Airlines of India - DEL-JFK: 9W or AI? help me decide

Hi folks,

Long time lurker popping my ears here.

I'm planning a holiday to NYC this December-- and I've been researching my airline options closely.

I'm keen on trying an Indian carrier for this trip (primarily because of the miles I can redeem for domestic Indian flights). My past trips between India and US have always been on Gulf and European carriers.

Obviously, there're only 2 choices for the DEL-JFK route: AI's non stop 77L and 9W via BRU.

This is what it's boiling down to: (in Y class, mind you)

AI Pros:
- New 77L which the trip reports have been raving about
- Reaches destination sooner
- low price

AI cons:
- Given that they're headed downhill, I'm concerned whether the stellar service and amenities that were provided when the route started in 2007 will be around when I fly them in December
- 16 hours will be the longest flight I've ever taken
- Basically the "anything can happen" risk one assumes while flying AI

9W Pros:
- Plenty of family members have recently flown transatlantic on 9w and swear by it
- Possibility of getting upgraded to J with a voucher I'm waiting on
- Reaches JFK at a decent hour
- Wouldn't mind a "break on the ground" after 9 hours of flying

9W cons:
- Would rather experience a 77L than a 332
- Costs INR 10,000 more than AI (Roundtrip)

If that upgrade voucher comes through, it's a no brainer-- paying INR 10,000 more to fly J is worth it. But assuming it doesn't-- which airline am I better off spending my hard earned money on? Thanks for your suggestions.

I personally would not even think of AI.

kb9 welcome to FT!

be careful about the vouchers and its T&Cs, im no expert but i think you might need several vouchers to upgrade into J class.

The best thing about the AI service is that once you take off, next stop is India whereas Jet has a stopover in Brussels.

If your going in December, you could have bad weather in NY and in BRU and you could be shafted twice. Whereas with AI if you have bad weather in NY, you only have one delay to contend with.

Both airlines use newish products, both have AVOD IFE, Jet has better reputation, AI probably get the older asian travellers who do not want the headache of changing planes midway through the journey, both have decent alcohol options, food should be good with both of them.

This is not your typical AI route, it is the most prestigious in the whole network, so thats something to consider.

but i would personally go with Jet because i would probably like the idea of walking around, strectching the legs, freshining up in brussels!

I personally would not even think of AI.

A "fan" after my own heart. Totally agree, but OP seems to have specific considerations, so why not try AI? {Can't believe I'm actually saying this, :mad: at myself !}


9W Pros:
- Possibility of getting upgraded to J with a voucher I'm waiting on
...
If that upgrade voucher comes through, it's a no brainer-- paying INR 10,000 more to fly J is worth it. But assuming it doesn't-- which airline am I better off spending my hard earned money on? Thanks for your suggestions.

Firstly, welcome ! Secondly, trust you have the adequate number of vouchers for upgrade, which is determined on miles flown basis - I think you will need something like 6 vouchers for India to JFK.

kb9
but i would personally go with Jet because i would probably like the idea of walking around, strectching the legs, freshining up in brussels!

Presuming OP is flying J, the 9w J lounge in BRU is worth at least half the ticket price !

i would pick the non stop over one with stops. Typically you can count on non stops to be on time. With stop overs the chances of delays and missed connections etc are higher.

Also any baggage etc will reach its destination with a better probability on the non stop.

I am an AA flyer in J ... and would not trade in the non stop AA from ord to del ... for even the flat seats of BA or Jet since they come with a stop over.

And 777 for AI seems to have much better service than any of the other segments that AI flies.

I would take the non stop.

like anirudh and cover point, I think that for this route, AI might be what OP is looking for.

Thanks for the feedback guys! I think I'm leaning towards AI for now.

Btw why does everyone refer to me as OP?

....Btw why does everyone refer to me as OP?

OP = Original Poster, i.e. the one whose post started the thread.

Since a non-stop is a prefered option here, how about I throw a curve ball. (Or perhaps a googly would be more appreciated in these parts! ;) )

Why don't you consider the CO nonstop DEL-EWR. You can also soon start earning *A miles on CO. Definitely the best of the US airlines, (albeit that isn't saying much!), and certainly more reliable than AI...

Of course it wouldn't be an Indian carrier though...

Since a non-stop is a prefered option here, how about I throw a curve ball. (Or perhaps a googly would be more appreciated in these parts! ;) )

Why don't you consider the CO nonstop DEL-EWR. You can also soon start earning *A miles on CO. Definitely the best of the US airlines, (albeit that isn't saying much!), and certainly more reliable than AI...

Of course it wouldn't be an Indian carrier though...

a few on the aa board may disagree about co being the best of the us carriers ...

Why don't you consider the CO nonstop DEL-EWR. You can also soon start earning *A miles on CO. Definitely the best of the US airlines, .


CO does not give free alcohol in Y (unless something has changed in the last 1 year), ,if that is important to you.

CO lands EWR by 6am, so if someone is picking you up, just make sure they are okay with the early time slot (it's better than doing to DEL/BOM at 2am to pick up someone).

I think CO officially joins *A this month or next.

Personally, in Y I would take 9W and use the stretch break in BRU. Even in J, it gets boring on a 15 hour flight.

CO does not give free alcohol in Y (unless something has changed in the last 1 year), ,if that is important to you.

CO lands EWR by 6am, so if someone is picking you up, just make sure they are okay with the early time slot (it's better than doing to DEL/BOM at 2am to pick up someone).

I think CO officially joins *A this month or next.

Personally, in Y I would take 9W and use the stretch break in BRU. Even in J, it gets boring on a 15 hour flight.

if i am in business .... i would take a non stop over anything else. not only does the stop over add 2-6 hours to the flight .... it also breaks the journey just when you could potentially get some rest (specially in business).

I fly the aa ord - del non stop all the time ... and would not give that up for even much better jet airways service ... since it makes me break in brussels

No worries. Land at EWR at 6 AM and by the time you've cleared immigration / customs and picked up your bags its closer to 8 AM.

CO does not give free alcohol in Y (unless something has changed in the last 1 year), ,if that is important to you.

CO lands EWR by 6am, so if someone is picking you up, just make sure they are okay with the early time slot (it's better than doing to DEL/BOM at 2am to pick up someone).

I think CO officially joins *A this month or next.

Personally, in Y I would take 9W and use the stretch break in BRU. Even in J, it gets boring on a 15 hour flight.

I personally would not even think of AI.

The non-stop DEL-JFK AI flight is actually pretty decent -- more so when loads aren't great -- and it's better than what passes for the more usual AI service. I say that as someone who wouldn't ordinarily choose to fly AI even when the offer included free tickets on AI.

Despite the negatives for AI, I would go for them. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime ultra long-haul experience with the 772LR. Plus, it's cheaper and you shave some precious time off your journey.

CO83 DEL-EWR, lands at EWR at 4:30AM.
Immigration is a breeze at this time of the day.

You should clear immigration, customs by 5:30AM or so.

You can consider it if flying J.

Firstly, welcome ! Secondly, trust you have the adequate number of vouchers for upgrade, which is determined on miles flown basis - I think you will need something like 6 vouchers for India to JFK.

for del-jfk you need 5 vouchers....

i'm on a 9w flight almost every second or third day so its definitely my preffered carrier....having said that, over the last 3 years i have flown del-jfk 3-4 times a year & most of the time i've flown 9w....i took the non-stop ai flight on 2 occasions, as per my client instructions, & it was not bad....but mind you, i always fly business & the 9w business is one of the best i have ever come across in my life....i would never take the ai flight if i was traveling in economy....a number of my work colleagues fly the same route with me in economy & they said they preferred 9w over ai....

for del-jfk you need 5 vouchers....

i'm on a 9w flight almost every second or third day so its definitely my preffered carrier....having said that, over the last 3 years i have flown del-jfk 3-4 times a year & most of the time i've flown 9w....i took the non-stop ai flight on 2 occasions, as per my client instructions, & it was not bad....but mind you, i always fly business & the 9w business is one of the best i have ever come across in my life....i would never take the ai flight if i was traveling in economy....a number of my work colleagues fly the same route with me in economy & they said they preferred 9w over ai....
Jet seems to rule, across threads!

Is NYC your final destination? The DEL-JFK flight becomes DEL-JFK-IAD from Dec. 1st. That is a biggie for me as I am in IAD.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/1006727-ai-fly-iad.html

The only other factor to consider would be your FFP situation. Do you have miles accumulated on 9W or AI? AI will (someday, really soon, I promise... :rolleyes: ) join *A. That will make any miles you have on AI more valuable than miles on 9W.

yep my final destination is NYC.

I have roughly equal number of miles on AI and 9W FFPs. But I agree with you-- AI's miles would be worth lot more in couple months from now.

But I agree with you-- AI's miles would be worth lot more in couple months from now.

I'd put much bigger bets on AI never entering *A than it entering in a couple months or even within a year. Outside odds on 9W entering and AI not entering.

As said elsewhere you will have to clear customs and immigration in JFK on the DEL-JFK-IAD so not much of an advantage.

yep my final destination is NYC.

I have roughly equal number of miles on AI and 9W FFPs. But I agree with you-- AI's miles would be worth lot more in couple months from now.

Would not bet on 'a couple of months'. MOre likely end of 2010. Which is a bummer. I have a trip I need to purchase on short notice and AI has the best fares, but no go for me as I only choose to fly *A.

I would pick AI as well. I was very pleasantly surprised when flying them LHR-YYZ (albeit in J).

If you don't mind sitting in a seat for 16 hours or so, nothing beats the convienience. I also like the departure time of the AI flight better. It's late enough that you can doze off for most of the flight (if you can sleep on flights.) However, if you can't sleep, it will be painful as you will have missed one full night of sleep then will have a FULL day in NYC to stay awake through.

Cheers,

I would pick AI as well. I was very pleasantly surprised when flying them LHR-YYZ (albeit in J).

If you don't mind sitting in a seat for 16 hours or so, nothing beats the convienience. I also like the departure time of the AI flight better. It's late enough that you can doze off for most of the flight (if you can sleep on flights.) However, if you can't sleep, it will be painful as you will have missed one full night of sleep then will have a FULL day in NYC to stay awake through.

Cheers,

my sister recently flew the sister route (JFK - BOM) and was really pleasantly surprised by the experience at Air India. Clean planes, good food, attentive service etc.

my sister recently flew the sister route (JFK - BOM) and was really pleasantly surprised by the experience at Air India. Clean planes, good food, attentive service etc.
Are you sure that was AI? Doesn't sound like them one bit!