Trains and boats and planes - postscript

You can't take anything for granted in India, eh dear reader?

A couple of points as a postscript to my T 'n' b 'n' p blog.

First, you'll be utterly unsurprised to know that the landing in Delhi was delayed and the subsequent flight to Singpaore didn't take off for an hour after schedule (this is not such a bad thing as it's one less hour to spend sitting round Changi waiting for the Sydney connection).

What I hadn't appreciated is that the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) domestic terminal in Delhi is 12 kilometres from the International terminal and there is no form of transport between the two except for the taxi service. This was again a "telling" experience as I landed outside to discover there is indeed no shuttle and taxi is the only option. The "friendly" tout outside the terminal said he could get me to IGI international for INR700, noting that the charge inside was INR750 and he could save me INR50. I knew that was outrageously overpriced and offered INR400, to which he turned up his nose. I proceeded back inside the domestic terminal and purchased a prepaid taxi voucher for INR140! This included payment for transport of two bags.

I don't resile from any of my comments about JAA's anal approach to its reservations system but I do offer a big bouquet to the cabin staff on SQ408 from Delhi to Singaporte - they were great! I even made a point of advising the Cabin Services Manager - I hope I get some of those folks again on another Singapore Airlines flight.

Off to find coffee and croissant now as I get closer to Sydney and home.