The Himalayan Route · NEPAL AIRLINES Economy Class 🇳🇵 Kathmandu ✈ Delhi 🇮🇳 A Bucket List Flight!

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

How wonderful to have been on a trip and the entire experience exceeded your expectations, oh the joy of travel and adventure! Doesn’t happen that often anymore nowadays…. Thank you for the lovely routes and hubs series, thoroughly enjoy it! 🙏🏼🥳

[@tfft]

Very true! Can't say how much of it had to do with how charming Kathmandu itself was.

[@mkkm945]

I'm late for work. Time to hustle. Oh... a TFFT video. Okay I'm definitely going to be late for work.

[@tfft]

Reasonable solution seems to be to switch career paths... 😅

[@tommykay7427]

I am AT work when these vids come out. EXTENDED toilet break in progress!!

[@toniblackmore3016]

Hahaha love this comment.

[@casandeepdash885]

Hi Kevin. The "sweet noodle" dessert is called Sewai Kheer. It's a kind of milk based dessert made out of rice vermicelli.

[@Idydowbflxuwmf]

We have the same in 🇧🇩 and we call it lacchi shemai

[@aseeraj]

I was so used to seeing himalayas and mountains during my flights (domestic) that when I flew out of the country for the first time, I was surprised to see how flat the other parts of the world were (this was nearly 10 years ago).

[@tfft]

A unique perspective, for sure!

[@shakesnbake]

Mindblowing to consider the heiight of the Himalayas - amazing views!

[@floridaguy1955]

That was an excellent video, my Jersey friend. The views of the Himalayas were outstanding. In millions of years, the Himalayas will erode away and disappear. I will be around to see your video of that! LOL. Enjoy the view while it lasts.

[@saurabgurung429]

It’s awesome to see views of 12:25 from a different angle. That’s the Annapurna Range that you can see from Pokhara.

[@TripReportaviation]

What a view of the Himalaya! Only 6 aircrafts but Nepal Airlines have modern IFE on their A330 which is amazing. On the other hand, the legroom is even not as good as on some narrowbodies of LCC...

[@RishabhDesairf7627]

11:33 Hi Kevin, that wonderful dessert right there originates from a popular Indian dish called the Sevai aka. Seviya, Saemia, Sevai Kheer etc in different parts of the Indian subcontinent. Essentially, it's rice vermicelli and sweetened milk.

[@CLAR-oo1lg]

I love your reports and watch with interest. You also make the videos entertaining with your narration. One of my favourite vloggers that I hot the like button to every time. Alan, Manchester, UK

[@NORTOM_XD]

12:27 . Yeah thats the view i see everyday from my house. that is Annapurna mountain ranges

[@killerqueen9298]

Hi, Kevin. Fabulous video. Thai is my happy place. If you want to see the Himalaya upclose and personal, try a flight from KTM to Lukla. Sit on the left on the way out and on the right on the way in. Luckla is a small bustling village at the start of the Everest Bacse Camp trek and many others. No 5* hotels though just lots and lots of tea houses and lodges. Thanks once again🙏🙃🙂

[@colinhoare9526]

Great advice. Thanks for sharing

[@ramanbhandary7501]

We don’t want 5 star hotels around that region.

[@killerqueen9298]

@@ramanbhandary7501 I didn't suggest that you did need any. It was a bit tongue in cheek for Kevin

[@hamedalalawi9396]

The video as usual great a flight, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations! The video provided a comprehensive and engaging overview of the entire flight experience. From check-in to landing, every aspect was covered in detail. The visuals were stunning, especially the breathtaking aerial views that captured the beauty of the landscapes from above. The narration was clear and informative, making it easy to understand the technical aspects of aviation. Overall, this video is a must-watch for anyone interested in aviation or simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes during a flight. Highly recommended!"

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching

[@icon_ic]

I was going to say … the cabin gives QF A330 vibes, and the monitor being almost pressed to your face is something else 😅😅😅 Cheers, love this vlog! ❤

[@jimmyjames6492]

Thanks for the info + video!

[@howardcobb4656]

Great video but I normally get all your puns. But today you got me with the bus station at 1 AM comment. Being 76 I can honestly say I have never been in that situation.

[@tfft]

Well, if nothing else I'm sure you can imagine it wouldn't be a fun place to be lol

[@tommykay7427]

This series is fantastic! The mix of travel-facts and historic context is brilliant. I'm now also watching the other vids on this channel and its been an epic journey. Looking forward to the new stuff as well. QUESTION: If I may... by what criteria, oustside this series, do you pick your next destination? Also, I LOVE the street maps with the hotel reviews. It's invaluable information for a hotel pick.

[@jameshaddan8538]

I really enjoyed this video, especially as I’m just back from Bhutan/Singapore and experienced the Singapore-Paro round trip on Royal Bhutan/Drukair. Like your experience, I had trouble managing my booking/selecting a seat on their website. Fortunately, since Bhutan visits must be handled by an in-country guide service, they made sure to select a seat for me on the correct side of the plane to catch views of the high Himalayan peaks. We made a brief stop at Guwahati on the journey, and on the in-bound flight to Paro the monsoon clouds obscured the views, but on the return I had some great views…absolutely stunning. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Drukair crew manages a complete boxed snack service between Paro and Guwahati, even though it’s about a 40 minute flight, and then a full meal service on the Singapore leg….all with the signature Bhutanese politeness.

[@thetravellerwin]

The desert is a Vermicelli cooked in milk / condensed milk - in India we have this as a staple desert varying in name from region to region

[@AmolNimbalkar]

Sweet noodle desert.. oh Kevin that was the most adorable description! In Hindi it is called Kheer but I do not know what it is called in Nepalese. As always a fantastic reviews and awaiting your Doha hotel review so that I can make the plan based on whether you recommend it or not. Thank you! 🤗

[@gorkhe-f6f]

We Nepali also called kheer but I think that was sewai

[@aaryanbali4726]

Hey Kevin! I wish you get to fly to Leh airport (IXL) next year! It's in Ladakh. The airport and the place itself is breathtaking!

[@Nextonthelist]

Bus station at 1:00 am. That so sums up that airport. Was in transit 10 years ago and have to admit that what you showed was such an improvement. I think that airport was the one and only time i experienced culture shock. Going through metal detector and then having to step on a stump to get felt up by security. We actually completely bypassed customs through the prayer room at the transit desk by a man in a fez. Them were the days lol.

[@tfft]

The platform feel up for every pax is still very much a part of the experience at security (and at every single airport in India…).

[@cpritchett2098]

Thanks Kevin for this fun series. Extremely unique.

[@AzlanMohamed-y1p]

Another excellent video ❤

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@AzlanMohamed-y1p]

@@tfft My pleasure

[@botruong4102]

Thank you Kelvin for another grat trip report.

[@prayashgiria]

Royal Nepal Airlines sacrificed a pair of goats at KTM in the hope that it would fix a snaggy B757 in 2007, so it’s actually pretty impressive that they managed to launch a website just 10 years later 😅 The story behind their logo is really cool as well - it’s the face of Akash Bhairab, the sky god, and you may have wandered past his temple near Kathmandu Durbar. It’s said his head landed there after it flew off post- beheading. Looking forward to your next dispatch from Delhi (it’s where I live so extra keen to see how it treats you 😅) Also, since you’re keen to see the Himalaya from your flights, strongly suggest DEL-IXL-SXR (flies over and across the northern Himalaya, spectacular views that will make KTM flights feel like a bore) or DEL-IXB/GAU (which basically flies along the entire length of the Himalaya and affords views of 9 eight thousanders on a clear day, with Kanchenjunga practically in arms reach).

[@ramanbhandary7501]

@@toniblackmore3016it’s a part of culture. May sounds funny and obscure but it’s same as Jews breaking glasses at their wedding. What I mean to say is, though it doesn’t make sense but it’s the belief in certain things what makes people to opt for it.

[@ramanbhandary7501]

@@prayashgiria you must be very fun at parties. LMAO, did you smirk and giggle too while typing all this? Don’t say you didn’t. LOL

[@toniblackmore3016]

@@ramanbhandary7501 thank you for your very kind response, and I apologize unreservedly.

[@prayashgiria]

@@ramanbhandary7501 hahaha, I definitely did! As for parties, I'm a homebody who's happier wiki-ing random anecdotes instead of narrating them to others :)

[@FeverDev64]

Great video, Im flying this very flight on my way to Canada, hopefully it is punctual by then. Expecting the other plane to come back from Naples before December ;)

[@Jbray92]

Just landed in Kathmandu a few hours ago. Getting out of the airport was crazy! Immigration and visa no worries, but what I assume was the customs check was insane! Every bag scanned of every arrival with just 2 lines opened!!

[@ramanbhandary7501]

It’s because people are heavily smuggling goods and golds via this airport.

[@harshmarwah4508]

At 14:46 the curved building which you can see our delhi's best mall and the big dome which you see at 14:17 has Delhi's only apple store

[@skandavasuki-ue3pb]

Dude, I love all the details!!!! My favorite part of every video is "The airport stats are coming up!!!!" Love it!!!! Can't wait for the next video!!!!

[@SirEricN]

This definitely makes me want to travel to Kathmandu and check out that city. Not sure about traveling Napal airlines yet.

[@gorkhe-f6f]

Nepal Airlines is very safe state owned airline company which has zero international crash records and all the planes are pretty new

[@RRBhat511]

The dessert you had was a Vermicelli Kheer usually served warm unlike the Cendol....

[@MattBlankenshipPhotography]

Always until the end, including the ads!

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@toniblackmore3016]

Now, I’m as fascinated by the Himalayas as the next person, (spent nearly an hour mid-video in your last one cramponing my way down obscure 8,000 peak rabbit holes), but Kevin, this flight was a bit scary. The preflight situation made me uneasy about standards, but I put it down to ethnocentric ignorance on my part until you got to the bit about EU airspace😳😳😳. The admittedly yum looking food was reassuring tho.

[@tfft]

To be fair to Nepalese carriers, the reason they're banned is more of a technicality than a poor record. I forget the exact dynamic of it, but using the American system as an equivalent, it's something like the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are one in the same entity in Nepal. If the NTSB was part of the FAA in the US, that lack of checks and balances would also ban US aircraft from EU airspace.

[@karasmorkos3905]

Nice!

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@MrTomcat104]

As you have hinted Kevin, Nepal civil aviation authority and Nepal-based airlines have a record of poor enforcement of regulations, sketchy safety record and consequently frequent crashes. So props to you having the courage to fly a Nepal airline. Partly this is due to the terrain and weather, as the towering Himalayas make for challenging flying conditions, as well as bad weather caused by the mountainous geography. But also due to lack of funding for proper pilot training, inadequate airport equipment (i.e. lack of proper radars) and domestic politics that hinder proper enforcement of regulations. So did you notice any really worrisome safety issues on the flight, Kevin?

[@tfft]

None whatsoever- and for the hint, I preume you mean that they're banned in the EU? Just to clarify, that's actually not becuase of their safety record, but rather on a technicality becuase the EU requires that the Aviation regulator and Safety regulator need to be independent entities (for any country) and in Nepal, it's the same department controlling all of it. Certainly can lead to safety concerns in itself, but just wanted to clarify.

[@MrTomcat104]

@@tfft I'm glad you felt safe, but its a proven fact Nepal's aviation safety is pretty awful, with multiple major fatal crashes each year. In July 2024 for example, a Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200 crashed, killing 18 at Kathmandu. And in 2023, Yeti Airlines Flight 691, a ATR 72, crashed in Pokhara with no survivors, killing 72. These two are just a small sample of the MANY crashes in Nepal.

[@MrTomcat104]

@@tfft Also the requirement to separate and make the regulator independent is not a mere technicality, but a required safety measure in many jurisdictions. An independent regulator ensure better ability to enforce regulation and not be sidetracked, neutralized or otherwise made beholden to political or corrupt powers to be. That is exactly the problem with Nepal's civil aviation.

[@aaronadam4747]

I hope you can make a flight review video of Air Astana very soon

[@tfft]

I do have it coming up, but it won’t be published for quite a while.

[@Mkaczynski1]

Have you been to Twinpalms Phuket Resort in Surin Beach? Would love to see a video about this resort to hear your thoughts.

[@tfft]

No I have not.

[@jonathanscott550]

Niceone Kevin

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@exF3-86]

Kevin I look at your view of the Himalayas, said two words starting with f and h, and became very jealous of you. What an amazing life journey you've chosen!

[@tfft]

Festive Holidays, of course 😅

[@exF3-86]

@@tfft Fascinating Himalayas 🤣

[@duaneowens7777]

How would you rate the customer service and seat comfort? Were they strict with the baggage weight

[@k9killer221]

I'm glad you didn't say "I wish we could have flown closer to the Himalayas". You don't want that unless you want a white knuckle ride on the roller coaster from hell.

[@toniblackmore3016]

Nepal Airlines planes are white knuckle enough on their own!

[@karlp8484]

@@toniblackmore3016 Ha ha ha. Banned from the EU. Not a good look.

[@gorkhe-f6f]

​​The reason Nepal Airlines is banned in EU is because of CIAA they do both ​service providing and regulator and soon gov will split both in different entities and the ban will le lifted @@karlp8484

[@LibertaliaExplorer]

That’s a lot of smog. I hope you get to see more of the Himalayas next time.

[@tfft]

Same here!

[@sushi777300]

What's your opinion about Priority Pass? I'm taking about 20-40 single flights a year (Europe, US, South East Asia), usually all in economy and I'm considering to get the Pass. I've heard that louges are more and more overcrowded and Priority Pass pax get turned down more frequently. Would you still consider it a worthy investment? I'd be interested in the middle tier pass with 10 free visits or the highest tier pass with unlimited visits. I'd appreciate your feedback as you've mentioned the pass in a couple of videos and probably have a realistic view on it. Thanks, also for the great content of course 😊

[@tfft]

I have no idea what current prices for PP are, but it’s simply a calculation of what the value is to you. If I value a visit at $15 and I’ll visit 30 times, there’s your answer. If you plan to consume a lot in the lounges, then the answer is even easier. As for overcrowding, that’s a (very real) problem which I find to be 90% contained within the US.

[@upashah]

Welcome to my home 🇳🇵

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

Yever been to Bombay chief?

[@pratikhumagain6189]

just curious , why is yeti airlines your favourite??

[@tfft]

Never imagined there would be an airline named after a Yeti haha

[@davenorth2903]

Very nice review Kevin. Bit of trivia but almost 30% of Nepal’s GDP comes from inbound remittances from overseas Nepalese workers. One of the highest rates in the world. Hence these airlines and the airport play a critical role for the country.

[@heeheeeeeeeee]

The dessert was sawai

[@vardhanagrawal2587]

Love the music

[@tfft]

Not for the price they were charging it wouldn't have bene lol

[@xenonplays191]

Kevin, try adding Mumbai - Leh / Delhi - Leh flight next time you're in India. Might as well do a short road trip in Ladakh, India. Cheers!

[@nickflintoff8077]

Kathmandu flight booked and Hyatt Regency reserved for early next year. I’m sure neither will disappoint.

[@tfft]

Enjoy it!

[@gorkhe-f6f]

I recommend you not to stay at Hyatt it's far away from most tourist areas

[@ramanbhandary7501]

@@gorkhe-f6fHyatt is close to world heritage site, jeez what are you even on about?

[@ramanbhandary7501]

@@gorkhe-f6fDid you mean Hyatt place at Tahachal?

[@gorkhe-f6f]

@@ramanbhandary7501 I'm telling him/her to stay nearby thamel area don't need to stay 15-20mins far away from tourist areas

[@gorkhe-f6f]

This is very old airport and gov is trying to build big airport in Nijgadh Terai low land area connected ktm with expressway but because of environmental activist the project has not started hope the project will start soon and we don't have to face embarrassment🥲

[@demoncloud6147]

🤩

[@indraneelghosh7646]

Are you currently in New Delhi or in transit to someplace else?

[@AquitaineKing]

Don't Speed up the Take Off!! 🤯. You spent longer just filming the Dam Departure Area!

[@tfft]

Cute attitude.

[@jaguarunleashed4935]

are you heading upto ladakh this season ?

[@tfft]

It's on my list, but no, not anytime soon.

[@jaguarunleashed4935]

@@tfft oh that part's a big chunk of adventure out there. Hopefully soon

[@aasamspb967]

@@tfft please go there at the right time. There is a specific time to go there. We went there in April and got our ass kicked. Our excitement went down the drain on the first day of arrival. Low oxygen, too much dry and cold wind. The rooms are closed with no ventilation because of cold. Oxygen is already low. Using heater in the room meant even less oxygen. My Dad and Mom had to go to hospital to check their Blood Pressure. Many people of our group had to use Oxygen cylinder. Some even fainted. April was the worst time to go there but we had no choice. We thought how bad can it be and then suffered a lot.