Kingfisher

[meltnp]

Hi everyone,

Ive been looking around for cheapest flight from BKK - LON - BKK. It seems Jet or Kingfisher are roughly the same price at approx 32000. Anybody been on both flights and can compare the two companies?

And can anyone that has been on this flight with Kingfisher tell me what the baggage allowance is? I looked on the website and it says London to Bkk is 32kgs which is great, but then adds this 'is only applicable for tickets purchased in the UK for UK originating guests'. So does this mean we only get the basic 20kg limit just because I am originating in Bangkok?

If anyone knows the answer to this it would be a great help, as I need quite a big baggage allowance!

Thanks

[roamer]

Most likely the baggage allowance BKK-LON is only 20K. Reason being is that they have enough problems at Mumbai with Indians returning to UK trying to take heap loads to Heathrow. The thinking is that if you restrict it to 20K they are unlikely to try to carry more than another 10K, give them 32K and they will be trying to carry more than 40K etc. If you tried to charge every Indian at Mumbai excess baggage the plane would never depart.

Never flown Kingfisher, will do so in August. Do a search here and you will find its top rated by those who have flown it. Jet Airways is one of the worst experiences imaginable, most people who fly them don't usually repeat the experience.

[roamer]

Actually disregard my earlier reply, did a bit of a search.

I find the Kingfisher allowance page a bit strange but I see it as 45K between London-India with 32K being the largest sized bag. But it does seem rather clear that BKK to LHR is only 20K. Do a search here and you will find its top rated by those who have flown it.Will find out for myself in August. Jet Airways is one of the worst experiences imaginable, most people who fly them don't usually repeat the experience.

[FRM-BKK]

Jet Airways is one of the worst experiences imaginable, most people who fly them don't usually repeat the experience.

Roamer,

I am not sure what your statement is based on; experience or did somebody tell you? Nor do you tell us what about Jet Airways is so bad. I would like to hear why?

Whichever it is, I totally disagree. I have flown Jet Airways over the last two years on a regular basis between Bangkok and London, all via Mumbai.

I have nothing but praise for Jet Airways. The service, the in-flight entertainment, the modern state of the air-crafts, the food and the generous baggage allowance - 28KG - for economy.

The only drawback, which is out of the hands of Jet Airways is the security check at Mumbai airport whilst in transit. Security guards are rude, lazy, non-caring and totally disorganised.

I have found and experienced that Jet works harder at building a reputation than some of the supposedly Top Airlines, who currently are pricing themselves out of the market.

Jet has found their Bangkok - London VV so busy that they to add a second daily flight from Bangkok.

Ok, I am ready for the abuse................

Frm-Bkk

[elliss]

I have nothing but praise for Jet Airways. The service, the in-flight entertainment, the modern state of the air-crafts, the food and the generous baggage allowance - 28KG - for economy.

The only drawback, which is out of the hands of Jet Airways is the security check at Mumbai airport whilst in transit. Security guards are rude, lazy, non-caring and totally disorganised

i totally agree with the above ,

jet , no complaints .

mumbai ,,, dis-organised , is an understatement .

i was standing in a queue , for 20 minutes , then

they moved me into another queue .

[FRM-BKK]

I have nothing but praise for Jet Airways. The service, the in-flight entertainment, the modern state of the air-crafts, the food and the generous baggage allowance - 28KG - for economy.

The only drawback, which is out of the hands of Jet Airways is the security check at Mumbai airport whilst in transit. Security guards are rude, lazy, non-caring and totally disorganised

i totally agree with the above ,

jet , no complaints .

mumbai ,,, dis-organised , is an understatement .

i was standing in a queue , for 20 minutes , then

they moved me into another queue .

[cshort64]

Just my 2 cents here, I have flown often to India and to London from several destinations in Asia and have used Jet Airways and I must agree with the last few comments, the service has been great, the food quite good, and the overall experience positive, I look to fly them when I can. The transit in India is aways hard, the number of security checks, the organized chaos at the airport, but this is India and I just grin and bear it, because nothing I'm going to do will change anything.

Kingfisher is also very good, excellent service, lovely flight attendants that are very gracious, and ice cold Kingfisher beer, if you like. Also the frequent flyer programs are generous as well.

Have a good Trip!

C

[meltnp]

Just been looking at the transit times in Mumbai. (with Kingfisher)

Depart Bangkok - 08:30 ..... Arrive Mumbai - 11:25

Depart Mumbai - 12:25 ..... Arrive London - 17:50

1 hour transit.....does anyone know if this is enough? From my past experience with Jet, Mumbai is a very chaotic airport and Im not sure 1 hour is sufficient? Anyone done this journey and can comment?

[roamer]

Jet Airways is one of the worst experiences imaginable, most people who fly them don't usually repeat the experience.

Roamer,

I am not sure what your statement is based on; experience or did somebody tell you? Nor do you tell us what about Jet Airways is so bad. I would like to hear why?

Whichever it is, I totally disagree. I have flown Jet Airways over the last two years on a regular basis between Bangkok and London, all via Mumbai.

I have nothing but praise for Jet Airways. The service, the in-flight entertainment, the modern state of the air-crafts, the food and the generous baggage allowance - 28KG - for economy.

The only drawback, which is out of the hands of Jet Airways is the security check at Mumbai airport whilst in transit. Security guards are rude, lazy, non-caring and totally disorganised.

I have found and experienced that Jet works harder at building a reputation than some of the supposedly Top Airlines, who currently are pricing themselves out of the market.

Jet has found their Bangkok - London VV so busy that they to add a second daily flight from Bangkok.

Ok, I am ready for the abuse................

Frm-Bkk

Ready for the abuse ? You must be confusing me with one of the security guards at Mumbai !

Yes, my comments were based on personal experience. I started flying Jet about 7-8 years ago and thought they were great, even after their domestic flight standards had deteriorated fast as they became an LCC, the international part seemed to maintain standards, until a year or two when I had several awful flights in rapid succession, one from SIN another LHR-BKK return. When I say awful I'm talking rude flight attendants, uncleaned toilets, the whole gamut. Their once efficient ground staff seemed to have been replaced by surly "am I bothered" types. so that has been my experience. If others have found it ok lately then so be it though I seem to recall more than one or two comments on TV less complimentary.

I think one thing we probably could reach agreement on is Mumbai airport, just found this posted on Airline Equality website.

Was at Chhatrapati Shivaji recently and shocked by the state of the place. I understand they are building a new terminal so this can't come quick enough. I was in transit with Jet Airways and found the experience painful. The extensive queues are extremely long and the security checking inconsistent. We found that duty free was being confiscated at random. Some people getting through with liquids galore. In some cases, they were even confiscating dry products. What then shocked me is the fact that the airport operates like some seedy back alley part of Mumbai. Being a smoker, I asked official staff where to smoke and was first pointed to the toilet. Confused, I then asked another member of staff and was further escorted to a janitor's closet where the janitor was waiting and said: "five dollar, you smoke here" - in a storage cupboard! Not convinced, I then asked somebody else and was pointed to the restaurant, likewise where they are charging passengers to smoke illicitly in a storage room. I refused of course. BOM is a non smoking airport no matter what they tell you or where they lead you. At one point, paying for duty free took 15 minutes, no reason, just lots of paper work, fiddling around with my documents and so on. It was all very suspicious. Finally, we ordered some KFC at the counter having contracted Delhi Belly on the outward journey - thinking that deep fried chicken would be the most sanitary option. While we waited for food, an 8 inch long rat jumped onto the counter chased by a member of staff - ran along the counter, over the cash desk and up a wall. This was much to the amusement of the staff who gladly went on serving food without even washing their hands. In summary, BOM is not a good option for transiting, which is a shame since India now boasts a couple of good airlines offering attractive transit deals. I will be avoiding them personally.

Have a good flight whoever you pick.

[roamer]

Just been looking at the transit times in Mumbai. (with Kingfisher)

Depart Bangkok - 08:30 ..... Arrive Mumbai - 11:25

Depart Mumbai - 12:25 ..... Arrive London - 17:50

1 hour transit.....does anyone know if this is enough? From my past experience with Jet, Mumbai is a very chaotic airport and Im not sure 1 hour is sufficient? Anyone done this journey and can comment?

No, BUT, just looked at my tickets and guess what ?

Arriving: Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), Mumbai, India

11:25 Sun

tailfin Non-stop

Kingfisher Airlines (IT 24)

Aircraft type - 320

Economy

More info

E-ticketed flight Find out more

Inbound Sun 22 August 10

Duration: 15:20

Departing: Terminal 2 Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), Mumbai, India

12:25 Sun

Arriving: Terminal 4, London Heathrow Apt (LHR), London, United Kingdom

17:50 Sun

tailfin Non-stop

Kingfisher Airlines (IT 7)

Aircraft type - 330

Economy

Under normal circumstances 1 hour is no way sufficient time for transit at Mumbai so its going to be interesting to see how it works out. Not unduly worried, no point as in my case its already booked and paid for. Secondly, this is their daily flight schedule and if they were leaving passengers behind on a daily basis I'm sure we would have heard about it by now given their star ranking. Would be nice if someone could shed some light on it ?

Actually just called Kingfisher, told not to worry they wouldn,t issue the ticket if it didn't connect, said they had it organised. Think you have to accept that is the case as I would think on this routing at least 50% of the passengers are likely to be needing to make that onward connection and it would cause chaos if they failed to do so.

[malcolmswaine]

I've just flow with kingfisher. The flight from London to Delhi was super, first class. The flight from Delhi to Bangkok was slightly rough around the edges, but the cabin crew made up for the lack of luster. As to value for money - they're the top of my list. 420 Sterling return HTR -> BKK - and they allowed me to change the date of my return flight with no extra charge - impressed.

Edited July 4, 2010 by malcolmswaine

[meltnp]

I booked the tickets in the end and we fly this Saturday the 10th. I will come back and let you know how it went!

malcolm: how was the stopover? Im not overly looking forward to Mumbai I must say! I'd imagine Delhi is similar...

[roamer]

I booked the tickets in the end and we fly this Saturday the 10th. I will come back and let you know how it went!

malcolm: how was the stopover? Im not overly looking forward to Mumbai I must say! I'd imagine Delhi is similar...

As of the start of last month you would imagine wrongly! The new Delhi international terminal opened and its state of the art, apparently India's largest public building.

Here.

Sadly,you and I have to put up with Mumbai

Edited July 5, 2010 by roamer

[bifftastic]

I booked the tickets in the end and we fly this Saturday the 10th. I will come back and let you know how it went!

malcolm: how was the stopover? Im not overly looking forward to Mumbai I must say! I'd imagine Delhi is similar...

I've flown both jet airways and kingfisher LHR-MUM-BKK this year and found them very similar. Jet get the vote from me because they were able to give me seats near the emergency exits on all the flights, loads of leg-room!

Both have good staff and food and entertainment, Again jet just tip the balance because I could plug my phone charger in. I could probably have done that on the kingfisher flight too but watched their movies instead of listening to my music.

Mumbai airport is a complete shambles but it was the same with both airlines and isn't really their fault. For smoking you come out of the pointless bag-scan (hold your lighter in your hand and they won't see it btw!) turn right and go to gates 1-2 there's a restaurant there that has a smoking room in the back, they obviously want you to buy something, bottle of water was 100 baht or 2 pounds.

Be ready to have your boarding pass and passport checked about 19 times before you get on the next flight too! and yes, 1 hour stopover time was enough, bags just go straight through you don't need to reclaim them and check back in, as they're proper connecting flights, they won't go without you! Just put up with the bizzare way they run the airport! 1st time it pissed me off but 2nd time i knew what to expect and due to the price of the flight it's worth it.