Kingfisher Airline Trip Report

[Boater]

Hey

so here it goes, the worlds cheapest airline from London to bangkok

Arrival @ heathrow - the quickest check in i have ever had, they even had an indian guy take all you bags !.. check in time 5 mins !

Flight from london to mumbai - when they say 5 starline, they won it for me ! , brand new aircraft , mini bar with sit down bar, and the food was great !, only let down was they only served kingfisher beer !

Transit @ mumbai - very heavy security checks, they even take you lighter from u !, spent my 3 hours in a bar where they serve food and beer, also you can smoke there, but take RUPEES !!! , as they charge 5 pounds a beer in the bar, but if you have ruppes only 250

Mumbai to bangkok - the plane was slightly older, but still great food and your own tv, was only 4 hours so was sleeping

but if anyone is considering Kingfisher, it beats, EVA Air, BA, Quater ans Thai AIR ! ( who are the worst )

The CEO even puts a message out that if you are not happy with flight, contact him directly

I was very pleased and shall send him a letter on how excellent his service was

5 Star to kingfisher airlines

Boater

[smokie36]

Hmm minibar with sit down bar? Did you fly business boater??

I'm definitely leaning towards them anyway and thanks for the tip re taking rupees.

I guess I need to make a decision soon.

[Patsycat]

How much did it cost?

[Crossy]

Which bar did you use in Mumbai, Bombay Blue or the bigger, well hidden one, Celebrations? Beer is the same price but in Celebrations you get a big bottle as opposed to the small one in Bombay Blue.

The Indians really love their security checks.

Leaving through Bangalore (which I do every month) you get the x-ray and frisking after passport control, then a man checking that your boarding card and baggage tag have been correctly stamped (3m before).

You can then go to duty free and the bar.

Boarding though the gate another check of the baggage tag and boarding card, followed by the airline rep splitting your boarding card, then (actually on the air-bridge) another cursory bag check and another frisk, finally at the aircraft door another check of the boarding card. TBH I doubt that anything more than the initial check is required.

Thing is, I reckon I could carry a box-cutter through all those checks and not get caught (no I'm not going to try it nor am I going to reveal how but it's not rocket science).

[Chivas]

Economy is around 380 pounds for departures up to around July 9th with most agents.

[roamer]

Thanks Boater. Flying with them in August, volcanic ash and civil strife and hopefully not totally collapsed sterling permitting.

You flew business I take it ?

[wileycoyote]

Good report ,was the flight busy ,or not too bad ?

[bifftastic]

I'm flying with them next week. I paid £382 return btw.

I've been through Mumbai before with Jet, what a nightmare place that airport is!

Wait on the tarmac for a bus, wait for the next bus cos that one's full, drive to the terminal, stand in the doorway for ten minutes while everyone who isn't in transit buggers off, get escorted down endless corridors to arrive at the security screening place (why we needed another security check/bag scan is unknown as we'd all had one at Heathrow and not been anywhere else since) wait for the bag scanner guys to wake up, hand over my lighter to the bag scanner (thieving gits!) have hand baggage tag stamped, frisked, get told there's nowhere for a smoke but find a bar by gate 1 (i think) and buy a big bottle of water so I'm allowed in the smoking room (wanted 100 rupees but got 100 baht) back down to the gate (the other end of the airport) queue for the gate, have passport/boarding pass checked, go through gate, have passport/boarding card and hand baggage stamp checked by someone stood next to the person who checked it 20 seconds before, walk back down endless corridors, walk down to the plane where there is a desk, two guys with paper passenger lists who check passport/boarding card again, and another long queue. Then on to the plane, where my passport and boarding card are checked

Flights were good but Mumbai airport? Not looking forward to it. I was a little nervous about Kingfisher, mainly because it was so cheap! Thanks to the OP for the report.

[roamer]

I'm flying with them next week. I paid £382 return btw.

I've been through Mumbai before with Jet, what a nightmare place that airport is!

Wait on the tarmac for a bus, wait for the next bus cos that one's full, drive to the terminal, stand in the doorway for ten minutes while everyone who isn't in transit buggers off, get escorted down endless corridors to arrive at the security screening place (why we needed another security check/bag scan is unknown as we'd all had one at Heathrow and not been anywhere else since) wait for the bag scanner guys to wake up, hand over my lighter to the bag scanner (thieving gits!) have hand baggage tag stamped, frisked, get told there's nowhere for a smoke but find a bar by gate 1 (i think) and buy a big bottle of water so I'm allowed in the smoking room (wanted 100 rupees but got 100 baht) back down to the gate (the other end of the airport) queue for the gate, have passport/boarding pass checked, go through gate, have passport/boarding card and hand baggage stamp checked by someone stood next to the person who checked it 20 seconds before, walk back down endless corridors, walk down to the plane where there is a desk, two guys with paper passenger lists who check passport/boarding card again, and another long queue. Then on to the plane, where my passport and boarding card are checked

Flights were good but Mumbai airport? Not looking forward to it. I was a little nervous about Kingfisher, mainly because it was so cheap! Thanks to the OP for the report.

Glad I've given up the coffin nails

[bartender100]

I've been looking at them, thanks for the report.

Which travel agent did you use?

[Boater]

hi

sorry for the late reply, i only traveled cattle class, but was still 5 star !, the bar was for the ' Other Passengers ' but have never walked past one before on a plane.

Which bar did you use in Mumbai, Bombay Blue or the bigger, well hidden one, Celebrations? Beer is the same price but in Celebrations you get a big bottle as opposed to the small one in Bombay Blue.

not to sure what bar i was in, all i know is the waiter meets you at the gate to take you there...

but all in all a very good flight, would like to here what other people make of it,

[Samuian]

Don't know what's wrong with Kingfisher (Beer) - had a couple (regular) in Delhi last weekend, unless they are warm and not well chilled it's a bit of a pain in the neck....otherwise nice!

But really wonder why the OP didn't mention the crew regarding to Air India crew....

Edited May 8, 2010 by Samuian

[wimpy]

But really wonder why the OP didn't mention the crew regarding to Air India crew....

What does this sentence mean?

[Crossy]

But really wonder why the OP didn't mention the crew regarding to Air India crew....

What does this sentence mean?

You need to have flown on both airlines to know

[mrdome]

... only let down was they only served kingfisher beer !

I do assume the OP was joking here.

Kingfisher looks like a really great new airline overall. Their major downside is not belonging to an alliance at this point and as their network is still limited offering their own program will not completely make up for this.

I do wish them all the best in this tough business environment.

Funny, how smaller airlines tend to go for animal names (Tiger, firefly, Kingfisher...).

[topas]

... only let down was they only served kingfisher beer !

I do assume the OP was joking here.

Kingfisher looks like a really great new airline overall. Their major downside is not belonging to an alliance at this point and as their network is still limited offering their own program will not completely make up for this.

I do wish them all the best in this tough business environment.

Funny, how smaller airlines tend to go for animal names (Tiger, firefly, Kingfisher...).

[topas]

my experience with Kingfisher is predominantly excellent. i booked the flight some 6 months ago & returned from india 1 week ago do bkk. the fare was much cheaper than AI/IA, eg. my flight from bombai to goa was for free!

the food is excellent, you get wine etc. & the crew is very friendly, & there were no delays.

the only incinvenience are the rude, noisy smelly shouting Indians in the same carrier as you.

it is also a much better option than Sri Lankan via Colombo to get into india.

i have not experienced airasia flights to india, but they have serveral new arrivals.

[MarkyM3]

Thanks for the report Boater.

TBH, I would still prefer flying direct from LHR-BKK even if the cost is higher as I can't be bothered with the hassle of changing planes. I find the service pretty good on EVA - the only complaints I have are iffy food on the return leg (BKK-LHR) and they can be a bit stingy with drinks service. The aircraft in use now are B777 instead of the B747 - they are a definite improvement imo.

I've also flown Thai and wasn't that impressed. Indifferent service and old planes without seat-back TV's.

Not tried BA or Qantas.

Edited May 9, 2010 by MarkyM3

[Rinrada]

Kingfisher sounds good maybe next time......

[makescents]

Thanks, they have had very cheap flights recently.

[citizen33]

This definitely sounds like another option to consider. I was looking at the website for flights over Christmas and noticed that some of the cheaper flights didn't have very good connection times. One that I looked at involved an overnight stay in Mumbai. My first reaction was that an overnight stay in a hotel might work quite well, but then I found out about the cost of visas (even transit vias seem a hassle). Does anybody know if there are any airside hotels at Mumbai or any other way around long waits at that airport?

[tw25rw]

2 things put me off..

Not in an alliance.

Delhi.

Thai are backward, but I'm yet to have a bad experience with them, so will stick with them.

[Stjohnm]

2 things put me off..

Not in an alliance.

Delhi.

Thai are backward, but I'm yet to have a bad experience with them, so will stick with them.

Likewise, the Star Alliance network give you plenty of options when cashing in for a free flight as well.

I've never had a bad experience with BA either but Cathay, JAL & Qantas are the only OneWorld members in this corner of the World.

I always go for the direct flights if I can as long layovers or missing a tight connection can really set you back.

[Familyonthemove]

But really wonder why the OP didn't mention the crew regarding to Air India crew....

What does this sentence mean?

You need to have flown on both airlines to know

Air India hostesses look like your Mum in a sari.

King Fisher Air Hostesses look like Bollywood starlets in short red skirts. It's the only airline where men always ask for aisle seats.

[roamer]

But really wonder why the OP didn't mention the crew regarding to Air India crew....

What does this sentence mean?

You need to have flown on both airlines to know

Air India hostesses look like your Mum in a sari.

King Fisher Air Hostesses look like Bollywood starlets in short red skirts. It's the only airline where men always ask for aisle seats.

Damm it! Bet the wife is going to insist on giving up her window seat for moi!

[NADTATIDA1]

I always ask for an aisle seat