Chop hops

TRIP

It's a tad expensive, but at least you have the option of heli-tourism.

What's it?

What could be a better way to start the new year than plan for your next holiday? And that too a holiday that includes, among other things, a chopper ride and fishing on the banks of river Cauvery.

Well, in case you don't already know, several helicopter companies like Deccan Aviation, Jagson Airlines, United Helicharters and Pawan Hans are now offering heli-tourism packages.

Holiday in a chopper? Really?

Yes. You can live your dream and fly in a Bell 407 if you're going up north or Bell 206 if you're headed to destinations in the south or a Eurocopter AS-355F in case you opt for packages offered by Deccan Aviation.

Deccan also has three modern turboprop airplanes (Beech B-200 and Pilatus PC-12) which have been equipped with pressurised cabins and the latest avionics that you can opt to fly in. And you'll get a ride in a Dornier-228 if you're flying Jagson Airlines.

Where can I fly?

The places that you can see include Ranthambore, Agra, Jaipur, Corbett National Park, Mysore, Hampi, Pondicherry, Shimla and even lesser known places like Water Woods, a wildlife resort on the banks of river Kabini in Karnataka. And Deccan Aviation even offers to customise packages to the destination of your choice. Happy?

What's in it for me?

Deccan Aviation's packages are on an average three-day tours and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Accommodation is provided at the nearest luxury resort or hotel as and where possible, and the company even arranges surface transport (a Toyota Qualis in most cases) and a guide. And if you start your tour from Bangalore, Deccan Aviation operates from the Jakkur Aerodrome located on National Highway 7 (Hyderabad Highway).

You can also board from the HAL airport, but you'll be charged for the additional flying time. In case you're starting from any other city, the company operates from the main airport in that city. And if you're looking to book on Jagson Airlines, you can visit their website www.jagsonairline.com.

What are the damages?

Be ready to shell out anywhere between Rs 2,12,000 and Rs 3,90,000 if you opt for Deccan Aviation's heli-tourism packages. Your customised package will certainly cost a little more and expect the prices of all packages to rise further as they are in the process of restructuring the costs due to high fuel prices.

However, it's a pity that the company does not accept payments on an instalment basis. About the others, well, they'd rather have you call them up.

Take it or leave it?

If you have the money to splurge, but don't have the time to waste travelling to a destination, guess this is what you can do. Unless you have your own chopper.

SNIPPETS

Lift up
After acquiring its first aircraft in June last year "" an ATP freighter that can carry eight tonnes of cargo "" First Flight's now added a new destination, Bangalore, to its air cargo business.

With this addition, the courier company provides direct connectivity between key metros like Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.

Also, to lure more clients from the manufacturing sector, First Flight has announced that it will now airlift heavy machinery and large consignments.

Smooth transfer
So, you missed your connecting flight? If you're at the Schipol airport and are flying KLM, there's no need to worry. The airline has recently installed eight self-service transfer kiosks at the airport, where you can book yourself on another flight and print a new boarding pass for your connecting flight.

The service is currently available at only one pier at the Schipol airport, but KLM plans to extend it to other piers in the course of this year.

And if the available connecting flight does not suit you, the airline's planning to introduce a telephone link to its call centre where you can seek more details and make changes to your reservation. No more worries, right?

Go cheap!
After Air Deccan, it's GoAir that's looking to lure passengers with ultra-cheap tickets. So if you're flying GoAir between January and June and get lucky, you can buy tickets to any of GoAir 13 destinations in India priced at as low as Rs 99. The price, of course, is minus the fuel and congestion surcharges and the taxes.