Well i guess in the pl/sql env, the optimizer is prioritizing the partitioned key as against the global index key

By the way would the logic be the same if i use
trunc(departure_date) as against trunc(departure_date+0)? Why add 0

But NOTE also that putting the TRUNC on date w/o the v_1 and
v_2 variables does not work also. lol...nice u got that idea too

thanks