I decided to try my hand at a new style
of writing this trip report, so please bear with the experimental
finished product. For reference, at the time of the trip local time in
India was GMT +5.5 and London was GMT +1.
I had some personal work to attend to in London with a
soon-to-be-expiring nonrev pass to get me there and back from India.
Accordingly, I decided to make a mini-vacation out of it by cashing in
some Hilton points and catching up with some friends.
----------------
ACT I : The outbound (aka Hell)
13MAR03 2100hrs GMT
Awaken and check the latest loads. There are three 744s scheduled to
depart for Heathrow within an hour of each other this morning, but a
quick check of the computer shows that every nonrev's nightmare has just
been realized.
FRI 14MAR03 MUMBAI /LONDON *AI
1 BOM LHR 0555 1015 AI 129 F0 A0 J0 C0 D0 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0#744 B
2 BOM1LHR 0625 1430 AI 121 F0 A0 J0 C0 D0 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0#744 B
3 BOM LHR 0710 1130 AI 101 F0 A0 J0 C0 D0 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0#744 B
Wake up dad and get him to call ops to find out which captains are
scheduled to operate these flights. Gut feeling says that my only chance
of getting to London today is on a jumpseat. (Editors note : Air India
allows non-revenue passengers including families who meet cetain
criteria to travel on jumpseats with the approval of the commander). The
commander for 129 he knows casually, but the pilot scheduled for 101 is
a good friend. 121 operates through DEL and currently has no commander
assigned yet for the first leg. The reserve pool for this shift throws
up a couple of interesting names, one being an outright ass and the
other a moody temperamental sort. Looks like 101 is my best bet, but
I'll head down to the airport early and try them all.
13MAR03 2230hrs GMT
The airport is a zoo at 4am local time. There are thousands of
passengers standing in line trying to check in. In addition to the trio
of Heathrow flights there are also 747s to Frankfurt and Jeddah leaving,
plus the morning Airbus bank to the Middle East. Dad flashes his retired
staff ID and the security guard waves him through to the offices where
he is warmly welcomed into his former fiefdom. I stand around in the
public area looking lost.
13MAR03 2245hrs GMT
Dad emerges from the offices with a grim look. All three flights are
oversold badly. He chainsmokes as he prowls around the crew checkin
counter waiting for the pilots to arrive. The NO SMOKING sign is
prominent above his head, but the minions won't dare say a word to their
former boss.
13MAR03 2300hrs GMT
No pilots yet, but the nonrevs are out in force. There are 53 of us
trying for the various flights today. Each 744 has 7 spare jumpseats for
the commander to sanction to any nonrevs at his discretion, but the crew
shortage lately means some extra jumpseats may open up if the cabin crew
is operating with a reduced complement.
13MAR03 2305hrs GMT
The captain for 129 arrives and is immediately mobbed by everyone waving
jumpseat requests for him to sign off on. He fights his way to the
counter and greets the few folks there he has actually met before,
thankfully including dad. He is followed a few minutes later by the guy
who will be operating 121 upto Delhi. He is in a foul mood having been
woken up to take this flight after the originally scheduled pilot got
delayed somewhere else. He uses some choice words on a poor ramper who
almost pokes him in the eye with a pen in his excitement, the gist of
which explained which bodily orifice he could stuff his jumpseat request
into.
13MAR03 2310hrs GMT
The pilots disappear into ops for their briefings and the crowds
nervously mill about outside. The news filters through from Cabin Crew
Movement Control that 129 will be short 4 crew and 101 will be short 3
crew. 121 will have a full complement upto Delhi, but the leg into
Heathrow will be reduced by FIVE from normal complement. With full loads
booked, it will be hard work for the crews but also means that 12 extra
jumpseaters can fly today.
13MAR03 2315hrs GMT
One of the ground supervisors emerges from ops with a list of folks who
have been authorized jumpseats for 129. Since that aircraft continues on
to Chicago, they are only taking jumpseaters bound for there. Same deal
with 101 and New York. Us London folks have to take our chances with the
121 via Delhi.
13MAR03 2320hrs GMT
The commander for 121 storms out of ops yelling obscenities at the poor
dispatcher. Turns out that they not only have him flying up to DEL right
now, but deadheading offline back to BOM 2 hours later, operating
another BOM-DEL later in the day, overnighting in DEL, deadheading to
LHR the next morning and then operating back to BOM. He is not amused.
No one dares approach him for a jumpseat request.
13MAR03 2325hrs GMT
The co-pilot for 121 quietly taps my dad on the shoulder and draws us
aside. The captain has calmed down and authorized my jumpseat request as
well as a couple other folks. I thank him and head down to the desks to
checkin. Obtain my boarding pass for seat number JMP together with a
lounge invitation (since I'm using one of my higher priority passes
today, I'm entitled to lounge access).
13MAR03 2345hrs GMT
Immigration and customs formalities completed, I head to the Maharaja
lounge. I help myself to a coke and the attendant brings around a plate
of breakfast muffins. Looking out the window, I spot the three 747s
waiting to leave for Heathrow. We are to be on VT-ESM, the original
B747-437 and so far only one of two configured with the new First Class
seats (Editors note : All 744s have since been converted). 129 to
Chicago has been assigned to VT-ESN, the other craft with the new seats.
101 to New York will be operated by VT-EVJ, the adopted baby of the
fleet and the only AI 747 that I haven't flown yet. Ah well, theres
always next time.
13MAR03 2355hrs GMT
Final call for 129 and first call for 121. I run into one of the retired
Heathrow staff who will also be on the flight with me and head out with
her to the Duty Free.
14MAR03 0015hrs GMT
Proceed through airport security with minimal hassles. At the jetway,
company security checks my passport and other documents before waving me
aboard.
14MAR03 0020hrs GMT
Enter through door 1L and immediately run into Neville, the Inflight
Supervisor. I introduce myself as one of the jumpseaters and he directs
me to Business Class upstairs, advising me to grab some sleep on the
first leg as the next segment would be hell. Upstairs is deserted. There
are only 3 revenue passengers in the forward section and a handful of us
nonrevs at the rear. The Purser recognizes me and asks after my dad.
14MAR03 0040hrs GMT
Cold towels and pre-flight drinks have been served. Doors are ready to
close. We have been joined upstairs by a young man with a uniformed
company security escort. Interesting. The captain comes out and has a
word with the company security officer. On his way back, he stops by my
seat to say hi and apologize for being so ornery earlier. I thank him
for the jumpseat and he heads back to the front office.
14MAR03 0100hrs GMT
We are second in line for takeoff behind an Indian Airlines A320. The
sun is barely peeking over the horizon.
14MAR03 0106hrs GMT
Airborne from runway 27. We make the familiar sweeping turn to the right
and head north to Delhi, my fifth segment on this route in the past 10
days. Flight time will be exactly 100 minutes.
14MAR03 0120hrs GMT
No breakfast service on this short flight, but rather a snack. I pick
the samosas, although fried food at this early hour is probably not a
good idea. Eat and nap.
14MAR03 0230hrs GMT
Woken up by the announcement about commencing descent. Freshen up
quickly and back to my seat as we make a textbook approach to runway 28.
14MAR03 0255hrs GMT
At the gate in Delhi. A new crew will take over for the next leg. The
captain's foul mood has returned and he is muttering something to
himself as he heads down the stairs. The relieving cabin crew come
aboard and I run into Gev, the new Inflight Supervisor. He remembers me
from our Australian posting about 15 years ago and comments how much I
have grown. Guess what. If I HAVEN'T grown in the last 15 years, then
perhaps THAT would be comment worthy.
14MAR03 0305hrs GMT
Two armed men in paramilitary uniforms come on board and take possesion
of the young man under security escort. I ask what is going on.
Evidently, he is flying on a one-way ticket from Mumbai to Moscow via
Heathrow, purchased in cash at the airport this morning. His passport
was allegedly issued 7 years ago when he was fifteen, but sports a
current picture of him wearing the same outfit he has on right now. The
only stamp in the passport is a tourist visa for Russia, allegedly
issued from somewhere in Africa. The whole thing reeks of something
fishy and he was being offloaded in Delhi for questioning by
intelligence services. Company security accompanied him to ensure that
he didn't destroy the documents en route.
14MAR03 0310hrs GMT
Ready to commence boarding for Delhi passengers. Gev asks me if I
wouldn't mind helping out in E-zone downstairs as they are terribly
shortstaffed. Not a problem.
14MAR03 0315hrs GMT
The boarding ritual commences. I keep a low profile by door 5L, but
occasionally assist folks with finding their seats or to find a spot for
their carry-ons. If I have to say "D-E-F-G is the center section sir"
once more, I'll kill myself. We have an elderly couple who speak no
English and have been separated. I manage to succesfully negotiate a
seat swap and get them together, albeit in middle seats. Another lady
insists on storing her hat in the overhead bin. The darn thing is
enormous and takes up the space of at least 2 rollaboards. Sorry honey,
but thats gonna have to go under the seat or in the closet. A baby is
crying loudly somewhere and the mother wants to heat up her bottle. You
are gonna have to wait till everyone is aboard. Yes maam, can I help
you? Lavatories are at the rear. No sir, this is a full flight today so
you can't lie down across 4 seats. No ma'am, we don't upgrade passengers
just because they ask. Yes ma'am, there will be meals served but only
after we take off. ARRRRRGH. Keep smiling.
14MAR03 0345hrs GMT
Boarding is complete for the most part. I'm exhausted. We have a full
load of 12-34-385 today, with 12 jumpseaters and a handful of infants to
boot.
14MAR03 0400hrs GMT
Doors are closed and we taxi out. I quickly review my handy safety
equipment chart and settle into the 2R inboard jumpseat next to an
Assistant Purser named Jimmy. Safety demo is being screened as we notice
a passenger with his leg in a cast struggling DOWN the stairs from the
upper deck, being pursued by the poor hostess protesting loudly. Jeebus.
Evidently he doesn't speak English and wants a lavatory. Not while we
are on an active taxiway buddy. You need to go back upstairs. What?
Can't climb the stairs in your cast. Argh. Ok, take this seat here. Sir,
you will have to switch with him for takeoff. Suddenly the dreaded
announcement "Crew be seated for takeoff". Jimmy settles the guy in the
cast into 32H, swaps the man in 32H to my 2R inboard jumpseat and I take
off like a bat out of hell trying to find the only empty seat on the
plane before we start our roll. The upstairs purser yells "12B" down the
stairs at me and I scramble there and plop myself down panting just as
the PW4000 engines begin their roar. The passenger in 12A looks a little
perturbed but minds his own business. Wise man.
14MAR03 0410hrs GMT
I'm out of my seat as soon as the 10000 foot indicator pings. Our flight
time today will be a horrendously long 10h40m because of the airspace
restrictions in effect. Pakistan is not permitting Indian registered
aircraft to overfly their airspace, so we have to head south and go
around the Rann of Kutch before turning West over the Arabian Sea and
finally Northwest through Iran. That adds over 90 minutes to our normal
flight time and means that even with a perfectly punctual departure and
a generously padded schedule, we will be almost an hour late to the gate
at Heathrow.
14MAR03 0415hrs GMT
Calm has been restored downstairs and the man in 32H is being helped
back up to 12B. I grab a Coke from the galley and sip on it as Chuck
(the B-zone purser) helps Jimmy prep the drink carts. As they head out
on the service, I'm assigned the task of reconciling the special meals
loaded with the manifest. It's mind numbing work on flights like this
where every third person has picked one of the 18 different options that
Air India offers. Ah well, its the least I can do in exchange for the
free ride. Which idiot said nonrev travel is all about fun in First
Class?
14MAR03 0445hrs GMT
The drink carts are back. Chuck begins heating up the breakfast service,
but accidenly spills a pot of coffee on his hand. He yelps in pain and
we scramble for the First Aid kit. Gev pages for a doctor who examines
it and wraps it up. No, we don't need to divert, its nothing serious.
However, he needs to rest it for a while. Great. We are now effectively
6 crew short and dangerously close to minimum complement.
14MAR03 0515hrs GMT
The carts go out into the aisle and I work the B-zone galley under
Chuck's watchful eye, making sure the pots for coffee and tea are kept
topped up.
14MAR03 0545hrs GMT
Carts are back for a few minutes. We catch our breath before its time to
start bringing the trays back home.
14MAR03 0555hrs GMT
Trays are on the way back. I get to make sure that everything is
properly stowed and before parking and latching the carts. Of course,
gotta be ready for the second round of drink requests. I prep them and
Chuck runs the cups with his good hand.
14MAR03 0615hrs GMT
Service done. All 385 coach passengers have been fed. I grab a leftover
meal for myself and devour it standing up in the galley. Its some sort
of omelette with sausage and potatoes. Not bad at all.
14MAR03 0630hrs GMT
I head to the 2L jumpseat and strap myself in to relax. The moving map
airshow tells us that we have barely rounded the Western edge of
Pakistan. Still over 8 hours left.
14MAR03 0700hrs GMT
Some vague Hindi movie commences on the overhead screens. I ignore it
and read the new Ken Follett book.
14MAR03 0750hrs GMT
There is an airconditioning system leak in row 38, causing a steady drip
onto the heads of the poor passengers there. I head on over and examine
it. It appears to be the standard condensation problem. As an aircraft
climbs to its cruising height, it becomes exposed to an extreme
temperature differential between the climate controlled cabin and the
outside. This disparity causes the humidity contained in the air to
condense against the inner skin of the aircraft, generating water
droplets. The droplets tend to soak into the insulation blankets located
in the channels between the cabin and skin and once they get saturated,
begin to leak through the edges of the Passenger Service Units into the
cabin. I grab some towels from the galley, a plastic bag and some
high-speed tape and go to work. The towels go right under the leak to
soak up the drip, the bag underneath the towels to collect anything that
seeps through and the high speed tape to hold it all in place. It works.
Call me MacGyver.
14MAR03 0803hrs GMT
India is playing New Zealand in a vital World Cup Cricket game. The
captain comes on the PA system and announces that Zaheer Khan has
dismissed Craig McMillan with only the second ball of the game. There is
a loud cheer. Kiwis are 0/1.
14MAR03 0805hrs GMT
Captain is back on the PA system. Zaheer Khan has dismissed Nathan Astle
with the third ball of the match. Kiwis are reeling at 0/2. Someone in
E-zone starts up a chant, but the folks watching the movie tell him to
shut up.
14MAR03 0845hrs GMT
New Zealand in a deeper hole at 38/3. Everyone is jubilant, except the
poor Kiwi in 57K.
14MAR03 0920hrs GMT
I'm halfway through my book as we hit the halfway point of the flight.
The movie ends and the cabin begins to stir again. I seek refuge in the
galley.
14MAR03 0930hrs GMT
Another drink service as we prep for the lunch service. Again, special
meals must be sorted and hand run ahead of the carts. Chuck's hand is
unbandaged now. He's a trooper.
14MAR03 1030hrs GMT
Lunch service complete without incident. The kid from 44A keeps popping
into the galley to ask for more Pepsi. Great. Lets fill the kids up with
caffeine on an 11 hour flight.
14MAR03 1045hrs GMT
Eric the First Class Purser comes visiting ahead of his lunch service.
He convinces me to come forward and assist with some of the prep work.
The First Class meal service carts take about 30 minutes to set up and
need to be switched every course. Hard work, but fun. Plus, we get to
consume the unused meals. Strangely enough, no one picks the pate
appetizer. Yummy!
14MAR03 1200hrs GMT
Captain is back on the air. He apologizes for the lack of score updates,
but evidently no radio stations in Iran or Turkey carried the cricket
match! Nonetheless, he's been in contact with a Qantas jet flying
Eastbound and they heard from a British Airways aircraft that they
passed a while ago that New Zealand had been bowled out for only 146.
The aircraft erupts with whistles and cheers.
14MAR03 1210hrs GMT
Lunch has been served to the lucky 12 passengers in the premium cabin.
I'm exhausted by now, having barely slept the previous night. I grab one
of the extra personal DVD players for First Class and relax on 1L with
the only English title left in the basket (3A took a whole handful of
movies, grrrr). It's some insipid crap starring John Travolta and Halle
Berry. Eric sees my exhaustion and whips up an extra desert sundae for
me from the leftovers. It perks me up nicely.
14MAR03 1330hrs GMT
"Swordfish" the movie has ended, not a moment too soon. Now I realize
why even 3A rejected it.
14MAR03 1340hrs GMT
Only one more hour to Heathrow. Woo hoo! I see Germany!
14MAR03 1400hrs GMT
One of the crew slips me a bottle of the First Class Merlot as a
thank-you for my assistance on the flight. Merci beaucoup. I drag my bag
out of the upstairs closet where its been hiding for the last 12 hours
and stow the bottle.
14MAR03 1415hrs GMT
An audible sigh of relief from the masses as the "we have commenced our
descent" announcement is made. Gev asks me to pack up the IFE tapes
before landing, so I head to the understair closet and do the needful.
Rather than turn the system off, I set the overhead monitors to display
the airshow.
14MAR03 1435hrs GMT
Strapped down in 2R next to Jimmy again. Its been a long flight and we
are all exhausted.
14MAR03 1440hrs GMT
Familiar signs of Heathrow approach. We cross Windsor Castle, the
reservoir and the Terminal 5 construction site before smoothly settling
down on runway 09L. We turn off past Terminal 1 and begin to thread our
way through the traffic to Terminal 3.
14MAR03 1445hrs GMT
Some old lady in C-zone decides to grab her bags and start walking to
the door while we are still on the active taxiway. Both Jimmy and I yell
at her to sit down but she ignores us and starts walking forward. I jump
up and run down the aisle to her, grab her arm and firmly escort her
back to her seat. There is laughter, but grandma isn't amused. She
admonishes me in choice Punjabi. I ignore her and make my way back to
the jumpseat where Jimmy is stifling his giggles.
14MAR03 1452hrs GMT
We finally pull into gate 22, which appears to be located somewhere
along the M25 just east of Croydon. Despite an on-time departure, we are
82 minutes behind schedule because of the airspace restrictions.
14MAR03 1502hrs GMT
First and Business Class have deplaned. I head up the stairs to grab my
bag from the closet again and thank the upstairs crew for babysitting it
for me. Pop into the cockpit and thank the captain for the ride.
14MAR03 1508hrs GMT
Stop by First Class to thank Eric and Gev. The new flat bed seats are
finally empty so I decide to check them out. They are amazingly
comfortable. I play with the buttons for a few minutes, but I really
should get a move on.
14MAR03 1515hrs GMT
Someone slips me a FASTTRACK immigration pass as I leave the aircraft. I
already have a whole stack, but its good to add one to the collection.
14MAR03 1525hrs GMT
After a 10 minute hike, I finally reach the immigration desks. The
proletariat line is backed up horrendously, but FASTTRACK takes me all
of 30 seconds.
14MAR03 1535hrs GMT
Aboard Heathrow Express on the way to Paddington where the Hilton
Metropole awaits.
===================================
ACT II : The return (aka Heaven)
Statutory Warning: The following
section contains disturbing scenes of non-revenue passengers in premium
cabins. Reader discretion is advised.
19MAR03 0430hrs GMT
WED 19MAR03 LONDON /MUMBAI *AI
1 LHR BOM 0845 2255 AI 102 F2 A2 J0 C0 D0 W0 Y4 B4 H4 K4#744 B
2 LHR BOM 1005#0015 AI 122 F2 A2 J4 C4 D4 W4 Y9 B9 H9 K9#744 B
Hmm... I wonder which flight I should try for today. Do I want to fly
Business Class? Hehe.
19MAR03 0745hrs GMT
Arrive at the Air India counter at Terminal 3 just before checkin is due
to close (60 minutes before departure). The agent at the counter clears
me directly to Business Class and gives me a boarding pass for 12K
together with an invitation to the Maharaja Lounge. I ask which aircraft
will be flying us today and he tells me its VT-EVJ. My first flight on
this ex-Korean Air plane will restore my record of having flown every
747 ever operated by Air India.
19MAR03 0800hrs GMT
FASTTRACK security is a blessing and I breeze through while the regular
line has a 15 minute delay.
19MAR03 0810hrs GMT
flyerwife has a short connection at Heathrow en route to New York, so I
decide to go surprise her. I check by the Admiral's Club and have her
paged but she isn't there. Probably gone to the Duty Free.
19MAR03 0820hrs GMT
I head towards flyerwife's gate but no sign of her there either. Start
heading back towards my own gate when I spot her bobbing in and out of
the crowd. She's pleased to see me and we chat a while before she has to
board.
19MAR03 0840hrs GMT
Get in line for secondary security check at my gate. The Air India
security officer recognizes me from somewhere and waves me through with
no hassles. Nothing beeps as I'm wanded, so I enter the holding pen just
as First/Business Class boarding is being called.
19MAR03 0845hrs GMT
Settle down into 12K on an otherwise deserted upper deck. The Inflight
Supervisor, Joe, comes by and tells me that my dad had called to inform
him that I would be on the flight so to please contact him if I needed
anything. I thank him for his concern.
19MAR03 0850hrs GMT
Pre-departure drinks are offered and I relax with a flute of Veuve
Clicquot as I take a look around the cabin. EVJ is configured in the
"interim" business class configuration with the old seats, but the new
layout and pitch. It is interesting because they have shifted one
lavatory to the rear of the cabin by the stairs and relocated the closet
to the forward section behind the cockpit. It seems a waste of space
with the old seats, but I'm sure when the new ones are installed things
will look normal.
19MAR03 0905hrs GMT
The pilots have just arrived, having been stuck in traffic en route to
the airport. As a result we will be delayed somewhat. We will have two
very senior commanders today as one is undergoing his periodic
checkride.
19MAR03 0925hrs GMT
Doors are closed and we push back from the gate. We wait in the alley as
Air New Zealand taxies in to take our place. Then we begin the long taxi
out to the threshold of runway 27R.
19MAR03 1000hrs GMT
Finally on the active runway. I watch as we accelerate past the hotels
on Bath Road and then take to the skies, enveloped in a low cloud of fog
before we have even cleared the boundary fence. Our flight time will be
8 hours and 20 minutes.
19MAR03 1030hrs GMT
Crew come around with a drink service. I kick back with a Coke and some
cashew nuts. What a pleasant change from the usual peanuts or snack mix.
19MAR03 1130hrs GMT
Time for lunch. First and Executive Class passengers get a special treat
this month with a food festival on flights from Heathrow. Meals are
being catered by Britain's most famous Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy of
Piccadilly. We receive elegant menus commemorating the festival. The
cover is a reproduction of the 1884 portrait of H.H. The Maha Rao of
Kutch by the legendary photogropher Lala Deen Dayal. Air India's own
collection of Lala Deen Dayal plate-glass negatives is discussed on the
inside flap.
Appetizers
Assorted Hors D'Oeurves Platter
Salad
Fresh Green Salad with choice of dresing.
Entrees
Veeraswamy Specials
Lamb Moghlai Korma
succulent lamb morsels cooked in a rich creamy sauce and flavoured
with fenugreek
Vegetable Makhani
seasonal vegetables in a tomato and butter sauce
Sarson Ka Saag
creamed fresh mustard leaves cooked in traditional Punjabi style
Kabuli Channa Pulao
long grain Basmati rice with chickpeas
Western Selection
Cape Hake with Shallot, Tomato and Cream Sauce
served with
Turned Potatoes
Bouquet of Vegetables
Accompaniments
Yoghurt
Papadum
Paratha
Pickles
Dessert
Pear Praline with Chocolate Sauce
Sevaiya Malai
vermicelli cooked in thickened sweetened milk
Cheese
Fruit
Tea
Coffee
Chocolates
Liquers
I picked the lamb with the rice and mustard leaves, together with a
paratha that came steaming hot and wrapped in foil. Quite excellent.
When I looked undecided about which dessert to pick, the Air Hostess
suggested that I have a little of each. I didn't take too much
convincing! ;)
19MAR03 1215hrs GMT
I sip an Amaretto as we steadily make our way over Eastern Europe. Then
I recline my seat and sleep.
19MAR03 1555hrs GMT
I awaken almost 4 hours later. Just under 2.5 hours to go. The crew have
thoughtfully left a bottle of water and a glass on the seat next to me.
I freshen up and head back to the galley for a chat.
19MAR03 1625hrs GMT
The commander under check gets his rest break and comes back to the
galley. He's full of good humor and shares some fabulous anecdotes about
the wilder checkrides he's seen in his time.
19MAR03 1645hrs GMT
Time for the light supper service.
Appetizers
Fresh Fruit Appetizer
Entrees
Veeraswamy Specials
Corn and Cheese Potli
moneybags of corn grains with cheese
Fareli Pattice
potato balls stuffed with spices, nuts and raisins
Palak Upma
sauteed semolina with spinach and spices
Medu Vada
savoury lentil doughnut with curry leaves and cashew
Chicken Vada
lightly spiced mash potato stuffed with chicken
Lamb Shami Kabab
delicately spiced minced lamb and lentil patty
Accompaniments
Bread Rolls
Sambhar
Coconut Chutney
Dessert
Gajar Kaju Kheer
rice pudding with carrots and cashewnuts
Tea
Coffee
Chocolates
Again, the food was up to Veeraswamy's high standards. A real treat to
have this quality served at 35000 feet.
19MAR03 1730hrs GMT
Less than an hour left in the flight and the crew hands out landing
cards. They also have to spray the aircraft with the awful fumigation
spray. Cover your nose and mouth and hold your breath as they go past.
19MAR03 1810hrs GMT
On final approach to Mumbai about 10 minutes sooner than expected. What
a pleasant surprise. I should have been paying more attention to the
airshow.
19MAR03 1815hrs GMT
We make one of the smoothest landings I have ever experienced and gently
slow to a stop. The check pilot comes over the PA system and announces
that his colleague has just passed his checkride by virtue of that
landing alone. Everyone laughs as we taxi towards the terminal.
19MAR03 1825hrs GMT
I'm the first passenger off from door 2L after thanking the crew for a
great flight. No lines at immigration and the customs officer peers at
me intently but decides to let me keep walking. I'm outside about 10
minutes ahead of scheduled arrival time, despite the late departure from
Heathrow.
============
Two flights. Two totally different experiences. That's what makes travel
so special.
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