India-based Airlines - AI Miles / V Class Economy

I want to fly to Indian in business class.

I have some 280k AI miles, all BIS, nearly all business class. Today I learn that two r/ts from NYC to BLR will run over 360k miles!! (Compare with DL miles on AF, 120k per person, 240k total!)

Btw, that outlandish rate -- over 180k per person -- is not for the tickets outright; it is to upgrade a V-class economy ticket. So I still have to buy a V class ticket!

Here are my questions.

1. Where can I specify a V-class ticket to buy? The AI website does not allow me to specify fare class.

2. Roughly how much would a V class ticket cost?

3. Can I redeem my AI miles on any other airline? I know in theory I could redeem on LH and SQ. Is there any real availability on those airlines though?

4. If there is not good partner redemption availability, should I just suck it up and blow the miles on the upgrade?

Note, when I say 'partner redemptions', I don't mean to travel NYC-BLR. Could be to anywhere, originating in the east coast USA. If I can get a good partner redemption for a nice vacation, I'll just buy this ticket with cash.

Btw, that outlandish rate -- over 180k per person -- is not for the tickets outright; it is to upgrade a V-class economy ticket. So I still have to buy a V class ticket!

that doesn't sound right....its 90k miles one way from delhi - nyc so it should be the same for bangalore....that means 180k miles for a return ticket....no need to buy an economy ticket in 'v' class....

1. Where can I specify a V-class ticket to buy? The AI website does not allow me to specify fare class.

if you are looking to upgrade then it will be much less than 180k miles....get in touch with an ai office or a ta to get a 'v' class ticket....

2. Roughly how much would a V class ticket cost?

depends on when you are traveling....

3. Can I redeem my AI miles on any other airline? I know in theory I could redeem on LH and SQ. Is there any real availability on those airlines though?

you would have to get in touch with those airlines....

4. If there is not good partner redemption availability, should I just suck it up and blow the miles on the upgrade?

there is an airport upgrade process that you can try as well....more details here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/1284769-bloodbath-offing-air-india-offering-airport-upgrades-up-15-december-2011-a.html

East coast to Delhi and Mumbai on AI is 90K miles Oneway for a redemption ticket, much in line with the others (Jet Airways is 94K IIRC). So, for 360K you'll get east coast, USA to Del/Bom. I'd suspect you'll have to buy the connection to BLR separately.

yes but roundtrip redemptions are usually cheaper than one ways.

yes but roundtrip redemptions are usually cheaper than one ways.

not with ai or 9w....

not with ai or 9w....

+1

This is very strange. I was at the AI office in New York just yesterday where the woman told me that I needed to buy a V-class ticket and upgrade it, and that the upgrade cost 183k miles per person. Because I have "only" 280k miles, I then would have needed to buy the balance of the miles, which would have added another $1500. So for two r/t business class tickets, I was looking at $1500 + (cost of two V-class tickets).

Do you think it might have to do with the dates? Perhaps an award redemption was not available for those dates so she looked at upgrades? But why would upgrades cost as much/more than a redemption??

This is very strange. I was at the AI office in New York just yesterday where the woman told me that I needed to buy a V-class ticket and upgrade it, and that the upgrade cost 183k miles per person. Because I have "only" 280k miles, I then would have needed to buy the balance of the miles, which would have added another $1500. So for two r/t business class tickets, I was looking at $1500 + (cost of two V-class tickets).

Do you think it might have to do with the dates? Perhaps an award redemption was not available for those dates so she looked at upgrades? But why would upgrades cost as much/more than a redemption??

you were given incorrect information....i would suggest talking to a different agent....

This is very strange. I was at the AI office in New York just yesterday where the woman told me that I needed to buy a V-class ticket and upgrade it, and that the upgrade cost 183k miles per person. Because I have "only" 280k miles, I then would have needed to buy the balance of the miles, which would have added another $1500. So for two r/t business class tickets, I was looking at $1500 + (cost of two V-class tickets).

Do you think it might have to do with the dates? Perhaps an award redemption was not available for those dates so she looked at upgrades? But why would upgrades cost as much/more than a redemption??

have you tried redeeming online. I heard they have a good online system now which is glitch free. and if you need to use the office, look up flyingreturns.co.in and take a print for them to see about the mileage requirements

Anyone have a link to the AI award chart?

Anyone have a link to the AI award chart?

https://www.flyingreturns.co.in/html/rd_airindia_flights.php

NYC-DEL one way is indeed 90K miles (for business).

Wow, thats expensive!

This page also tells you rules for upgrade.

have you tried redeeming online. I heard they have a good online system now which is glitch free. and if you need to use the office, look up flyingreturns.co.in and take a print for them to see about the mileage requirements

INdeed their online system will definitely tell you if there is award space on these flights. Then, the OP can make his decision on spending the miles plus $$ on the awards.

So very strange. When I look online, the itinerary I want prices out at 183,000 miles, total for the trip, for an outright redemption. But at the AI offices in New York, I was told it would be 183k to upgrade from V class. Is it really possible that the AI desk staff at their (main? only?) US office got it completely wrong?

So very strange. When I look online, the itinerary I want prices out at 183,000 miles, total for the trip, for an outright redemption. But at the AI offices in New York, I was told it would be 183k to upgrade from V class. Is it really possible that the AI desk staff at their (main? only?) US office got it completely wrong?

How about carrying the printout from the website for them. or your tablet device and showing them a live demo of how the ticket prices ;) you could also redeem the miles online i suppose like I mentioned earlier. However, since I stopped travelling AI a while back, I am not totally clued in.

Is it really possible that the AI desk staff at their (main? only?) US office got it completely wrong?

very possible....book online if you can or as a2a suggested, carry a printout of the chart to the ai office....