Is it a Yak or a Yeti?
Written: Aug 05 '05 (Updated Aug 05 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clean and tidy plane, hot meal, reasonably comfortable
Cons: Not very punctual, Old plane, Disinterested crew
The Bottom Line: No deep fried yak balls
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| vodkaboy's Full Review: Royal Nepal Airlines |
My first visit to Nepal: Shangri-la-di-da, The land of Yeti, yaks and rather big hills. Excited? Well... yeah! Even if it was a business trip. After all, sharing a vodka with Yeti, and discussing with the abominable snowman himself just how good Ashley Judd is looking nowadays would be something to tell the kids about one day! And yes, of course he watches movies. There's no cable, but he has satellite.
"So how will you be travelling to Kathmandu, Mr V?" asked one of the people I was to visit.
"I'm arriving on Royal Nepal Airlines, in the evening," I replied.
"Oh." I could almost hear the bewilderment. "Er... why don't you take another airline the next morning?"
I found out that Royal Nepal Airlines have a reputation for being, shall we say, less than punctual. I wondered why.
(ring ring) sang my phone two days before my flight.
"Mr V? I've been told that Royal Nepal flight has been rescheduled from 7.15pm to 8.40pm. And the flight last night actually left at 10.30."
(ring ring) sang my phone the day before my flight.
"Mr V, Royal Nepal Airlines have called to say that the flight is now leaving at 7.40."
I decided to play it safe and teach my phone to ring, not sing, and then to check in on time - not quite a first for me, but a rarity. After all, if the worst came to the worst, then I could get into the lounge and have a drink or two.
Check In
I duly arrived ninety minutes before the flight and loitered around at check in. There were three or four counters open, and while most seemed fairly busy I was quickly called forward to the desk within a couple of minutes.
The lady checking me in was efficient and pleasant. I asked for a window seat which she gave me, in the first row of economy and with the seat next to me empty.
Boarding
When I got to the gate, boarding was well under way so I don't know if they boarded children first. However, I don't think so, as there was a family in the queue behind me.
Looking through the grubby window, the plane - a Boeing 757 - looked very good. The colours are primarily white, which shows any dirt. Royal Air Nepal's 757s are quite old, but this plane didn't look its age, it was very clean, sparkling and looked (superficially at least) well cared for.
A stewardess, wearing a traditional sari, stood at the door welcoming everyone with a warm smile, hands together and "Namaste". I enjoyed it; it was the warmest she got for the whole flight.
As I settled into my seat, a family went through into Business Class and sat down. The mother then came to the cabin divider and summoned her maid from economy to join them, to look after the child of course. As the maid sat herself down in business, I caught the eye of the steward.
"Can I upgrade myself too?" I asked, smiling sweetly.
"No sorry sir," he shook his head.
"Why not?" I asked. "Do I have to be looking after someone's child?"
He ignored me and closed the curtain. However to my satisfaction, a few minutes later someone sent the maid back to economy and the mother had to look after her own child - at least for a little while.
Inside the Cabin
The cabin interior looked a bit more worn than the outside, but not excessively. The carpet looked fairly clean, showing no signs of fading or wear and only just beginning to look a little frayed at the edges. The walls, even the bulkhead, seemed to be yellowing but otherwise showed little scuffing or scraping.
The economy cabin was in a standard layout, three seats either side of the aisle. The seat was a standard, run of the mill economy seat, neither especially comfortable or not. It probably helped that I had a row of three to myself! The overhead lockers were of a good size, able to take my hand luggage without any difficulty.
I was also in the front row, at the bulkhead, which gives more knee room but not necessarily more legroom, as you can't stretch your legs out under the seat in front. That was the case here, so I wasn't able to stretch out and sleep, but it was only a 90 minute flight.
Service
Once we were all sat down, the crew came and offered a newspaper - there was only one English-language Nepalese paper, which I took. No complaint there, as not many airlines give newspapers in economy at all.
There were two stewardesses looking after the part of the cabin where I was sat. Neither was a spring chicken; one was half way to retirement and the other had passed that point, I think, around the time that this aircraft had entered service. They both looked quite good for it, but one had make up piled on thick.
They were reasonably attentive at the start of the flight. I was reading as we taxied out for takeoff and one of the ladies came over and switched my reading light on for me. However, once we had taken off, the attentiveness lessened and, once the meal trays had been cleared, they made themselves scarce!
Food and Drink
Twenty minutes or so after take off, the crew shoved a trolley up to the front of the cabin, via my elbow, and the stewardess with the crumbling make up thrust a tray in my direction and asked me what I want to drink.
They had vodka, thankfully, so I settled for that and examined my meal tray.
For a flight barely 90 minutes long, my dinner actually looked quite good.
On a 90 minute flight within Europe nowadays, you are lucky to get a chicken salad in Business Class. If you are in Economy, there might be a sandwich and, increasingly, you'll have to pay for it. Within the States - not having flown within USA recently, I don't know, but I recall a 90 minute flight on the west coast, in First Class, where I got an orange juice and a bag of nuts.
So what did Royal Nepal Offer, in Economy class? The tray was blue plastic, with moulded indentations for the various bowls and cup - it looked rather dated, very 70s. However, it was what was within that counts.
Dinner consisted of a tomato and cucumber salad, a chicken curry with rice and a local, honey-sweetened dessert. This came with a bread roll, a pot of lime pickle and a sachet of minted seeds for refreshment at the end. The food tasted quite good and it was certainly filling enough.
Entertainment
Not surprisingly, there was no TV or film.
The in-flight magazine, "Shangri La", made quite a good read. As well as the obligatory information about Royal Nepal Airlines, routes, schedules and aircraft, there were some interesting articles.
Particularly useful for a first time visitor, there was a Kathmandu restaurant guide, a shopping guide and an article about the sights of Kathmandu. Other articles included a cycling trek around the himalayas, local festivals and a feature on a leading local artist. Certainly one of the few inflight magazines that I have actually taken with me.
Arrival
It was getting dark as we descended into Kathmandu so I wasn't able to see much as we arrived.
The crew did a cursory check on seatbelts and seatbacks. As we disembarked, they were standing at the door to say goodbye.
A swift walk across the tarmac and I was inside the terminal - there are no air bridges - and from there the arrivals area was just a couple of minutes away, so I could get my visa and be on my way.
One tip for anyone planning to get a visa on arrival. Have $30 and a passport photo with you! Both can be obtained in the arrivals area - but it saves a lot of time if you have them with you!
Oh, and I never did meet the Yeti. Maybe next time.
Recommended:
Yes
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vodkaboy
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Location: Somewhere over here
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I've been thinking. That's an improvement.
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