wanted to visit India but eventually did. Took the Air India flight at 2.50 AM today from BIA. Though I purchased an economy ticket, at the last moment just bid for an upgrade to Business class. There were 12 business seats and only 4 occupied. When I bid just one day ahead there was zero occupancy.
As soon as we entered the aircraft the typical Indian smell. There were two beautiful air hostesses who were very nice. The rattling of the Airbus 320 was so bad that I thought that the undercarriage was about to disintegrate. Anyway we took off and landed safely and ahead of time in Delhi.
The food - the crappiest of any airline food I have ever tasted. Also only Chivas & Black Label available, I had no intention to drink at that time and with my KrisFlyer membership I always have access to the lounges where enough drinks & food is available before getting into the aircraft.

Delhi airport wasn't bad, they had a separate immigration counter for Business & First class passengers and didn't take five minutes to clear. I noticed that they took the fingerprints of travellers but didn't ask us to do so. Even at the customs Green Gate where they scan all baggages, one customs officer came to my wife and asked in Hindi where we are from - she had no clue but I answered in English. He just said you please just exit, no queue, no scanning.
The driver was at the airport, took us around, stopped for breakfast at a very good place and also for lunch at a very nice place. We visited the India Gate, Himayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and a few other places of interest and arrived in Agra - long drive.
Staying in Taj View Agra, IHCL SeleQtions. They upgraded us to a Suite... (Tourists are very few)
Planning to visit the Taj at 5.45 AM tomorrow.

What is this bidding mechanism you mentioned?
I was not aware.
Can you share the process? And eligibility criteria?

Indian food is good for max of 1 week, after that it's a pain to eat

Been there multiple times for various lengths

Ammo food


Only good food I had there was (which I'm dying to have again) is Kashmir naan (at Minerva grand Hyderabad)

 

[thisNameIsForElakiri]

Whats your skin color

oyath nikn anurada vage wenna epa

 

[Sri_Sampath]

Have fun

 

[S Fetus AKA Pseudo Khan]

Did our Airport staff ask you to take off your shoes before the embark?

 

[nalin0001]

මට නම් ඉන්දියන් උන් පේන්න බැරි එහෙන් මෙහෙන් රෙදි කෑලි පොරවගෙන ඔතාගෙන ඉන්න එකට. උන්වත් දන්නැතිව ඇති ඒකේ තේරුම. කරුම ගෙවනවා. විශේෂයෙන් ඉන්දියන් ගෑනු

 

[sandaru1rox]

Enjoy