Spicejet - Review of My First Flight

Spicejet - Review of My First Flight

Recently, I visited the tourist destination of Goa on my annual vacation. For the return journey, I had wait listed train reservations that did not get confirmed. As I had to urgently reach Delhi by Monday, I booked myself on the most conveniently available flight - SpiceJet. Here is a review of my first flight.

SpiceJet has two flights from Goa to Delhi - the 3.00 pm flight via Mumbai and the direct 5.50 flight. On weekdays, the tickets cost Rs. 3,500, on Saturdays it is Rs. 5,028 while the price on Sundays is around Rs. 7,000. Before leaving for the airport, I recieved a lot of advice from my friends -

1. Don't be afraid to ask
2. Puke in the sick bag
3. Don't take the window seat
4. Write your initials on your luggage
5. Use the trolley at the airport
6. Don't take the plants, we'll bring them along later.

I took a taxi to Dabolim Airport in Goa and the driver helped me load my luggage onto a trolley. I found the trolley real difficult to push, so I unloaded my bags and wheeled them along. I went through the usual processes - x ray security check for check-in baggage, getting the boarding pass, checking in luggage, security check for hand baggage, frisking and boarding.

The only 'Dhamaal' (controversy) that occured happened while boarding. The computer system was down so seat numbers could not be given. There was this wheelchair bound foreigner who was supposed to board first along with her family. Some drunk Delhiites could not understand why she was being allowed to board first and started hurling abuses, idiotic arguments about racism and shoved other foreigners including women and very small kids. I was so embarassed. These rude folks rushed to the back gate of the plane. Luckily, the Spicejet staff shut the back doors and made them wait an eternity before letting them enter.

SpiceJet has Boeing 737-800s with 189 seats. It has a typical cruise speed of 850 km per hour at 35,000 feet. As the flight was a no frills flight, I wasn't expecting much. On board, we were given sweets, cake and bottles of mineral water. The airplane departed and arrived on time - a short two and a half hours flight. I finally realised why job ads for airhostesses require tall people. Tall stewardesses are easily spotted through an airport crowd and from the back seats of a plane.

I loved the view from the window as the plane rose over the hills, sea and beaches of Goa. I thought I spotted the place we were staying at. It was located near the River Princess ship which was anchored off the coast of Candolim Beach. Here is a pic from Wikimapia. Later on there were just clouds. We reached Delhi at night. It was dark and the city lights looked very pretty from above.

On landing, I took the red Spice Jet bus to the terminal. It was then that the hot dry weather of Delhi hit me. I had to wait a long time for my baggage to come through on the conveyor belt. It was good that I wrote my initials on my bags as many people had black bags just like mine. I booked a prepaid taxi and headed for home.

About the Spicejet staff - they were polite and helpful. Things moved smoothly even for a newbie like me.

When did you take your first flight ? Which is the best airline you have travelled with ?

That's How It Really Works !!: My Vacation in Goa