Table of Contents
Launched in 1979, formerly known as Air Lanka, is still the largest commercial airline of Sri Lanka based on the number of aircraft and destinations. Sri Lankan Airlines is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the One World Airline Alliance. There is a history of a partial acquisition in 1998 by Emirates, which was ended by the government in the year 2008 and then the company was renamed. It is operational in 114 destinations in 48 countries. Here’s a detailed review of Sri Lankan Airlines UL198 (Delhi – Colombo) / UL195 (Colombo – Delhi) Economy Class Review
Also Read: The Kingsbury Hotel Review: One Of The Best Hotels In Colombo, Srilanka
Booking – Sri Lankan Airlines UL198 (Delhi – Colombo) / UL195 (Colombo – Delhi) Economy Class
Many sites online will be happy to serve you and get you the best deals on flight tickets. All you need to provide them with is your passport details, some government identification proof, and the dates of travel. Many travel agents also assist in the same in order to make your travel hassle-free. I booked the tickets on the official website of Sri Lankan Airlines, which also has a 24hr free cancellation policy.
Boarding
I boarded the flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. The luggage check-in wasn’t a concern and went through easily with the help of efficient ground staff. Baggage cannot exceed 32kg per person, but you can avail of an extra 15kg at quite a reasonable cost. For students, the weight goes up to 40kgs. Hand luggage is about 8kg. I boarded the flight without any delay and were seated in the economy class. It was scheduled to depart at 12.25 am and owing to the efficiency of the crew, there was no delay.
Also Read: Top 7 Reasons To Visit Galle & Bentota For Your Honeymoon
Cabin & Seats
The economy class is a section of the airlines where simplicity meets intricacy. The two-way ticket ranges from 15,000 Rs to 20,000 Rs depending on the date of the booking. The seats are adjustable with individual television screens with over 100 movies of different genres. The safety equipment is neatly placed under the seats and well demonstrated by the crew. The cabins above are spacious and large enough to accommodate medium-sized handbags not exceeding 7 or 8kgs. The cabin crew also helps you with your luggage. The aisles are spacious enough for passengers to pass. The seats also have charging points and attached remotes for the television screens.
Food & Drinks
The flight was about 3.5 hours long and we were served refreshments in addition to one meal. There were both veg and non-veg options available. The boxes were neatly packed and the food served was warm and delicious. Alcohol was also served on board. If you missed a serving of an item, you could simply walk down to the kitchen where they would be happy to serve you. Passengers with special dietary requirements could pre-order their meals at the time of booking. This flight only served us breakfast and a welcoming snack with unlimited drinks, but on long haul flights, they serve you full three-course meals in addition to refreshments from time to time.
Service & Crew Behavior
Members of the cabin crew from the beginning of the flight, from helping us load our luggage’s into the cabins overhead, to serving our meals and looking after our comfort has done an exceptionally good job. Within moments of pressing the call button, the air hostess would show up. Apart from the prompt service they provided, they were also very cordial and patient with kids and other types of passengers onboard.
Also Read: Nanu Oya To Haputale Train Ride: One Of The Most Astonishing Train Rides In The World
Inflight Entertainment
Flights can be rather boring if you don’t have company and even worse if you don’t have inflight entertainment. Sri Lanka airlines provide the pleasure of traveling in comfortable seats and watching over 100 movies of different languages and genres. They have an array of games to keep you occupied till your destination as well as songs to soothe your mind. A special feature inbuilt on the screens is that of a live tracker which helps you see the time of arrival and distance from your destination as well as the countries and places that you fly over with the help of a map.
Wi-fi & Connectivity
If you wish to stay productive while flying, answer emails, surf the internet, and make phone calls, the airlines are equipped with onboard Wi-Fi at an additional cost of about $20 for mobile devices and $50 for laptops, and for a short duration of the flight depending upon the connectivity and network.
Final Verdict – Sri Lankan Airlines UL198 (Delhi – Colombo) / UL195 (Colombo – Delhi) Economy Class
My overall experience of availing services from the Sri Lankan airlines has been an absolute delight. I traveled from Delhi to Colombo on one of the finest flights and faced no trouble whatsoever. With almost no inconvenience, I reached my destination. You know you are going to have a good trip when the first leg of your trip started on such an appealing note. I would recommend the airlines to anyone traveling to Sri Lanka. I was personally very pleased with the economy class and goes without saying that the business class would be better than the economy with better facilities and more comfort in terms of space and legroom.
Also Read: Nuwara Eliya – The Coolest Place In Srilanka
