Almaty trip report - Part 1 - Introduction, MAA-DEL on Jet Airways, transit in DEL
As I mentioned earlier, work took me to Amlaty in Kazakhstan a couple of weeks back. This is the first part of the trip report, and here's the trip report index (that will be tentative and changeable until the final part is published!):
Though its status as the country's capital was revoked in favour of Astana in 1997, Almaty (ALA) is still the largest city in the country, and has the most connections to the rest of the world. My options were either MAA-DEL-ALA on Jet Airways/Air Astana, or MAA-AUH-ALA on EY. The latter would have meant a relatively long layover on the way up, and an even longer one on the way back, and so I chose to fly via DEL.
- MAA-DEL on Jet Airways 9W 822, and transit in DEL
- DEL-ALA on Air Astana KC 908
- The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - hotel review
- Almaty airport departures and Business Class lounge review
- ALA-DEL on Air Astana KC 907 (aka 7 am is sparkling wine time), and transit in DEL
- DEL-MAA on Jet Airways 9W 822
Though its status as the country's capital was revoked in favour of Astana in 1997, Almaty (ALA) is still the largest city in the country, and has the most connections to the rest of the world. My options were either MAA-DEL-ALA on Jet Airways/Air Astana, or MAA-AUH-ALA on EY. The latter would have meant a relatively long layover on the way up, and an even longer one on the way back, and so I chose to fly via DEL.
MAA-DEL
Flight: 9W822 MAA-DEL | 2h 45m | 1095 miles | Business Class
This was the first leg of the trip, and was an early morning flight (the 6.45 am one out of MAA).
This was the first leg of the trip, and was an early morning flight (the 6.45 am one out of MAA).
I'd checked in online earlier, and so was able to bag seat 1A in business class, which seemed to be flying quite light - 3/12 was the occupancy in the front cabin.
Right after I'd settled into my seat, the IFE came over with a pre-departure drink (non-alcoholic, of course!), and I decided to have some apple juice, along with a glass of water, which was promptly delivered.
We took off without much ado, a little before scheduled departure, given that it was early on a Sunday morning and there was hardly any traffic at the airport. Once we reached cruising altitude, menus were handed out for breakfast.
There wasn't exactly a "choice" of cereals, as much as a choice of cereal or not. I chose yes.
I also went with the Egg Roulade for the entree, which turned out to be surprisingly good! And a couple of croissants, that were served with marmalade, preserves and honey.
I then had to get some work done, which involved listening to an audio clip. I searched my cabin baggage quite desperately for my earphones but couldn't locate them. That's when the IFE came over to ask if everything was OK - which it wasn't. When I explained the situation to her, she immediately offered help by lending me an extra pair of earphones that she was carrying. Desperate times call for desperate colours, so I really didn't mind the pink, though the IFE was quite amused about it when she handed them over to me!
There wasn't exactly a "choice" of cereals, as much as a choice of cereal or not. I chose yes.
I also went with the Egg Roulade for the entree, which turned out to be surprisingly good! And a couple of croissants, that were served with marmalade, preserves and honey.
I then had to get some work done, which involved listening to an audio clip. I searched my cabin baggage quite desperately for my earphones but couldn't locate them. That's when the IFE came over to ask if everything was OK - which it wasn't. When I explained the situation to her, she immediately offered help by lending me an extra pair of earphones that she was carrying. Desperate times call for desperate colours, so I really didn't mind the pink, though the IFE was quite amused about it when she handed them over to me!
Nonetheless, work was done in an hour and the earphones were duly returned with a hearty bunch of thanks. Forty-winks later, it was time to commence descent, and so we had to return to sitting upright with the seat-belts secured and window shades open - which was a bit inconvenient since the sun was shining right through the window and on my eyes. But only for a short while, after which we aligned to runway 11/29 from the west, and so the direct sunlight would've been the pilots' problem, not mine.
Arrival was fairly routine and smooth, and I was glad I could transit from within the airport rather than stepping outside into the 35 deg C heat. Unfortunately, it didn't go as smoothly as I had planned, because I couldn't get my boarding pass for the Air Astana flight online (though I'd blocked a seat). So it did take a little extra bit of effort (but still all within the terminal), for the transit.
Arrival was fairly routine and smooth, and I was glad I could transit from within the airport rather than stepping outside into the 35 deg C heat. Unfortunately, it didn't go as smoothly as I had planned, because I couldn't get my boarding pass for the Air Astana flight online (though I'd blocked a seat). So it did take a little extra bit of effort (but still all within the terminal), for the transit.
Transit in DEL
The transit at DEL to the international terminal was uneventful, except that I didn't have much time with a 9.30 am arrival, 11.30 am departure, and fairly long trek up to the boarding gates. International departures in DEL are in the same building and floor as domestic departures, just a few (hundred?) meters further down. Nonetheless, I came up using the escalator, to be greeted by this.Proceeding straight to the counter, I inquired and found that there business class was going light - only 5/16 occupancy, so I expected this to be a fairly quite flight with good service.
After collecting my boarding pass, I proceeded to immigration, where the business / first class queues took the most time to clear. I suspect this was partly because of a team of spiritual gurus (and their entourage) travelling on EK to DXB, and partly because each immigration official spent a lot of time with passengers chatting and generally being nice.
Anyway, after immigration and security check (there's a separate line for business and first class which, again, was packed), I realised I didn't have much time for the lounge. But I just had to visit it, if only to take a few pictures for the blog, so off I went to the ITC Green Lounge, which is the one used by Air Astana.
Given the relatively early hour (not exactly peak hours for international traffic), the lounge was rather empty. Seating options included individual chairs, as well as pods for a more quite experience.
In fact it was so early, they were only then sweeping and swabbing the place!
There was a minimal but healthy-looking spread for breakfast, mainly salads, sandwiches and cereals, and also Indian breakfast on the buffet and to order.
And an array of coolers with soft drinks, and a coffee counter.
There's a bar too, but it wasn't open at the time.
Just outside the lounge is also a kids play zone, which I thought was a good idea to keep the young ones entertained - some of the long transit times can be a pain for kids, and in spite of the technological advancements we have embraced for entertainment, there's something to be said for real play areas!
After a few pictures, I left to find the smoking area near my gate, knowing well that my next cigarette would be not earlier than in 4 hours' time. It was a pretty long walk, since the boarding gate was at the other end of the furthest arm of the international terminal, but I finally found the smoking area, and did some planespotting there.
Finally, off to my gate, which I reached just a few minutes after boarding opened, but not before I took a few pictures of my ride for the day.
As expected, it was an A320 that I was going to fly that morning, since the flight to ALA was only about 3 hours + change of flying time. I was looking forward to the service on Air Astana!
After collecting my boarding pass, I proceeded to immigration, where the business / first class queues took the most time to clear. I suspect this was partly because of a team of spiritual gurus (and their entourage) travelling on EK to DXB, and partly because each immigration official spent a lot of time with passengers chatting and generally being nice.
Anyway, after immigration and security check (there's a separate line for business and first class which, again, was packed), I realised I didn't have much time for the lounge. But I just had to visit it, if only to take a few pictures for the blog, so off I went to the ITC Green Lounge, which is the one used by Air Astana.
Given the relatively early hour (not exactly peak hours for international traffic), the lounge was rather empty. Seating options included individual chairs, as well as pods for a more quite experience.
In fact it was so early, they were only then sweeping and swabbing the place!
There was a minimal but healthy-looking spread for breakfast, mainly salads, sandwiches and cereals, and also Indian breakfast on the buffet and to order.
And an array of coolers with soft drinks, and a coffee counter.
There's a bar too, but it wasn't open at the time.
Just outside the lounge is also a kids play zone, which I thought was a good idea to keep the young ones entertained - some of the long transit times can be a pain for kids, and in spite of the technological advancements we have embraced for entertainment, there's something to be said for real play areas!
After a few pictures, I left to find the smoking area near my gate, knowing well that my next cigarette would be not earlier than in 4 hours' time. It was a pretty long walk, since the boarding gate was at the other end of the furthest arm of the international terminal, but I finally found the smoking area, and did some planespotting there.
Finally, off to my gate, which I reached just a few minutes after boarding opened, but not before I took a few pictures of my ride for the day.
As expected, it was an A320 that I was going to fly that morning, since the flight to ALA was only about 3 hours + change of flying time. I was looking forward to the service on Air Astana!
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