Review of IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Doha in Economy

IndiGo 6E1305 Mumbai to Doha

Flight Details:
Airlines:IndiGo
Flight: 6E1305 BOM - DOH
Reg: VT-IBB
Aircraft: Airbus A321-251NX
Class: Economy
Departure Mumbai Airport Terminal 2: 5:50PM [Actual: 6.20PM]
Arrival Doha Hamad International Airport: 6:40PM [Actual: 7.10PM]
Flight time: 3 hours 30 mins
Distance: 2295 kilometers or 1426 miles

VIDEO: IndiGo 6E1305 Mumbai to Doha

Introduction

This report is from April 2023. Having spent few days in Mumbai. Read earlier report here - Qatar Airways QR556 Doha to Mumbai

Time passed quickly and it was time to return back to work.

Booking Information

I had booked flight with Qatar Airways and had a 1 hour and 30 minutes transit through Doha. 

A week before departure, I received an email that the Sydney flight would depart 15 mins early due to Daylight saving ending in Australia.

I didn't want to have 14 hours transit in Doha with an early flight. Decided to stick with the original booking and accepted the change.

Pre-Departure

I also received an email with a PNR number as the Doha flight was codeshare with Indigo.

Prior to departure, I logged in the Qatar Airways website and tried to check-in, received the below message. I tried logging in the Indigo website with their PNR, it did not allow check-in.

I was tracking the flight before departure

Observed the aircraft flying to Doha, arrives in Mumbai from Dhaka and departs after an hour.

Doha flight was arriving late everyday as seen from the screenshot below. I was hoping it would be on time as my transit time was short after the change.

Arriving at the Airport

On the day of departure, I booked a Ola taxi early.  Driver was local and arrived on time.

As the peak traffic had not started, reached airport in an hour. Alighted from the taxi at Zone 6 and paid the driver in cash.

Airport did not look busy. I entered the departure area after showing the passport and ticket at the entrance.  Checked the flight schedule, 6E1305 check-in was Zone K.

Check-in for the flight had just opened and passengers had queued.

As I was about the join the queue, ground staff asked If I was carrying power-bank in the bag. I answered no, he stuck a no power-bank sticker on the bag.

While waiting in the queue, a young guy in front asked me in Marathi, if I was going to Doha. He was travelling on a plane for the 1st time and being an international flight was anxious regarding the procedure. I said I'm not going to Doha but transiting.

Someone on the other side on the line said in Hindi, He was going to Doha and he can follow him. He ignored the person and said to me in Marathi, Can he follow me.  While in the queue, I explained the procedure to him.

My turn came after 30 mins of wait. As I was going to the counter, He followed me at check-in. I told him to go to next counter to speedup the process. He asked me to wait for him after check-in. 

I had passport and OCI was checked. Ground staff asked me If I would like a window seat, I was offered 3A or 19F. I chose the F seat on the starboard side thinking can get a good view of Doha city if approach was from North. I had selected the next flight seat at time of booking. Got boarding pass for both flights.

Check-in progress. After check-in was completed, I waited for him.

Security and Immigration

He came soon after and we walked towards security check.

Boarding card has to be scanned to enter the security check area. At the security check to remove everything on person and put it in the bag.

He followed me, passed x-ray and then physical check. My bag had batteries was pulled aside. Security asked me, if I had batteries and put my bag again to scan. I told the guy to go ahead and complete immigration. It took 10 mins to get the bag scanned as there other passengers ahead waiting to get bag rescanned.

After the bag scan was completed, I scanned boarding pass again to enter the immigration.  There were 3 people ahead and got divided further as counters became free. I had to change counter as a foreigner was having some issue with visa. I must have waited 3 mins to reach immigration counter.

The immigration officer checked took my passport and OCI card, scanned and then stamped exit.

Departure Area

Entered the departure area and passed the duty free shops.

Flight Schedule. 6E1305 would be departing from gate 48B.

Flight information

Departure area

PlaneSpotting

I had completed all the procedures, I checked the airside from the food court. As I already knew aircraft had not arrived. I continued waiting in the food court.

Air India dominating the gates and tarmac.

Air India B787-8 pushback and a Vistara Airbus A320 occupying gate 48B. I knew there would be gate change as the Vistara had not activities around it.

Vistara arrives at gate.

Indigo growing numbers.

Air India pushback

After spending some time, planespotting. I decided to check the gate area.

I had eaten before arriving but while walking past the food court. I was unable to find any information about this flight on Youtube.

Not sure, if the service would be a Buy on Board[BOB] or full service. Seeing the food, decided to return and have something before boarding.

Walking towards Mumbai Airports broken arm gates.

Not many passengers were waiting near the gate.

Counter was empty.

Air India's latest lease from Delta at gate 48A

View towards terminal

Domestic section - Gate access by escalator on the left.

Gate 49-53 were unused at the time.

Airside view

I met the co-passenger again. He was busy on the phone, I told him, I will go for a walk and be back later.

I ordered the food from the counter.

Masala dosa with chai

Air side view as evening peak was just starting.

Indigo from Dhaka landed on time on runway 27, while I was having food.  Taxied in front of the food court.

IndiGo VT-IBB Airbus A321-251NX arrives from Dhaka.

As it approached the gate on the right side, I knew there would be gate change. Aerobridge was connected and passengers disembarked. I had finished food by then.

I decided to return boarding area. Thinking passengers may be bussed to the aircraft. As I got closer, I noticed the co-passengers walking towards the other side. I met the guy again, he informed me there was gate change.

I followed others as I didn't check the gate number.

Departure gate was reassigned to 66B

Passengers gathered around the gate.

Wide angle view

Departure Gate

Time was 5.20pm. Passengers waiting for boarding call.

Indigo VT-IBB preparing to operate 6E1305 BOM - DOH

BoARding

At 5.25pm boarding was called by Zone numbers. I chatted with the co-passengers and informed him to show passport and boarding pass when zone 1 is called. As I was seated in Zone 2, I would be boarding before him. Wished him luck with the new job and that we may not meet upon disembarkation as it is likely I would have to rush for the next flight.

Zone 2 was called and showed my passport and boarding pass and was allowed to proceed to the aerobridge.

Entering the aerobridge

Short queue formed to board flight.

Aircraft view with rego

IndiGo VT-IBB  Airbus A321neo, manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) - 10900,  Age - 0.5 Years, Delivered - Nov 2022, Engines - 2x CFMI, Seating Config - Y232.
Information source: Planespotters.net

Crew waiting at the door, checking boarding pass.

OnBoard

All economy seating - 3-3

Walking towards seat 19F

Reached the exit row seat.

Boarding in progress.

Zone 1 boarding

Boarding continued for some time. The middle seat remained empty throughout, Aisle seat had a women. Who asked the crew and moved in the window seat ahead.

Pushback, TAxi and Departure

Crew announced that boarding was completed by 5.45pm and on time.  The crew briefed passengers in the exit row regarding the evacuation and checked if willing to assist in emergency.

Announcement was made by female 1st officer awaiting clearance.

Pushback commenced at 6.00pm. I was certain it would be late arrival and I would have to rush to make it to the next flight.

Taxi

Vacated gate

As the aircraft taxied, safety instruction were demonstrated manually.

Aircraft taxied slowly.

Aircraft queue formed for departure

Vistara ready to depart

Indigo ahead, aircraft was 5th in queue when it entered the taxiway.

more aircraft's joining the queue behind.

At 6.20pm aircraft entered the runway 27.

Engines fired, ready to depart.

Took off towards the West

View of Terminal 1 and Western Express Highway below looking North.

Flying over Juhu beach onwards to the Arabian sea.

Inflight

Upon attaining cruising altitude, seat belt sign was switched off.

Flying over the haze over the Arabian sea.

Seated in exit row, I had plenty of leg space.

SEAT Pocket Material

I checked the seat pocket to find the content.

All items were kept in a plastic zip bag. Contained inflight magazine, safety card and airsickness bag.

Backcover

Indigo A321 neo safety card

Full card

Most passengers were resting after departure

Cabin Service

Crew started cabin service 1 and half hours after departure. BOB Service was available on this flight.

Crew checked boarding pass and served passengers who had pre-booked meal. I had a Codeshare Qatar[CSQR], Qatar Meal[QRML] on my boarding pass.

Baggage tag on the back

Buy on board information

Indian selection

Instant meals

Beverages

Pre-booking and duty free information

Crew checked my boarding pass, as I had QRML. She informed the options and asked what I would like to have. She handed a tissue.

 I selected the sandwich and coke for the drink. I did not have to pay of the meal as it was paid at the time of booking.

I had selected the chicken honey mustard sandwich with marble cake slice.

Food packaging on the tray. Passenger behind purchased a chicken biryani, crew accepted Indian rupee ₹500 .

After I finished eating, kept the rubbish on the tray for collection.

Seat

I noticed the seats in the exit row had XL written. I assume it stands for eXtra Legroom.

Seats were comfortable for the flight length.

I continued reading the inflight magazine. Indigo domestic and international network. Rubbish was cleared,cabin light dimmed for resting.

Inflight

Twilight is view as aircraft flying closer to Arabian peninsula.

Cabin lights dimmed. I wanted to use the toilet and walked back, saw the crew sitting and chatting in the rear of the aircraft.

Observation:

This flight had mostly people going to Qatar for work, very few transit passengers. There were many with family and children.
Flight was almost full, my sequence number showed 100. and there were still more to check-in.

There were 8 vacant seats in the exit row. All the other seats were occupied.

Toilet was clean but passengers had thrown town on the floor instead of the waste bin.

I cleared the paper towel to wash hands.

Walking back to seat.

I settled in the seat as aircraft flew over Oman and then UAE. Flying over Abu Dhabi as the sun had set.

Cabin ready for arrival.

Descend and Landing

As aircraft was approaching Qatar, it was almost past the arrival time of 6.40pm. 1st officer announced descend would be commencing and to prepare cabin for landing. Aircraft approached Doha Hamad International Airport from the South. The passengers on the port side had nice view of Al Wakra and aircraft descended to land on runway 34R.

Aircraft landed at 7.00p.m.
Landing felt smooth as I was seated on the landing gear, even though braking was hard. A short taxi after exiting the runway.

Aircraft docked at Concourse B.

Disembarkation

Passengers were seated as the aircraft docked at gate.

Seat belt sign was switched off. Passengers stood in the aisle waiting for door to open.

I knew by then I would have to rush. I disembarked the aircraft at 7.15pm.

Transit

On entering the terminal, ground staff had boards with gate numbers for Sydney, Almaty, Johannesburg and Khartoum. Watch video to see the gate numbers of other flights.

I found my gate for Sydney flight would be C12. I checked and walk briskly following the transfer sign towards security check.

Reached the transfer security area at 7.25pm. There was only 1 passengers ahead clearing security. I put all my things in the bag and cleared security. I then took escalator down to enter the departure concourse.

Hope you enjoyed the trip. Thanks for reading.

End of Trip

:)