A long flight

[Snuggle]

A special thanks to the 777 crews at Delta for accommodating me in business elite from JFK - BOM AND back. The 15.5 hour flight flew by with the lay flat bed seats. The food was excellent, the crews were very friendly, and 1 of the 4 pilots even gave me a tour of the pilot rest facility. Total cost was around 20 dollars in taxes and a box of Godiva chocolates.

[bike21]

Nice! Love me some Delta Business Elite!

How was India?

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by bike21

How was India?

I went after about 8 years, a lot has changed. It was a very memorable trip because I got to meet a lot of family that I haven't seen for 8 yrs. India itself has changed quite a bit in the past 8 years. There are malls everywhere just like the ones we have here, mcdonalds and other fast food restaurants are all over the place. Bars, lounges, nightclubs, themed restaurants, they have it all. I was even working out at Golds Gym in India. It isn't the India it used to be 8 years ago, there's a lot more development. A lot more jobs and a middle class now exists. Of course coming from America you need to keep an open mind as things are different out there. The strangest thing for me was how respectful everyone was, even if you go to a restaurant the waiters are very respectful and I wasn't used to that being from New York.

I traveled within India on Spice Jet and Kingfisher, after talking with the crew I realized how much more respect the Captain gets from everyone. It seems like the Captain has a lot more authority there then we do here. When I asked about jumpseating, the Gate agent told me the Captain has full authority over that and they really just do whatever he says. Oh yea and they say ''Commander'' for the Captain.

[bike21]

Originally Posted by Snuggle

I went after about 8 years, a lot has changed. It was a very memorable trip because I got to meet a lot of family that I haven't seen for 8 yrs. India itself has changed quite a bit in the past 8 years. There are malls everywhere just like the ones we have here, mcdonalds and other fast food restaurants are all over the place. Bars, lounges, nightclubs, themed restaurants, they have it all. I was even working out at Golds Gym in India. It isn't the India it used to be 8 years ago, there's a lot more development. A lot more jobs and a middle class now exists. Of course coming from America you need to keep an open mind as things are different out there.

Do you see this 'progress' as a good or bad thing? Personally, I dislike when other cultures are 'Americanized' in the sense of everything suburbia and fast food. Progress is one thing, but cloning our culture seems silly to me. Jobs and middle class are good for them, but more MickeyD's are not IMHO.

My and I definitely want to get over there sometime soon.

[popaviator]

Can you post some more pics of your trip?

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by bike21

Do you see this 'progress' as a good or bad thing? Personally, I dislike when other cultures are 'Americanized' in the sense of everything suburbia and fast food. Progress is one thing, but cloning our culture seems silly to me. Jobs and middle class are good for them, but more MickeyD's are not IMHO.

My and I definitely want to get over there sometime soon.

I agree with you to an extent. I thought about this as well, but India seems to be keeping it's culture for the most part. It's still India and you can still experience the Indian culture there. You should definitely go visit, it's a great place to check out. Let me know if you ever decide to go and have questions, I may have some useful info for you.

[bike21]

Cool, will do!

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by popaviator

Can you post some more pics of your trip?

Unfortunately due to the moisture there my cam kept getting all foggy. I'll post what I have but it's mostly stuff from indoors like Food. It's monsoon season and the moisture in the air is just crazy in Mumbai. After lunch I'll get on it.

[popaviator]

Awesome..............thx

[Snuggle]

The in flight dinning experience on board the 777.

[Snuggle]

First pic here is from a restaurant called Barbecue Nation, the food cooks in front of you and you can use the brush to flavor the food yourself. The second pic is from another restaurant called Serengeti, it's a Rainforest theme. Third picture shows the ''Mob Justice'' which still goes on in India, local people who catch crimes happening will actually beat the person up and then call the cops. The last picture isn't the best shot of it, but if you look past the white car you will say the famous 3 wheeled Auto Rikshaw. Their like little taxis that buzz around all over India. In other countries they are called the ''Tuk Tuk''.

[coa787]

Cool photos. Now I'm hungry... and it's four in the morning.

[popaviator]

Originally Posted by coa787

Cool photos. Now I'm hungry... and it's four in the morning.

Great Pics!

[Pilot5510]

...and some people complain about airline food???????

[coa787]

That's because they were sitting in coach. I guess the only thing they'll have to complain about now is how much it costs to buy a meager snack during flight.

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Great pics! Did you by any chance get to visit the flight deck?

[Hypersonic_Wings]

I'm hungry too, haha. Someday I will fly in business class and get the royal treatment mmhmm.

[sorrygottarunway]

Originally Posted by Snuggle

I went after about 8 years, a lot has changed. It was a very memorable trip because I got to meet a lot of family that I haven't seen for 8 yrs. India itself has changed quite a bit in the past 8 years. There are malls everywhere just like the ones we have here, mcdonalds and other fast food restaurants are all over the place. Bars, lounges, nightclubs, themed restaurants, they have it all. I was even working out at Golds Gym in India. It isn't the India it used to be 8 years ago, there's a lot more development. A lot more jobs and a middle class now exists. Of course coming from America you need to keep an open mind as things are different out there. The strangest thing for me was how respectful everyone was, even if you go to a restaurant the waiters are very respectful and I wasn't used to that being from New York.

I traveled within India on Spice Jet and Kingfisher, after talking with the crew I realized how much more respect the Captain gets from everyone. It seems like the Captain has a lot more authority there then we do here. When I asked about jumpseating, the Gate agent told me the Captain has full authority over that and they really just do whatever he says. Oh yea and they say ''Commander'' for the Captain.

This was my experience with going to germany as well on Singapore. I tried to get on Lufthansa from JFK-FRA and was abruptly shut out by any/all gate agents, even in uniform w/ US Airways hardware, speaking german. Went over to the Singapore and they sent me to talk to the captain who was very accommodating. It seemed like once he said it was okay, the gate agents did whatever possible to put my name into the system. No clue how they had me listed, but it printed out a boarding pass with a seat assignment.

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by JA Yawd Bwoy

Great pics! Did you by any chance get to visit the flight deck?

Yep! sure did. It was pretty busy up there with 4 pilots. Speaking of which, it's interesting to note there are only 2 jumpseats in the cockpit and 4 pilots total. So the Captain told me if the FAA does want to sit up front, the 777 has a special waiver to allow a pilot to sit in the pilot rest area for the takeoff and landing. You have to be rated in the 777 to sit up there as well.

[fsiflyer]

Originally Posted by Snuggle

I traveled within India on Spice Jet and Kingfisher, after talking with the crew I realized how much more respect the Captain gets from everyone. It seems like the Captain has a lot more authority there then we do here. When I asked about jumpseating, the Gate agent told me the Captain has full authority over that and they really just do whatever he says. Oh yea and they say ''Commander'' for the Captain.

I notice that it's that way all around Europe. Out here in Russia they also say Commander. When someone wants to talk to you they say, "Tovarish Commader". It's pretty neat becuase people actually have a form of respect for the captain and the position it holds. They may or may not like the person but they respect the position. Glad you had a great trip!!!

[ATLTRACON]

Originally Posted by Snuggle

Yep! sure did. It was pretty busy up there with 4 pilots. Speaking of which, it's interesting to note there are only 2 jumpseats in the cockpit and 4 pilots total. So the Captain told me if the FAA does want to sit up front, the 777 has a special waiver to allow a pilot to sit in the pilot rest area for the takeoff and landing. You have to be rated in the 777 to sit up there as well.

Used to get $99 tix on perx to EGKK on British Airways (wife's Welsh). Had a friend who worked the counter at ATL and would stick us in their Crown Room area and bump us up to Business Class. What good times. Last time we used that was 9/10/2001. Wife and I both in the jumpseat for takeoff and landing at Gatwick. Arrived on 9/11. That's the last time that will happen (jumpseat that is).