BIAL Experiences

I want to preempt any possible accusation that I am a lobbyist for BIAL with this full disclosure – I own stocks in BIAL* and I have worked out an elaborate kickback scheme with them to funnel into my personal bank account a part of the UDF they collect from travelers from this and various other forums that I lurk around.

 Also, I am a technologically-challenged person and so do not walk around with a cell phone that takes great photographs (as well as make hot dosas) so no pictures, will have to do with a thousand words instead and therefore reader discretion advised. 

I finally got a chance to get a first-hand look at BIAL. I flew Bengaluru-Delhi-Chandigarh and back this week. This experience would rank alongside my first airline flight in 1968 as one of the most anticipated moments of my life. I had been closely following the developments around the new airport in Bangalore for over a decade even through the years when I lived thousands of miles away. The anticipation was further heightened by reports of a monumental disaster and so I approached this trip with a sense of trepidation and foreboding.  

Now I must confess that I am not a sophisticated traveler who throws out with consummate skill various acronyms for city names, aircraft model and registration numbers, communication gear used, landing approach taken by aircraft etc. However, I have been a frequent traveler around the world for the past 30 years and can smell convenience from a continent away.  

BIAL connectivity: I live in East Bangalore (Richards Town). On Saturday afternoon, it took me exactly 50 minutes to get dropped off curbside at BIAL. It took me about the same to get back home from BIAL on Wednesday around 9:00 pm. The NH-7 part of the road between BIAL interchange and Yelahanka north exit is looking very good. If and when the government carries out its threat to build an elevated section between Hebbal flyover and North Yelahanka, the drive will be a breeze (for me at least). By contrast, a trip to the HAL would vary between 20 minutes and 45 minutes depending on the disposition of the bus drivers from HAL and other DRDO orgs on S.Das Road.

BIAL user interface: It took me exactly 12 minutes from the time I was dropped off curbside to order my complimentary cup of coffee at the café near my departure gate. During this time, I got checked in, went through security check and had the chance for a quick restroom stop. I might have just got lucky or it may have been due to the fact that I was behind the great Roger Binny (who was on his way to the Lords with Kirmani and Kirti Azad for the big event) at the check in and security lines and may have vicariously enjoyed VIP status.  

On my return, the aircraft pulled up to the gate at 8:45 pm and I was in a cab by 9:10. During this time, the aerobridge got attached, passenger unloaded, baggage collected, pit stop made (I told you before, I am a 58-year old male!), taxi money from ATM collected. It was almost a Changi-like experience especially in contrast to Delhi Terminal 1 which still retains the look and feel (and smell) of an AAI airport.

The things I did not like about BIAL – being greeted on arrival by the smell of chicken grilling in the tandoor (coming from one of the cafes), the dysfunction around the taxi line notwithstanding the efforts of BIAL and the taxi company reps and the boarding procedure  -- how difficult can it be to board by row numbers. I know KF tried this at HAL but I think we, the people,  defeated that system. The last of these could considerable reduce the clustering of people.  

Meru cabs are fantastic. When it is your turn at the top of the taxi line assuming one has been allowed to form, the uniformed cab driver jumps out and loads your luggage in the trunk, starts the meter, takes you to your destination, prints you a receipt, collects the money with no intention to hang around to ask for something extra. By the way, I did have a very enlightening discussion with the cab driver on lane discipline (he said, "It is a great idea, I will comply but my customers are always in a hurry and want me to pay no attention to lanes". Lane driving=Slow traffic)

BIAL terminal building aesthetics: Like I said I am a nuts and bolts traveler and pay very little attention to these things unless it is extremely noteworthy (the only airport that falls in this category for me is Denver International). I have flown in and out of Changi dozens of times yet cannot remember anything about the external appearance. In my opinion, the designers of BIAL have made the best effort at striking a balance between cost, functionality, internal ambience (space, light etc.) etc with reasonable success. I say put spectacular landscaping around the building and nobody will pay attention to the building itself.  

Toilets: I thought that it was adequate for arrivals but not so in the departure area. It looks like BIAL now has a caretaker for each toilet and the level of cleanliness is good.  

Finally, I would say that arriving at BIAL, hiring a cab and traveling on NH7 up to Yelanka is almost a first-world experience. From Yelahanka onwards, just close your eyes and pray!

(*PS: In case you are wondering how I acquired stocks in BIAL, I will let you in on a secret -- I  acquired them through our fearless leaders in the Government of Karnataka!) 

Pretty much everything has been written about landside, so here are a few airside comments/observations:-

 a) Bus and utility vehicle discipline is terrible. The bus goes all the way to one end to do a full round turn which has a speed limit of 40kmph marked on it - at that speed, the bus will flip over or the pax wil fall down. Speed limit needs to be 15 kmph like at DEL for all but emergency vehicles. 

b) Saw a baggage trolley pulling tractor cross right in front of our bus, like doing a dare. Got a photo, shall post on my flickr pages soonest.  

c) Ground control Radar at ATC was not turning!! Two ATC staffers were out on the roof, with binoculars. Remebered my days at sea as cadet, up on crow's nest or monkey island. Had to shake myself hard, and pinch myself too. Got a photo. Shall post.

d) Drivers from taxi and pirate organisations harangue passengers at the arrival gate. Expect Mumbai style touts soon. Needs resolute strength to walk through them to the bus. One Maruti van operator offered me door drop in JP Nagar at the same 150/- rupees plus 50/- rupees for my strolley, claimed he was going back empty and his van was parked about 10 minutes awat. Interesting. (Not airside, this landside)

e) Kingfisher A-330 parked, looking quite unloved.

f) Toielts clean in arrival, but could be a few more. Helpful attendant. Very smart design at arrival baggage claim, the middle section can be used for international and/or domestic, as per rush. tried to see if I could smooth talk my way to international arrival duty free shop, got big smile and no entry.

g) Too many people NOT wearing high-visibility jackets strolling around on the tarmac area. Looks very unsafe.

But all in all, good experience. Wonder how it will be in peak hot hot summer? 

I travelled from BLR- Devanhalli Airport to Frankfurt and further to Washington DC on 24th May 2008 by Lufthansa. Everything felt good, was happy to be a part of this grand opening and majestic airport. Since I was used to mosquito bites and horrible infrastructure at the HAL airport, I was awed by this gigantic struture, cleanliness and similar to USA (rather much better) look airport.

After travelling nearly 36 hours to get back to the USA, I realised that the baggage that was checked in at the airport didnt make it to DC. The worst feeling crawled in my tummy and after 3-4 weeks of continous calls to all the airports I flew through, there was dismay. Till date (30th June 2008), I still havent received my bags.

Since the BLR airport staff wasnt well acquainted with the airport, I assume, the bag has fallen off the conveyor belt and hasnt made it to the flight (LH 755 and LH 416). The staff asked me to pay extra (as I had more than 23kgs in the bag) and sent me to the LH desk, I didnt ensure if the bag was tagged properly and sent on the conveyor belt. This means that the LH employee didnt put the bag on the belt, or someone has stolen the bag.

I had returned to the country after 2.5 years and had everything new in the bag. Is there a way to find out from CC cameras if anyone has stolen my bag from the new airport? This will be devastating to know how poorly and pathetic the security system is at this lavish grand airport.

Thank you

Sonal

Once the bag is checked in, its the responisibility of the carrier to take care of it. So in this case Lufthansa should be tracking the baggage instead of the airport..they will also  compensate for lost baggage..

IF you have not, then forward these complaints to BIAL. Maybe you can send the complaints through Praja as well.

A message from a fellow member on the Infrastructure Committee. He is a senior VP of a major banking organisation. Now spending a holiday in the US. A very sober and decent person.

His bags were still missing 2.5 weeks after the flight.

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Dear Devesh,

Hope this finds you in the best of health and spirits.

It was our first visit to the new airport. We had a comfortable bus connection and a changed look of the airport; found it to be more spacious and comfortable, but not a match to any of the well-known international airports, like Singapore.

Reached San Jose, safely. A safe climax after a traumatic experience with the Sri Lankan airline!

The Bangalore-Colombo flight on 9th June was delayed 9 hours in Bangalore and so missed the connecting flight in Colombo. Of course, the sleep too, as we were awake all night expecting the flight to take off any time!

In Colombo, the Airline could not place us on the next immediate flight; attributed to system errorrs; high confusion/ commotion in the airport; plenty of arguments and justifications and our final surrender to their mercy; however, they arranged a good hotel accommodation on the sea beach and a 4 hour city tour; a consolation.

The rescheduled itinerary took us to London on 10th where we were supposed to take a British Airlines connecting flight at 5pm We had the boarding pass issued by Sri Lankan in Colombo, and so proceded to the gate for departure as directed by airline staff. When we were about to board, another system failure confronted us! Sri Lankan should have issued a paper ticket, which they did not. We were off-loaded and the plane took off without us!.

Contacted the Sri Lankan office in the airport; another round of arguments, a blame game, passing the bucks followed. We were put in a nearby hotel in London. The next flight was, fortunately, after a good sleep for us and at 11 am on 11th on Virgin Atlantic Unfornately, another system failure confronted us! When we wanted to check in, Virgin check in officer refused to issue boarding passes saying that their system does not show the booking done by Sri Lankan. Our fate was again challenged; Sri Lankan office would open only in the afternoon at 3. Another series of arguments with various officers ensued. Ultimately, we were on the flight, delayed departure at 12 noon, at last.

The system failure continued to haunt us. When we arrived in San Francisco at 3pm on 11, the registered baggages did not accompany us. They are still missing. We have registered the missing baggages report and are eagerly waiting their reaching us!

The comfort part of all these is that every officer we interacted with over a dozen of them, do not remember all names) blamed the system and the previous officers, but was courteous and helped us to the best of his abilities. They, however, could not prevent the fatigue, anxiety and trauma that we were suffering throughout.

I am looking for possible compensatory benefits or claims against insurance or airlines. Perhaps , you may have something to share with me on this.

Best wishes,

AVR Rao

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com