Since Air Deccan (now Kingfisher Red) changed the Indian Aerospace environment in 2003, the Indian consumer has started lapping up the benefits. From multiple carriers to price wars, from frill options to new sectors, from peak timings to on-time departures, we have seen it all. Or have we?
Yesterday (09-Jul-2012), I flew, 6E 164, Indigo from Lucknow to Bangalore. I would like to bring to the attention of every air passenger, of all cabin and ground staff, of all airport authorities, of every airline, and of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a few anecdotes that may seem hilarious or ridiculous, but at the outset are minor or major issues that are looking for better control and management in our technology driven world in this information era. As you read these points, please keep in mind that the Lucknow Airport has recently shifted to a new (as they call, swanky) terminal... and it sucks!
1. 45 minute deadline - I reached Lucknow Airport well in time - 7.30 PM for an 8.40 PM flight. I had got reminders from Indigo that check-in counters will close 45 minutes before departure. I can understand that with increasing number of passengers, how important this is. However, given the traffic on NH25 where the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport (CCSA) at Amausi is located, it can take from 15 minutes to 4 hours to cross the 15 kilometres from Lucknow that the Airport is, depending upon time of day, day of week, plan of cows and dogs to fight on highway, the truck that toppled over the divider to save the auto guy or two wheeler with three people who sped out of the service lane not caring for theirs or others lives. Now how should I plan to leave for the flight? Anyone? And what if I am a wee bit late? Say by a few seconds? And whose clock am I to follow anyway? The BIG BEN?
2. Ticket print - about 2.5 lakh flight tickets are booked everyday, out of which more than 1 lakh are e-tickets. (You think my stats are wrong? Please feel free to correct me.) Now to enter the airport, these people will need to take a print of the e-ticket. What is it that the printed ticket carries that is checked for security reasons? As I understand, it's the name of the passenger and date and time of travel. Name of passenger ensures that the persons identity can be checked and date and time of travel will reduce nuisance at the terminal. Anything else? In today's age, an email confirmation on phone/tablet, or simply an sms confirmation can do the same, right? Then why waste SO MUCH paper? On top of that, airlines have now started charging for ticket print outs on airport counters. INR 50 for a print out. Are you freaking kidding me?
3. Baggage screening - Lucknow Airport still has baggage screening. Now I don't oppose that. I am happy that I have a better feeling of security, which at other airports isn't there. However, shouldn't I be informed about this upfront? What if I am departing out of Lucknow first time and I don't anticipate the extra 5 minutes I need for this to reach the check-in counters? Also, what's with the inconsistency? Why is it that baggage screening is opted in for or not by an airport? Is it not defined in the protocols laid by AAI what should be exactly done?
4. Check-in - This is one process I can't complain about. The options are getting better. An individual is getting choices to do web check-ins, kiosk check-ins, etc. Sometimes the queue for check-in can get bugging though, because a lot of people are unaware about such options, and a lot of times the kiosks don't work. Remember the blue screen on DD in the olden days - rukawat ke liye khed hai?
5. Security Check - Once again, no offence. I understand this is a necessary activity and I always comply by all instructions of security check like a responsible citizen. The Lucknow Airport however had an amazing piece in store. No separate queues for men and women. Yes. Believe me. Also, there were two queues. One for domestic and one for international. Yes, starting from the same point. Also, there was NO signage. I had to ask the police officer on duty where to go. One good thing they have done to prevent confusion and theft is that the laptop and mobile trays have numbered tokens. Only if you show the numbered token, you get your stuff. But the system isn't flawless. Neither the staff, nor the passengers seem to care too much about the number system.
6. Seating capacity - I was supposed to board from Gate 1. The area demarkated for that gate had seating capacity for about 50 - 60 people. Note again that this is a 'new' terminal. A full Airbus A320 carries 180 passengers. Do Lucknow Airport authorities feel that flights will take off at one-third their capacity always? Or is it that because the passengers are going to be seated for a while, let them stand for some time and stretch their legs? (Sorry if the sarcasm hurt someone.)
7. Announcements (and how passengers care two hoots about them) - Lady among ground staff was literally shouting (yeah, not using the 'BOSE' announcement system - waste of money, energy and time). Also, nobody was paying heed to her. Delhi flight was supposed to board from gate 5. However, passengers for Delhi were still seated right beside me. (Yeah, I managed to get a seat, whew!). We were here at around 8 PM and the LCDs (smaller ones at Lucknow) were displaying flights of 6.10 and 6.50 (Spicejet and Jetairways respectively - I may not remember the time correctly). Also, the spicejet logo was missing. What? Spicejet? No logo? You should check with the AAI, or at least with the CCSA.
8. Boarding - Again. Delhi passengers. Boarding for Bangalore. I mean, announcements, LCDs, boarding passes, shouting by ground staff, even bar code scanning for boarding clearance - all failed. If the security personal had not checked this anamoly, the gentleman would probably have landed in Bangalore. (And we thought only luggage gets misplaced :D).
9. First Time Flier - You will still find people commenting in awe - 'What did the air hostess just say?' 'What is a window shade?' 'Now we will go to the runway.' 'Sit back!' 'We're up, we're up, we're flying!' During turbulence - 'Now we feel like in a plane.' And then during landing - 'Why are we so close to the ground already?' 'Bhad bhad bhad bhad karega ab.'
10. Cabin Crew - People! Mobile Phones have flight modes. Yes, I know I have to keep it switched off during take-off and landing, but other times? For that matter, flights in other countries allow mobile calls during flight and even have wi-fi internet available. Evolve! High time! Also, aren't you supposed to carry first aid? Then how come you never have any cotton wool?
All in all, I had a pretty harrowed experience this flight. Though this is not going to deter me from flying or from cribbing about the system. What I can do, I will try my level best to. If anyone has thoughts or suggestions, please do comment. Together we can make a better world.
