First Time Above the Clouds

I’ve always been the guy who looks up whenever a plane flies overhead. I’d pull out Flightradar24, track the aircraft, and wonder what it would be like to be up there. No one in my family had ever flown before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure when my turn would come.

Then, in March 2025, I got selected for NID Mains at Gandhinagar and my first thought?
“ I’m booking a flight to Ahmedabad ” No long train rides this time; this was my chance to finally fly.

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Luckily, my friend from my institution also got selected for NID Ahmedabad, and we booked the same flight. But while she was a frequent flyer, I was about to step into an airport for the first time in my life.

Chennai Airport & Boarding

I was running late , but luckily, she walked me through check-in, security, and all the airport. Chennai Domestic Terminal was buzzing with people, and I was absorbing everything—the boarding announcements, the departure screens, the scent of overpriced airport food.

I had booked a window seat—there was no way I was missing the view. Aircraft? Boeing 737. But not just any IndiGo aircraft, thanks to their wet lease from Turkish Corendon Airlines, I found myself aboard a jet with a Turkish cabin crew.

As I entered, I was welcomed by Turkish flight attendants, and it was surreal. The moment had come.

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

I never realized how fast planes take off—until I felt it. 290 km/h. That was the takeoff speed, and I could feel every bit of it. As the aircraft roared down the runway and lifted off, Chennai shrunk beneath me. The city, the coastline, the roads everything I knew was now far below, and for the first time in my life, I was watching it from above the clouds. I was glued to the window, taking more than 50 photos.

Arrival in Ahmedabad

As we approached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), the city lights started appearing in clusters. Ahmedabad looked alive from above!

Originally, I planned to return by train, a 32-hour journey back to Chennai. But fate had other plans my NID interview slot was on the very first day and the first slot. So I explored Gujarat within 3 days. That meant I had nothing left to do in Gujarat.

So, instead of a long train ride, I started plotting a better way to return.

I’ve always been the guy who looks up whenever a plane flies overhead. I’d pull out Flightradar24, track the aircraft, and wonder what it would be like to be up there. No one in my family had ever flown before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure when my turn would come.

Then, in March 2025, I got selected for NID Mains at Gandhinagar and my first thought? “I’m booking a flight to Ahmedabad.” No long train rides this time; this was my chance to finally fly.

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Luckily, my friend from my institution also got selected for NID Ahmedabad, and we booked the same flight. But while she was a frequent flyer, I was about to step into an airport for the first time in my life.

Chennai Airport & Boarding

I was running late , but luckily, she walked me through check-in, security, and all the airport. Chennai Domestic Terminal was buzzing with people, and I was absorbing everything—the boarding announcements, the departure screens, the scent of overpriced airport food.

I had booked a window seat—there was no way I was missing the view. Aircraft? Boeing 737. But not just any IndiGo aircraft, thanks to their wet lease from Turkish Corendon Airlines, I found myself aboard a jet with a Turkish cabin crew.

As I entered, I was welcomed by Turkish flight attendants, and it was surreal. The moment had come.

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

I never realized how fast planes take off—until I felt it. 290 km/h. That was the takeoff speed, and I could feel every bit of it. As the aircraft roared down the runway and lifted off, Chennai shrunk beneath me. The city, the coastline, the roads—everything I knew was now far below, and for the first time in my life, I was watching it from above the clouds.

I’ve always been the guy who looks up whenever a plane flies overhead. I’d pull out Flightradar24, track the aircraft, and wonder what it would be like to be up there. No one in my family had ever flown before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure when my turn would come.

Then, in March 2025, I got selected for NID Mains at Gandhinagar and my first thought? “I’m booking a flight to Ahmedabad.” No long train rides this time; this was my chance to finally fly.

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Luckily, my friend from my institution also got selected for NID Ahmedabad, and we booked the same flight. But while she was a frequent flyer, I was about to step into an airport for the first time in my life.

Chennai Airport & Boarding

I was running late , but luckily, she walked me through check-in, security, and all the airport. Chennai Domestic Terminal was buzzing with people, and I was absorbing everything—the boarding announcements, the departure screens, the scent of overpriced airport food.

I had booked a window seat—there was no way I was missing the view. Aircraft? Boeing 737. But not just any IndiGo aircraft, thanks to their wet lease from Turkish Corendon Airlines, I found myself aboard a jet with a Turkish cabin crew.

As I entered, I was welcomed by Turkish flight attendants, and it was surreal. The moment had come.

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

I never realized how fast planes take off—until I felt it. 290 km/h. That was the takeoff speed, and I could feel every bit of it. As the aircraft roared down the runway and lifted off, Chennai shrunk beneath me. The city, the coastline, the roads—everything I knew was now far below, and for the first time in my life, I was watching it from above the clouds.

I’ve always been the guy who looks up whenever a plane flies overhead. I’d pull out Flightradar24, track the aircraft, and wonder what it would be like to be up there. No one in my family had ever flown before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure when my turn would come.

Then, in March 2025, I got selected for NID Mains at Gandhinagar and my first thought? “I’m booking a flight to Ahmedabad.” No long train rides this time; this was my chance to finally fly.

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Luckily, my friend from my institution also got selected for NID Ahmedabad, and we booked the same flight. But while she was a frequent flyer, I was about to step into an airport for the first time in my life.

Chennai Airport & Boarding

I was running late , but luckily, she walked me through check-in, security, and all the airport. Chennai Domestic Terminal was buzzing with people, and I was absorbing everything—the boarding announcements, the departure screens, the scent of overpriced airport food.

I had booked a window seat—there was no way I was missing the view. Aircraft? Boeing 737. But not just any IndiGo aircraft, thanks to their wet lease from Turkish Corendon Airlines, I found myself aboard a jet with a Turkish cabin crew.

As I entered, I was welcomed by Turkish flight attendants, and it was surreal. The moment had come.

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

I never realized how fast planes take off—until I felt it. 290 km/h. That was the takeoff speed, and I could feel every bit of it. As the aircraft roared down the runway and lifted off, Chennai shrunk beneath me. The city, the coastline, the roads—everything I knew was now far below, and for the first time in my life, I was watching it from above the clouds.

Arrival in Ahmedabad

As we approached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), the city lights started appearing in clusters. Ahmedabad looked alive from above!

Originally, I planned to return by train, a 32-hour journey back to Chennai. But fate had other plans my NID interview slot was on the very first day and the first slot. So I explored Gujarat within 3 days. That meant I had nothing left to do in Gujarat.

So, instead of a long train ride, I started plotting a better way to return.

I’ve always been the guy who looks up whenever a plane flies overhead. I’d pull out Flightradar24, track the aircraft, and wonder what it would be like to be up there. No one in my family had ever flown before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure when my turn would come.

Then, in March 2025, I got selected for NID Mains at Gandhinagar and my first thought? “I’m booking a flight to Ahmedabad.” No long train rides this time; this was my chance to finally fly.

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Luckily, my friend from my institution also got selected for NID Ahmedabad, and we booked the same flight. But while she was a frequent flyer, I was about to step into an airport for the first time in my life.

Chennai Airport & Boarding

I was running late , but luckily, she walked me through check-in, security, and all the airport. Chennai Domestic Terminal was buzzing with people, and I was absorbing everything—the boarding announcements, the departure screens, the scent of overpriced airport food.

I had booked a window seat—there was no way I was missing the view. Aircraft? Boeing 737. But not just any IndiGo aircraft, thanks to their wet lease from Turkish Corendon Airlines, I found myself aboard a jet with a Turkish cabin crew.

As I entered, I was welcomed by Turkish flight attendants, and it was surreal. The moment had come.

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

I never realized how fast planes take off—until I felt it. 290 km/h. That was the takeoff speed, and I could feel every bit of it. As the aircraft roared down the runway and lifted off, Chennai shrunk beneath me. The city, the coastline, the roads—everything I knew was now far below, and for the first time in my life, I was watching it from above the clouds.

The Return Adventure – AMD → HYD → MAA

Rather than taking a direct flight, I decided to make the journey even more exciting:

1️⃣ Take an extra flight – Why settle for one when I can take three flights in total?
2️⃣ Experience an evening & night flight – I wanted to see how the cityscape changes from day to night.
3️⃣ Visit another airport – Hyderabad is one of India’s biggest airports, and I wanted to check it out.
4️⃣ See Hyderabad (from above) – A city I had never been to before.

AMD → HYD (Sunset Flight)

I strategically chose my seat 5F to get the best sunset view. And it was worth it.

Seeing the sky change colour from orange to rich purple while flying over India was something else. The lights of the city started twinkling while descending, and Hyderabad was breathtaking at sunset.

5-Hour Layover at Hyderabad Airport

I didn’t sleep. Not even for a minute. Instead, I roamed around the entire airport—checking out every shop, every corner, and every detail.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is one of India’s biggest airports, and I took my time soaking it all in.

HYD → MAA (Night Flight)

Boarding at 11 PM, I had one final view to check off my list of the night cityscapes of Hyderabad & Chennai.

The lights, the highways, the glow of cities at midnight—seeing them from 35,000 feet was breathtaking. Chennai at night looked completely different from what I was used to.
Finally, as we touched down at MAA, my first flying adventure officially came to an end.

Final Thoughts – What I Learned from My First Flight

Flying is fast, exciting, and addictive.
Airports are overwhelming but fascinating.
Sunsets from above the clouds hit differently.
Always book a window seat. Always.
The phone battery dies faster when you take 50+ photos.

The Return Adventure – AMD → HYD → MAA

Rather than taking a direct flight, I decided to make the journey even more exciting:

1️⃣ Take an extra flight – Why settle for one when I can take three flights in total?
2️⃣ Experience an evening & night flight – I wanted to see how the cityscape changes from day to night.
3️⃣ Visit another airport – Hyderabad is one of India’s biggest airports, and I wanted to check it out.
4️⃣ See Hyderabad (from above) – A city I had never been to before.

AMD → HYD (Sunset Flight)

I strategically chose my seat 5F to get the best sunset view. And it was worth it.

Seeing the sky change colour from orange to rich purple while flying over India was something else. The lights of the city started twinkling while descending, and Hyderabad was breathtaking at sunset.

5-Hour Layover at Hyderabad Airport

I didn’t sleep. Not even for a minute. Instead, I roamed around the entire airport—checking out every shop, every corner, and every detail.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is one of India’s biggest airports, and I took my time soaking it all in.

HYD → MAA (Night Flight)

Boarding at 11 PM, I had one final view to check off my list of the night cityscapes of Hyderabad & Chennai.

The lights, the highways, the glow of cities at midnight—seeing them from 35,000 feet was breathtaking. Chennai at night looked completely different from what I was used to.
Finally, as we touched down at MAA, my first flying adventure officially came to an end.

Final Thoughts – What I Learned from My First Flight

Flying is fast, exciting, and addictive.
Airports are overwhelming but fascinating.
Sunsets from above the clouds hit differently.
Always book a window seat. Always.
The phone battery dies faster when you take 50+ photos.

First Time Above the Clouds – My First Flight Experience

First Time Above the Clouds – My First Flight Experience

First Time Above the Clouds – My First Flight Experience

First Time Above the Clouds – My First Flight Experience

First Time Above the Clouds – My First Flight Experience

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Chennai Airport & Boarding

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

Arrival in Ahmedabad

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Chennai Airport & Boarding

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Chennai Airport & Boarding

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Chennai Airport & Boarding

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

Arrival in Ahmedabad

🛫 The First Flight – MAA → AMD (Chennai to Ahmedabad)

Chennai Airport & Boarding

Takeoff – The Moment I Had Been Waiting For

The Return Adventure – AMD → HYD → MAA

AMD → HYD (Sunset Flight)

5-Hour Layover at Hyderabad Airport

HYD → MAA (Night Flight)

Final Thoughts – What I Learned from My First Flight

The Return Adventure – AMD → HYD → MAA

AMD → HYD (Sunset Flight)

5-Hour Layover at Hyderabad Airport

HYD → MAA (Night Flight)

Final Thoughts – What I Learned from My First Flight

Would I do it all again? Absolutely!

Would I do it all again? Absolutely!

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