I started this trip by travelling alone to work in Sri Lanka again. However, it took me a while to confirm everything, so I had only about 5 days left before the trip and I hadn’t booked my ticket yet. I was worried that the price of the Thai Airways would be exorbitant, and when I checked, it was indeed expensive. So, I decided to look for another option, the local airline Sri Lankan Airlines. Their prices were more reasonable and their flights were direct, with full service and the ability to earn miles with the One World network. Plus, they had more flight options, so I quickly made the decision to book without hesitation (even though I had hesitated for a long time before).

After I had obtained a reasonably priced flight ticket, the next step was to apply for a E-visa, applying for a Sri Lankan visa online. The process took no more than 1 hour. When everything was ready, the ticket and visa, it was time to fly to Sri Lanka again.

     ROUTE           : Bangkok (BKK) – COLOMBO (CMB)

     FLIGHT           : UL405 – Sri Lankan Airline

     AIRCRAFT       : Airbus 330-200

     DATE               : 01.04.2018

     ETD                 : 01:55PM (GMT+7)

     ETA                 : 03:45PM (GMT+5.5)

     DURATION        : 3 HOURS 20 MINUTES

     CABIN              : ECONOMY

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I arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 11AM, three hours before the scheduled flight time, in order to handle currency exchange and other necessary tasks before leaving the country. As I traveled alone, I checked in and dropped off my luggage at the Q counter as instructed on the airport monitor.

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Actually, I had already completed online check-in, but I only needed to drop off my luggage and have my visa checked at the counter. What I saw was that the online check-in counter had almost no queue, while the regular check-in counter had a long line that looked like a coiled snake. It was a good idea to check in online from home, giving me time to walk around and relax ☺️

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After I checked in and received my boarding pass, I went through security and immigration as usual. Today, I was boarding the plane at Gate D4, which was a aerobridge gate.

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Since I arrived early and had already checked in online, I had an hour to spare before boarding time, so I strolled around for a bit before heading to the gate as per the boarding time on my ticket.

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When it was time, I went to the gate on schedule. When I arrived, I saw the Sri Lankan Airline’s A330-200 aircraft pulling up to the gate. I thought it had just arrived from the morning flight from Sri Lanka and was getting ready to fly back.

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After waiting for about 20 minutes for people to disembark and prepare for the next flight, I boarded the plane precisely on time.

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The Economy Class seats on this Sri Lankan aircraft were arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, which is a standard for full-service airlines (Low-cost airlines may have a 3-3-3 configuration).

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After settling into my seat, I surveyed the furnishings and amenities of the seat area. This model had PTVs in economy class, but the movie and entertainment selection was uninteresting and not very up-to-date. Movies and music were available in three main languages, namely English, Chinese, and the local language. As for the seat itself, it was wide enough for me to sit comfortably as a person who is 183 cm tall and not too cramped. There were also small pillows to hug and support during the journey. If you wanted a blanket, the cabin crew were happy to provide one upon request. 

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After loading passengers and demonstrating the safety procedures, the aircraft pushed back from Suvarnabhumi Airport on time.

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After the aircraft was in cruising altitude and seat belt sign had been switched off, I started surveying the lavatory as the first thing to do while waiting for meal service. Overall, the lavatory was clean and usable. They provided cologne with kaffir lime scent to freshen up.

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After that, the hot meal service began. They provided a menu to choose from, for the Economy class, there were only two options. I had pre-ordered a Gluten-Free Meal, so I was given a chicken steak in tomato sauce served with mashed potato, a side salad, and fresh fruits.

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After that, coffee and fruit juice were served throughout the journey. As flying with Sri Lankan Airlines, I had to try the famous tea here, followed by requesting apple juice and sipping it continuously. Then, I alternated between reading a book and sitting and enjoying the view.

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After that, I sat and alternated between reading a book and finding something to watch on the PTV. About two hours later, we began to descend, the seatbelt sign turned on, and we prepared for landing at Bandaranaike International Airport.

After landing, I went through the immigration process and picked up my luggage at baggage belt No. 4. Then I walked to the hotel shuttle that I had booked in advance to take me to the hotel in the Negombo area, which was not far from the airport (about 20-30 minutes). After that, I took some rest before starting work the next day.
***Actually, the airport is nearer to Negombo than Colombo city center. 😄

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Overall, I would rate this flight 9 out of 10. The only drawback was the slightly narrow seat pitch due to the old and bulky seat design. Additionally, the PTVs were old models and operated quite slowly (similar to an old phone that is almost full and takes a while to work) which is why I deducted one point from my opinion.

All of this is a review of my solo travel experience. The local flag carrier is another interesting option for those who are going to Sri Lanka. In addition to those who will take a direct flight to Sri Lanka, it can also be an option for connecting flights to Europe, Central-East Asia, India or the Maldives at affordable prices. 🛫

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Written By : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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