First trip to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)

30th May 2008, with very high expectation of BIAL.....started off from Sahakarnagar at 4:30am to BIAL, early morning, cool breeze... took snaps en route to the new Airport, reached just in 30 minutes....... pretty fast mate..........signage showing the direction is better as we get closer to the Airport, the trumpet flyover is really amazing..... the distance from the NH road to the airport is 6kms, with lots of option for gardening on both sides .....as of now not much of plantation... hope there are some plans........
Took a cab to drop at the airport, as it reached the dropping area, a coupon was given to the driver by a boy standing near an vending machine, who told "10 nimisha matra free" meaning free for 10 minutes only... and gave an ticket, which had the in time printed on it.
Car passed through the narrow lane, where vehicles coming to drop of passengers parking both the sides. this road is so narrow, driver will have a task to take reverse into the lane where he has other vehicles coming to drop of passenger.......New airport and already space constrains........
Didn't find any trolley nearby, need to carry my luggage to a distance.........
Now enter the entrance......it must have been big mate......50% of the door is blocked by the 2 security men standing.... who are there just to delay your entrance rather then to check your tickets......Actually they are really confused with the e-ticket.....each ticket in a different format.... they do not know where to find the flight information... they just have a glance at the e-ticket print out and let you inside..............
Flight Information System:
As I entered the airport found 4 huge LCD display with the flight departure details....The font not big enough....senior citizens might find it difficult to read it...... And that is the only monitor in the check-in area giving the flight info.... I couldn't find any other............
Check in Counter
There are 53 check-in counter despite so much counters....It took 20 minutes for me to get my boarding pass.....And he couldn't book me on through check in to Khajuraho via Delhi, if I had forced he would have given, but found he was not aware of the procedures, I didn't want to loose my luggage, so agreed to collect my luggage and get the check in again at Delhi, The staff seems to be new and I am sure with few more days n experience this section will improve..........not a problem....
Seating arrangement at the check-in area, absolutely minimum.....need to add more place to sit....
in this section I find IC terminal at Delhi superb.....brightly lit... and comfortable seats.....
Security Check
Not much of a problem....was able to security check quickly........went inside.....lots of option for shopping.....there are shops then place to sit.........BIAL is more interested in making a quick money then looking at passengers need..........and the toilets in this area......another absolutely minimum..... be prepare to wait for atleast 5 minutes before you can release your pressure.....New airport and can't plan for the today's need......can it take the load for future years.............
again flight information monitor.....you need to search where it is.... the only source of the departure details is the announcements...........which goes non-stop and you miss out when ur flight details is announced.....
Need more monitors displaying flight information..............in this area........
Boarding Gate
There are 20 boarding gate...... which are divided to domestic and international aircraft........each boarding gate has a monitor, displaying boarding information of 2 flights at the same time.... to find out we need go near the gate and find out which flight boarding is going on..... the IC staff near the gate... at least he smiled at me and told.....the flight number, which was not mine..... had some time so thought of trying out the WiFi

WiFi at BIAL
Enabled wireless on my Dell D610 and connected to the WiFi network.... keyed in gmail address.... got an BIAL page....asking me to enter a password.
Which you can get by sending an SMS WiFi BIAL to 56677
WiFi is free, now I have to check the SMS I sent, how much I will be billed for that....;-).

Boarding was announced....no not by the PAS.... but the staff the gate.......went down....boarded BMTC Volvo bus....which would take us to the aircraft.... bus started off..... reached mid way where it stopped it had to cross the runway where aircraft were taxing..... spent about 15 minutes waiting there...... then it finally took to the aircraft....boarded it..6:15 flight took off at 6:45.
Airport Construction
Still lot of construction is pending......I am sure it will be completed......
Need to have colourful plants inside the terminal......the plants now are just one type....and they already look dead.......Its not that the airport was open in a hurry.....it was delayed by 3 months... thx to the govt.......

Overall.....I would give 4 points out of 10 to the Airport......My expectation was too high... I was comparing Singapore Changai Airport.....but it's no way close to it........This will not be able to take the load in the next 2 years..... Need to plan for the 2nd terminal immediately......

Cheers, in Hotel Paradise, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh... came to give MS Office training for the new bachha party.....