Sorry no pictures again as it was the height of Al-Qaeda threat.

Chennai, Nov. 11.06
A one-day break was all the leave that could be got. The boss still made a face.  The return ticket was WL 58 and the Volvo bus doubtful.

Looking at the options, for Sunday night (Nov.12), it was Air Deccan (full), Paramount (I7) and Jet. Since Jet and DN were ATR-42/72, HERE was the chance to fly the Embraer 170-200.
A dash to Paramount's head office. The booking staffer at Paramount's head office was efficient and quick. E-ticket. Software also displayed cabin layout to block the seat of choice. (Paramount has only First --- 1x2 and Executive -- 2x2). Opted for 5F in Executive (on I7409) and was blocked in a pink highlight!! Paramount and its Pink obsession. Agent then reconfirmed details thrice and asked me to check once more the print out. Confirmed allowance for hold as 30 kg and cabin as 7kg. Ticket handed over in thick waterproof adhesive cover with the I7 logo. Came to Rs.2975. But still appeared too steep. Jet was Rs.3500. '
IA was also considered, but it was only on Nov 13, at 0430 am as Sharjah-Cochin-Coimbatore-Chennai. Fare was Rs. 2100 (A320). This is a flight in the news many times for faulty nose wheel steering and then passengers getting stranded. Seemed dicey as Boss made it clear that I had to be back on Monday. Conjunctivitis had reduced the workforce by 65%!              

Nov.12.06
Got into Coimbatore early at 4.50 am. After a super time with family (including riding triples on a Bullet through sugar cane fields), visiting an as yet unknown mountain shrine in the Western Ghats on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border (with a great view) with all 25 cousins, aunts and uncles, the new bride and groom, and their reception, it was time to get back to Chennai.

Checkin was 90 minutes before STD of 8.50 p.m.
Left the hall (where the reception was) on time but car broke down halfway in a desolate part. No other transport available. Cousins got a call taxi service to agree to a rescue. By this time it was just under 75 minutes for checkin. Taxi driver (Omni) covered the 28 km in 20 min flat, knocking off the mirror of a Hyundai Sonata while overtaking and scraping a speed breaker which sent us into the roof.             
Managed to call Paramount that I was running late. Huge relief as they said not to worry.   
Coimbatore is one of the five target airports in a specific Al-Qaeda plot. Taxi had to get around three rows of security barrier tape with commandos, CRPF and TamilNadu police in full strength who stopped each vehicle and checked inside.
Had to use a walkin door explosive detector in the car park that was wired to a main box detector and backup generator. No beep for me. Passenger behind was detained after a low beep and flash for him.

Paramount uses 9W's x-ray machine, with a Paramount staffer telling security at the other end, which are the Paramount bags. Bag took 17 mins to emerge after a detailed check on the screen. Strapped and carried away. Checked in by one of the two staffers using HP 2410 laptops. Asked for identification, offered lounge service and asked for seating preference. When reminded that it was blocked, said he knew but still wanted to know if I wanted a change. Said that there would be a good meal service. Asked to check in camera. 
Security was  announced immediately and was in for a shock. Lounge is small and was overflowing with DN passengers. Many were firang backpackers and first time travellers.
Boarding was announced for DN. Stampede and the lounge was quite empty. Pushing and shoving before CISF and DN staff wearing yellow Tees ("We are now a new experience" was the big print on it) restored order. A mother tried to calm her wailing child who then promptly threw up on a CISF SI. Made more mess on the floor as it decided to pee and crap and which sent a firang freak skiding across.

Sweeper was summoned over the walkie talkie --- as "Vaamit, Vaamit."
Appeared in a few minutes with phenyl and a mineral water bottle to clean up. More backup sweepers with newspaper and water to clean up the kid, the CISF guy and the firang. 

Lounge had 45 I7 and about 25 9W passengers now.
Boarding for I7 announced in 15 mins at 8.30 p.m. Three more checks and a ladder check before actual boarding --- mobile and keys had to be x-rayed also.
Had to walk to the Embraer. Air Deccan ATR was blasting off Coimbatore's 7,500 ft runway before a gentle right bank towards Chennai, confirming the flight path.
9W ATR was on the ground after having arrived from Chennai. Passengers were walking to the terminal and it seemed a full flight.
The I7 Embraer (VT-PAE) was parked near the 9W ATR (VT-JCG) and is definitely taller. Turbofans appear a bit small for aircraft size and have good clearance. Looked neat and new in the deep blue and pink corporate colours. Paramount staff around the aircraft alongwith commandos. 
Boarding though stepladder and I7 staff wishing you a good flight.
The 4 cabin crew in white shirt with pink collars, black skirt, pewter "two wings" and you guessed it! .... pink eyeshadow, pink nail polish!!!
Cabin-in-charge made an exaggerated "Vanakkam" with a deep bow. Almost expected a head butt!
Cabin is quite wide and Paramount highlights this in "Windows & Aisles" (its inflight magazine). Compares it with the ATR, Boeing and Airbus.
cabin was very clean and fresh. Bright cabin lighting made it look so. Still had a faint smell of new leather. First has 4 rows (seating is A,B,C), with an average recline.
Executive is (A,B and D,F)

Executive starts from Row 5 and 5F is behind the cabin divider with the I7 logo and basic safety instructions on it. Small leather pocket holders on it had the Indian Express, Eco Times and a few Tamil dailies. Safety card mysteriously had safety instructions that were clearly for the cabin crew (in the case of ditching, looking out to see if the water level was above the window sill and then deploying the emergency equipment). Seat was just before the engine. Windows are large but to look out, you have to use the window of Row 6. which is closer.
Life jacket was under seat. Controls are a damn easy reach. Air vents have full blast and rate better than the A320. PA was above. Bins fairly deep. Stowage under this seat is tough as there is a metal barrier. Leg room top class and recline great. A small handrail runs under the bins and with a continuous a/c vent. Bins in Row 5 also curve a little to create a clever impression of more space.
Embraer gets "A" for its plane.

Few seats empty but passengers in every row. Pasenger in 5D.
Galleys are front and rear.
No boarding music. No IFE.
Hostess Averil M. brought cold towels on a tray.
Passenger in 4A (First) had his boarding card checked suddenly. Asked to move to his alloted 6A! First was quite empty. Six including 2 dead-heading cabin crew.
Averil M. was back this time with tender coconut and sweet lime in 40 ml Borosil glasses.
"Head butter" Kanwaljeet W. came back for the cold towels.
PA by Brazilian Captain Cruz at 8.40 asking ground crew to disembark. "Please cabin crew, arm slides."
Felt at home with the very distinct A320 noises.
Kanwaljeet's fake accented intro in Hindi and English tell us its Captain Cruz and cabin leader in charge Archana Patnaik.
Flight time of 45 minutes to Chennai.

Hostess Priyanka pulls out 4F half into the aisle to place the safety equipment for the demo. Life jacket for First is in a small box behind each seat.
Demonstration of the life jacket which is strange for Coimbatore to Chennai. No time to start again for the English demo, so Priyanka continues to wear the life vest. Hurried and shabby with the O2 mask being pulled out of a plastic bag on the floor.
Demo over, 4F is pushed in.       
Two chimes, two chimes, one chime, one chime.
8.45 p.m. One chime again.
Engines spool up and seem A320-like. Cabin soon has the A320 noise. Being next to the engine is not a worry Its quiet.

What happens next is a surprise, a big mistake to have underestimated those turbofans. Almost thought it was the take-off run!!!
The Embrear SPRINTS.
Runway was lit up by the powerful landing gear lights.
Indian co-pilot tells crew to prepare for take-off.
A quick 180 at the end of the runway and detected a peacock in the grass!!! Aligned for take-off.
8.51 p.m. A powerful and smooth burst from the twins and we clear the runway in 15 seconds. A sharp bank to the right after following the Coimbatore-Chennai Highway and it was off to Chennai. Climb was for about 20 minutes and the twins were now sounding like overstrained  Kitchen mixies!!
Dinner started at 9.05 p.m.
No carts but tray service.
Kanwaljeet confirmed meal choice again ("Veg or Non-veg?") 
                                                           ***

It is here that I7 seems a rip-off. (IA, no doubt, has the best food).
Too little for a steep fare.
A handful of Fried rice and channa in an deep aluminium casserole (from Mogo Mobile Gourmet) and on a heavy china plate base; salad in plastic bowl with clingfilm and on china bowl base, Rosagulla; Sabol water bottle in cling film on a China plate base; metal cutlery and .... a cheap plastic cup on a china saucer!!! (looked more like the top of a vacuum flask).
Salt. pepper, aftermint, tooth pick, tissue that looked like toilet paper from Taj catering but appeared like it had been whacked from the Taj Resorts and Palaces (it had that logo). 
Salad was bad with an overdose of carrot (!!!closest colour to pink?), rosagulla like a stone. The syrup spilt everywhere.
Looked out to see the lights of Salem town.
Priyanka arrived for tea/coffee. Unlike the IA expert aunties who can pour the T across the aisle even three-seat deep, this one is a Big zero. Had to hold the cup.

(This is an airline that has only F and J. So it is making a big mistake by charging high and getting away with placing plastic stuff on chinaware),
One chime at 9.15p.m. there's turbulence. Spoon on the china plate base starts to rattle. Move it away but when placed back, it starts to rattle again.     
Descent starts.
Attendant bell locks in with a deep chime. Kanwaljeet passes on newspaper to wipe the syrup.

Time to go through "Windows & Aisles". Vol. 1, Issue 4 (NOV. 2006). The editor is the founder and MD M. Thiagarajan's Mom. So Mom's (Kamala Thiagarajan) articles  appear all over. But there is balance ---travel, trivia, cinema news from south india, news from the world of music, web site news, fashion, tech, cuisine, conquering jet lag, horoscope news, an article on the rise of aviation in India, and the padding with the route map, schedules and fleet news. Much about how I7 is a business class experience.
Kanwaljeet is back to clear the trays and ask that the tray tables be stored in the seat arm.     
Tray clearance is a mess. Crew hang around and then start snatching it away as you finish. (IA's younger crew also seem to be getting into this habit of late.)

Captain Cruz announces landing in 8 minutes. Archana Patnaik then tells cabin crew to get to stations!

The lights of Chennai appear and we bank to the left.
Two chimes and the cabin is dimmed. Descent is fast and the flaps get to 8F, before locking in at 14 F.                                
Landing lights come on and there is a slight drizzle that blurs the windows. Hear the thump of the landing gear.
A very rough landing from the Kancheepuram end of the runway, so it's straight on the path!! Lucky, no circling over the Bay of Bengal!!!
Roll till almost the end of Chennai's 10,050 feet runway and then sharp braking. Inflight announcement leaves out the outside temp (PA is excellent and cuts thorough the cabin noise. Must add that the cabin is quiet).

Embraer then backtracks and starts SPRINTING to the terminal.
A DN A320 waiting at the  end begins its take-off roll.
Step ladder moving to the DN ATR from Coimbatore!!! IA A320 from Kolkata docking into the aerobridge.
The Embrear rolls in next to another I7 Embrear (VT-PAD).
Traffic at Chennai is light. Air Sahara 737, IA A320, 2 DN ATRs, Malaysian A330, SQ 747-400 and a private Lear Jet.
Kanwaljeet begins her "Thank you for being our guest" to all. 
Deplaning through the front by step ladder and into an I7 bus. Comfortable seats. I7 also uses a Kingfisher bus and is supposed to share some of King;s ground equipment. (I7's booking software is also derived from King's.)
Baggage on carousel in 20 minutes.
Out of the terminal before passengers on DN's Coimbatore flight.             

                                                                       ***

Though the experience was very nice, from the time of booking to end of journey, I7 has to clearly offer much more, even if it's a Tier-2 city and South India based airline (Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Madurai, Cochin, Hyderabad). For the steep fare I7 charges, especially on the chosen sector, IA would have been a better choice.