Was an international flight that was on the routing Kuwait to Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) to Chennai (or Madras) and then onto Mumbai (or Bombay).

Aircraft was an Airbus A310 and contrary to reports on the state of its interiors, was clean and tidy. It did bear signs of its age though.

On this 50-minute flight was served a sandwich, two fruit juice tetrapacks (one was made in Kuwait and was synthetic strawberry based, while the other was from a Kerala-based agro-industry).

Flight was 80% full with most passengers being blue collar workers returning from West Asia.

Cabin crew looked very eager to touch base. Went through the motions and looked very irritated to have us on board.

The three cabin crew in Economy were elderly and very overweight. Chief Airhostess Mrs Bhasin looked hideous with an overcoating of bright red lipstick. Was seen rushing after a few passengers who assumed the flight was a free seating one and was seen firmly telling them to sit in the allotted seats.

Purser was impatient and fat. Certainly a liability in an emergency.

Crew made no attempt to clear trays.

As stated, aircraft was clean and tidy, with lots of legroom. Toilets were clean.

Inflight entertainment was playing out on the screens and was a mishmash of Indian film clippings, a news digest and gossip from the film world. Barely visible on the screen.

Emergency and flight safety video was good.

Inflight music was a pleasure and well selected. This was what we listened too till we reached Chennai.

Inflight magazine Namaskaar is a glorified mouthpiece for the Government. Not what it used to be earlier.