Trip report: Singapore to Chennai in Jet Airways B738 Business class
On my recent visit to Singapore on work, I flew Jet Airways' B737-800 service from Chennai to Singapore and back. On the way up, the flight was at the ungodly hour of 2.05 am, and so I published only a limited trip report. However, the return flight was at a much more acceptable 10.25 am, and so I thought it deserved a full trip report (at least, more than the one I published on the way up). So here goes.
SIN-MAA
Flight 9W015 | 4h 10m |1816 miles | Business class | Seat 2F
I wrapped my visit to the lounge, whisky shopped and reached the boarding gate at about 9.45 am, to leave sufficient time for the security check (which happens only at the holding area near the boarding gate). I got a glimpse of my ride for the day.
SIN-MAA
Flight 9W015 | 4h 10m |1816 miles | Business class | Seat 2F
I wrapped my visit to the lounge, whisky shopped and reached the boarding gate at about 9.45 am, to leave sufficient time for the security check (which happens only at the holding area near the boarding gate). I got a glimpse of my ride for the day.
And this beauty being pushed-back right behind the Jet Airways aircraft.
Boarding was announced almost as soon as I reached the hold area, and I was able to board first, as I was flying business class.
There's sufficient legroom with these seats, which are the exact same configuration that's used on domestic business class. However, for those with slightly larger builds, it can be difficult getting in and out of the seat, if the seat in front has been inclined back.
Pre-departure drinks were served, and I was surprised to note that there was no champagne on offer as part of the pre-departure service. This is usually the case when because of local regulation, airlines do not wish to pay taxes that will devolve on them if the opened duty-free items on ground. However, I can assure you that it is more often than not, airline-specific rather than jurisdiction related.
The seat has an in built container / pocket where you can keep your passport, wallet, watch, etc. The seat also features a 3-pin 110V power outlet, USB outlet for charging devices, and the audio-plugin socket.
At around 10.20 am, that is to say 5 minutes before ETD, the captain came on the PA and informed us that due to traffic congestion in SIN, we would be taking of only 30 after ETD, or close to 11 am.
Since they weren't serving champagne, planespotting from my window seat was all I could manage.
We were finally given clearance to push back at 11 am.
We taxied all around the terminal building and it was now clear that we were going to take off using runway 02L. This allowed time for more planespotting.
Including Scoot's 787 Dreamliner.
We were third in departure sequence, after a Qatar A350 and the Scoot 787. Those two aircraft took off in short order, and we were up next.
My window seat in 2F was chosen after looking at historical departure direction, so that I could maximise my views of Singapore from the air. I was not disappointed!!!
The in-seat entertainment set continues to be a 10" monitor on the B738. I decided to watch Night at the Museum - Secret of the Tomb, because it was the only decent comedy offering in the English movies selection.
Soon, menus were distributed and our orders for drinks and lunch were taken.
I chose the champagne. However, when it arrived, it wasn't the Billecart Salmon but Champagne Bollinger, which I think is a better liquid! I had the whole bottle (to be fair, it was a 375 ml half bottle) left at my seat, along with warm nuts. I can assure you, it wasn't my only bottle of the day.
A little while later, the food service began, and I received the salad I had ordered. Both the pumpkin and feta were excellent.
For my main course, I'd asked for the curry roast chicken. However, as with the champagne, I received something entirely different - in fact, it was the fish! Not what I'd ordered, and I certainly didn't like it much, but I plodded on, just in case I lose favour with the FA who was also handing me half-bottle after half-bottle of the liquid gold.
Lunch finally concluded with ice cream. The strawberry isn't a tenth as good as the Belgian chocolate.
By this time the movie had ended, and I napped a bit. Before I knew it, it was time to put on our seat belts and prepare for landing.
Jet Airways B738 - approach into Chennai
Jet Airways B738 - approach into Chennai
Due to repair and maintenance work on the main runway, we used the cross-runway in Chennai for our landing.
Due to repair and maintenance work on the main runway, we used the cross-runway in Chennai for our landing.
Jet Airways B738 - landing in Chennai
And before I knew it, I was done with immigration, collecting my bags, and customs, and was out of the airport.
Overall, the flight was quite efficient, barring the initial delay in departure - not the airline's fault. The hard product isn't Jet's best, I'll give you that. I was a bit skeptical about the service, because I felt it lacked warmth. Jet's westbound international flights are much more about service that this one was.
Overall, the flight was quite efficient, barring the initial delay in departure - not the airline's fault. The hard product isn't Jet's best, I'll give you that. I was a bit skeptical about the service, because I felt it lacked warmth. Jet's westbound international flights are much more about service that this one was.
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