Indian Airlines - What can I expect ?

butterball

I'm flying in to Trivandrum in December and plan to stay on the beach for a couple of days and then fly to Madras and then work my way back to Trivandrum via Mahabs , Pondi and Trichy.

I want to book the domestic leg from here in the UK - but Indian Airlines have no agent here. Jet Airways do - but their flight takes in Bombay AND Bangalore on the way !

I want a CONFIRMED ticket too.

Two questions really, first - should I rely on phoning a travel agent in Kovalam ( Trivandrum ) and paying / making the reservation and hope to hell that they get it right and that I walk in off the beach and pick up a gleaming ticket with the magic words "confirmed" written on it ? ( any recommendations as to agents in Kovalam ) Is there another way ?

Second, assuming I have this ticket in my hand, what are the chances of actually getting on the plane itself and it leaving relatively on time? I've heard a lot of nightmare scenarios which is why I want a "confirmed" ticket.

Also, luggage in the hold I presume ?

Thanks for any suggestions

IainC

I flew with them once, Calcutta-Bagdogra, the delay lasted all day but they kept telling us "soon, one more hour". A bit like Aeroflot really! IA will get you there in the end and their customer service could do with improving. If you can, try Jet Airways, a much better airline.

Calypso

Apparently there is a UK agent for Indian Airlines, as I contacted them about it. They only gave me the company name and e-mail address: Brightsun UK Ltd, Deepak@brightsunuk.com

Might be worth a try? I've not contacted them myself yet, only because I've not yet settled on my itinerary.

steven_ber

Indian Airlines allow Internet bookings, but do not give details on their website about collection.

It may be worth telephoning or faxing (numbers on website) their office in Trivandrum to see if the tickets can be picked up at the airport if booked over the Internet.

butterball

Looks like www.brightsunuk.com can do the Indian Airlines booking fro here in the UK - Just booked it ! And will issue immediate ticket..

They seem like a good contact for those difficult insider jobs.

Offices in London, Hounslow, Manchester & Birmingham. London 0207 565 7979

THANKS !

Let's see howthe airline performs now...

-m2-

I'm a bit late with info, but glad you have it worked out. For future reference, Indian airline 'partners' with 50 or so major airlines and they can all make reservations for you on IA: the info is in their website -- click 'overseas passengers' for the list of partners.

http://indian-airlines.nic.in/



The same works for Jet -- my Jet reservation is included on my Singapore air ticket as they are one of Jet's partners. Indian Airlines is no great shakes as an airline but their service has improved greatly the last few years and apparently you don't have a choice anyway. Arrive and check in early as they could well be overbooked and don't expect more than a light snack, served by grumpy unsmiling hostess, on such a short flight.

butterball

How early should I check in ?

I've yet to really grasp the idea of a "confirmed" ticket - am I STILL not guaranteed a seat with one ?

I've heard about elaborate scenes at check in counters to get to the front of the line - how shall I arm myself ?

Also - my flight leaves a couple of days after I first arrive in Trivandrum - should I "re-confirm" my ticket before I leave for India or can it wait til the day before and I can get an agent in Kovalam to do it ?

Thanks

LuAnnandJawahar

One of the eternal mysteries of India-confirmed vs OK vs waitlist. I have been as far back as 99 on a wait list with IA, but still got on. Stay near the desk. At the last moment they stuff people on. Great if you like adreneline rushes.

You are quaranteed a seat if you have a "confirmed" seat IF YOU RECONFRIM it.

I wrote Indian Airlines to clarify about REconfirming flights and the use of their website and this was the response:

OK MEANS THE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED
BUT YOU HAVE TO RECONFIRM IT WITHIN 72 HOURS
OF THE TIME OF TRAVEL IF YOU ARE A FOREIGNER
WHO HAS MADE HIS BOOKING OUTSIDE INDIA.

You cannot currently confirm a flight via the IA website, but you can email them and they will respond efficiently and confirm your flight via email (or at least the person at this email address did:
ialrkcsc@hub.nic.in

When you book online you can put in your PNR number and check the status of your flights at any time.

Jeez there has got to be a better system.

__________________
Reject violence.

LuAnnandJawahar

Oh yes, and to answer your original question: Indian Airlines--what can I expect?
You can expect a large flying tin shack with seats and ex-army fighter pilots who like to drop the airplane to save gas, (as opposed to a smooth gradual descent.) But you'll get there.

butterball

Sounds like a ball...

"within" 72 hours - is that more than 6 days before or less than ????

edwardseco

You can also expect people that will disregard your overweight when coming back with the family luggage due to a member staying behind in a hospital. It all depends in a mysterious wonderful fashion as much of the Indian experience does..

-m2-

[quote]Originally posted by Namaste India Tours
[b]One of the eternal mysteries of India-confirmed vs OK vs waitlist. I have been as far back as 99 on a wait list with IA, but still got on. Stay near the desk. At the last moment they stuff people on. Great if you like adreneline rushes.

You are quaranteed a seat if you have a "confirmed" seat IF YOU RECONFRIM it.

That's good to know. I thought just getting an ok was adequate if you got to the check-in early enough to get through before they recognized that they might have a problem. I haven't flown domestically with IA in a long time and the check-in has been in a different area than Jet so I haven't noticed if the check-in chaos has been improved -- guess not

I went through one of those IA moments in Bangkok a few years ago. An agent had sold me a stand-by to Calcutta and assured me that it would work out because 'the local IA office must get all their funds to operate from tickets sold in Bangkok, so even though there will be a lot of Indians waving tickets, you will probably be OK as they will know you bought the ticket here rather than in India' I arrived a good 3 hours before the flight, hoping to get in a word with the supervisor before things got moving. Whew!! -- at least 200 people milling around, vast piles of luggage and cardboard boxes with TV's and stereos, huge cheap duffel bags stuffed with commercial quantities of clothes and street goods, elderly people in wheel-chairs, carts laden with bags, kids etc -- total madness. A couple of Thai stewardesses trying to cool people down etc and, as usual, the people with the most complicated problems and/or a dozen or so tickets jamming the head of the lines. The supervisor told me there were 'over 100' on the wait list, but just stay calm until 20 minutes or so before last call when they would assign the wait-listed.

I had pretty well given up any hope of getting on and watched the chaotic process from a slight distance while thinking about an alternate plan. Sure enough, after the confirmed were checked in they began selecting tickets from outstretched arms -- no list -- and the kindly Thai stewardess/marshall pushed a way through the crowd so I could get within arm's length and mine was the 4th ticket chosen -- I didn't look back to see how many made it, but the flight was an hour or so late getting away and passengers were trickling up until we left.

As this was an International flight, the service was especially elegant. The aging, sour-looking stewardesses passed up the aisle and shoved a big tray of sweets at everyone -- glaring at those who took more than 1 or 2 -- and we took off. Once airborne, the ladies came back with a crate of whiskey miniatures and grudgingly passed them out to those who grabbed their sari on the way by. A few Sikhs, in particular, made quite a fuss about getting a couple of extras and I wondered how this was going to work out (fortunately a short flight). Next came the 'meal' a cardboard box with a process cheese sandwich with the crust cut off and three neon-coloured sweets. Coke in a plastic cup to complement the meal in style.

I fly Jet when possible


butterball: that wording 'within 72 hours' has always bothered me too as being ambiguous, although when you think about it, it has to mean 'before' the flight -- and that's 3 days, not 6

butterball

No choice on "Jet" as , as mentioned they fly to Chennai but via Mumbai AND Bangalore - which just sounds crazy.

Fortunately Trv - Ms is only 1+ hr...

So, Let me get this right - re-confirm 3 days before ( try ialrkcsc@hub.nic.in ) or by phone ( which number - IA at the departure airport or is there a centralised number ? ) and check in say 1.5 hrs ahead or earlier ?

And then I 100% get my very own seat ?

Sorry to be so pedantic but it's my first internal flight !

bijapuri

you must have some compelling reason to fly into Chennai, then, because it doesn't make sanse to me. You can take the train with a lot less fanfare and expense.

Or so it seems

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bijapuri

train name- 2624T CHENNAI MAIL

Dep TRIVANDRUM CNTL14:30

ArrCHENNAI CENTRAL 07:00

this is a daily train, features1A class even

full schedule of trains between Trivandrum and Chennai:
http://www.indianrail.gov.in/cgi_bin...rcdest_cgi.cgi