Has anyone flown on their J class? IS it worht the extra $$$ for the seat space and (most important) service?

I will be flying BLR-MLE and have flown IA once in 2004 and it was bearable in Y, but Jet was way better in Y.

It does not have to be on BLR-MLE but just in general.

IC is a cr** airline! No point flying C for such a short flight. I would not bother, the food will be about the same, the lounges are crappy, no pre-boarding (or atleast that i have seen) No special drinks, air hostess will probably be about to collect her pension and will NEVER smile.

The seats do not have much more space then Y. in fact i can't fit into it and i am 6ft5. My legs have to be spread out.

Save your money and don't expect much and you won't feel let down. If it were Jet or Kingfisher then it would be a different story.

I am sorry to be so harsh on IC but it's the truth. But then again BLR to MLE you have not other option unless you want to go via CMB.

IC is a cr** airline! No point flying C for such a short flight. I would not bother, the food will be about the same, the lounges are crappy, no pre-boarding (or atleast that i have seen) No special drinks, air hostess will probably be about to collect her pension and will NEVER smile.

The seats do not have much more space then Y. in fact i can't fit into it and i am 6ft5. My legs have to be spread out.

Save your money and don't expect much and you won't feel let down. If it were Jet or Kingfisher then it would be a different story.

I am sorry to be so harsh on IC but it's the truth. But then again BLR to MLE you have not other option unless you want to go via CMB.

You hit the nail on the head on this one....BOM-CMB-MLE is approx a 6 hr tip which is an utter and total waste of time...

Since we are going on a 5yr anniversary trip, why not go all out? No big dfeal to fly in C, atleast I am in the front of the plane and have some baggage space :D

You hit the nail on the head on this one....BOM-CMB-MLE is approx a 6 hr tip which is an utter and total waste of time...

Since we are going on a 5yr anniversary trip, why not go all out? No big dfeal to fly in C, atleast I am in the front of the plane and have some baggage space :D

Yeah then i would go for it. I went to MLE via CMB last November and suffered majorly. The flight from DEL gets in at 3am and the connection was meant to leave at 7 but didn't leave till 9am. We had a horrible time waiting at the airport.

I really did consider booking IC direct. You will have a great time in Maldives! Its a amazing place, really is. What resort will youi be staying at?

Also the good thing about IC is that it gets in at a good time and (1pm)leaves at a good time on the way back (2pm). Sri Lankan either leaves very early (9amish) or late at night.

When you are paying so much for the room you might as well check out at a reasonable hour.

I'll move this into "Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs" forum, where I believe you'll get more responses to your query.

SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator

Heck, he got all the responses he needs. But seriously, IC AB3 is fairly ok for regional economy seating wrt legroom. Crap seat, reluctant service by mostly overaged stewardesses (though that's changed a bit) etc aside - well, it isnt too bad for such a short flight.

Yeah then i would go for it. I went to MLE via CMB last November and suffered majorly. The flight from DEL gets in at 3am and the connection was meant to leave at 7 but didn't leave till 9am. We had a horrible time waiting at the airport.

I really did consider booking IC direct. You will have a great time in Maldives! Its a amazing place, really is. What resort will youi be staying at?

Also the good thing about IC is that it gets in at a good time and (1pm)leaves at a good time on the way back (2pm). Sri Lankan either leaves very early (9amish) or late at night.

When you are paying so much for the room you might as well check out at a reasonable hour.


I agree with you as well...when one is shelling out 1k a night for a room with food and drinks/hotel transfers, then IC J is not really that bad and the rtimings are perfect...not some crazy am flight....

Staying at the TAJ Coral Reef during Jan 5-9 SUPERPEAK time !!!

Heck, he got all the responses he needs. But seriously, IC AB3 is fairly ok for regional economy seating wrt legroom. Crap seat, reluctant service by mostly overaged stewardesses (though that's changed a bit) etc aside - well, it isnt too bad for such a short flight.

I rather prefer being first on and first off..especially with the Indian mentality ;)

(I am an Indian, so I am allowed to make fun of my culture/race)

I rather prefer being first on and first off..especially with the Indian mentality ;)

(I am an Indian, so I am allowed to make fun of my culture/race)

So true! :p Ok I inderstand why they rush to get off the airplane as they might get out quicker, but why the rush to get onto the Airplane? its not going anywhere till every one has boarded anyway. Have you ever noticed that?

Funny story - Landed on a AI flight from SIN last year. As soon as we had slowed down on the runway half of the people got up and started to walk into the Biz cabin. The steward was shouting her head off but to no avail.
I have never seen so many people in such a hurry to get off.

Funny story - Landed on a AI flight from SIN last year. As soon as we had slowed down on the runway half of the people got up and started to walk into the Biz cabin. The steward was shouting her head off but to no avail.
I have never seen so many people in such a hurry to get off.

I'd be in a hurry to get off an AI flight as well :D

I'd be in a hurry to get off an AI flight as well :D
And I'd need to be heavily sedated before I willingly get on*! :D


*To be fair though, the above comment excludes longhaul F on AI, which is a respectable enough product.

I'd be in a hurry to get off an AI flight as well :D

True! That was my last AI flight ever. They still fly the A310's on this route.

The first on fist off mentality is also prevalent in the US... :rolleyes: and don't get me started on what ancient aircraft they fly here too ... (IC (732) and AI (310) are in the same league like AA (MD) and NW(DC9)) :rolleyes::rolleyes:

First on: to stow your luggage in the overhead (US and Indian pax loooove to carry loads of handluggage)
First off: to be the first in immigration where some lines tend to form when a number of aircraft arrive at the same time.

The first on fist off mentality is also prevalent in the US... :rolleyes: and don't get me started on what ancient aircraft they fly here too ... (IC (732) and AI (310) are in the same league like AA (MD) and NW(DC9)) :rolleyes::rolleyes:

First on: to stow your luggage in the overhead (US and Indian pax loooove to carry loads of handluggage)
First off: to be the first in immigration where some lines tend to form when a number of aircraft arrive at the same time.


You know what I am really suprised about? Is the front cabin's in USA. It is the richest country in the world yet the 1st class is not as good as it should be. I know I was hugely dissapointed when I flew a few legs recently in the front cabin. I even had to pay for my beer while waiting for a International connection in a airline lounge :eek:

the grass is definately greener on this side only :)

The first on fist off mentality is also prevalent in the US... :rolleyes: and don't get me started on what ancient aircraft they fly here too ... (IC (732) and AI (310) are in the same league like AA (MD) and NW(DC9)) :rolleyes::rolleyes:

First on: to stow your luggage in the overhead (US and Indian pax loooove to carry loads of handluggage)

exactly the reason I want tro get on first...as soon as the Y class passengers get on, they stuff their little plastic bags into every nook and cranny...

First off: to be the first in immigration where some lines tend to form when a number of aircraft arrive at the same time.

to beat the mad rush of the Y cattle !!!

The first on fist off mentality is also prevalent in the US... :rolleyes: and don't get me started on what ancient aircraft they fly here too ... (IC (732) and AI (310) are in the same league like AA (MD) and NW(DC9)) :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Er, the 732s are all CD (Alliance Air) rather than IC proper, which mostly flies 319/320 birds, plus some 310 widebodies to short haul international destinations. And those are getting phased out.

AI is mostly 744s and AB3s and those are about the same age range as most other carriers - no 40 year old birds like NW's DC9 / DC10s.

The planes are fairly new - sucky interiors, dowdy stewardesses etc tend to make them look rather older than they are.

So true! :p Ok I inderstand why they rush to get off the airplane as they might get out quicker, but why the rush to get onto the Airplane? its not going anywhere till every one has boarded anyway. Have you ever noticed that?

Funny story - Landed on a AI flight from SIN last year. As soon as we had slowed down on the runway half of the people got up and started to walk into the Biz cabin. The steward was shouting her head off but to no avail.
I have never seen so many people in such a hurry to get off.

I think typically most indians travel way too much by buses, metros (local train systems) and railway trains. Now, in each of those transport mediums there is always a LACK of seating space, at times even lack of standing room. People barely squeeze in.

I think this causes people to always RUSH in, always STRUGGLE / fight to get in. I think that mentality gets ingrained.

But, I do not like it as much. C'mon if theres no 'real & justified' need to RUSH then you dont need to do it. If there is no actual benefit then why do it.

Now I'll point out 2 places where its not just indians, but others too act stupid.

1. Boarding flights where people want to put something into their overhead bins. Just like me I am sure everyone hates having to:
- check in their hand baggage for the lack of overhead bin space
- has to put their hand baggage somewhere not in proximity of where they are going to sit

PS: I do not like people who put in small purses that pretty much block someone from putting in a carry-on bag. (Especially, after they've already put in their carry-ons.

2. Luggage Belts
- where people STICK to the conveyer systems (luggage carousel) in the HOPES that they might SEE their bag.
- When so many people STICK to it, it decreases the VISIBILITY & LINE OF SIGHT.
- Also, it prevents a lot of people from seeing their bags at all. => Frustration, Anxiety, Fights, Pushing / Shoving
- Also, when a bag does come around people do not realize that for it to be picked up from the carousel SAFELY without hitting someones legs, knees & toes means they have to MAKE SPACE for someone to pick up & swing the bag UP & OUT from the carousel to the luggage cart.

There you have it. I just vented :D.

Actually, this mentality is ingrained in all aspects of daily life...they do it at the banks, small diners, and even bathrooms....

this is normal, you just have to be smarter and quicker than the herd !!!

Actually, this mentality is ingrained in all aspects of daily life...they do it at the banks, small diners, and even bathrooms....

this is normal, you just have to be smarter and quicker than the herd !!!

And always remember to keep those elbows out! ;)

And always remember to keep those elbows out! ;)

So true !!!!

but I have found that a raised tone of voice works wonders !!!

Actually, this mentality is ingrained in all aspects of daily life...they do it at the banks, small diners, and even bathrooms....

this is normal, you just have to be smarter and quicker than the herd !!!


So true! The funniest is the driving part, they are always in such a rush to get no where. I used to drive when I first moved here, now I don't bother at all.

offtopic - but come down south (MAA say) - a lot more civilized. Or come to BLR for the kind of traffic chaos and gridlocks that will leave you longing for DEL traffic on the highway to the airport :)

Back on topic - how many of those new birds AI is buying (321 say) are going to get pressed into service on domestic circuits? IT is already running its 321 on premium and heavy traffic routes, advertising it as a "kingliner".