Air India - International Biz Class
Nov 6, 2014, 11:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sydney AUS
Programs: VA Gold, United Premier Gold, Qantas Platinum
Posts: 349
Air India - International Biz Class
I am seeing a great price for business class LON - SYD through DEL (under $3k in peak season) and I would be really interested please to hear feedback on it.
It seems to be the 77w and 788 (dreamliner?) on this itinerary. Its great value but is it worth it?
It seems to be the 77w and 788 (dreamliner?) on this itinerary. Its great value but is it worth it?
Nov 7, 2014, 12:01 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ahmedabad, INDIA
Programs: Blasé..
Posts: 174
Business on 77W/787 serves the basic purpose and is not very lurid. Seats are comfortable in both sitting/sleeping positions, food is good (better if you like Indian Taste) and service is good not flashy. Even the connection in Delhi should be smooth, you may want to request AI for a transit hotel while returning due to long layover (have heard AI do this for couple of other FTers & my friends).
Overall, J under or around $3K is a good catch as it wd normally cost anywhere around $5K.
And you would also add your *A points if at all you use!!
Cheers - do let us know your experience if in case you proceed wd your bookings!!
Overall, J under or around $3K is a good catch as it wd normally cost anywhere around $5K.
And you would also add your *A points if at all you use!!
Cheers - do let us know your experience if in case you proceed wd your bookings!!
Nov 8, 2014, 9:07 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
ai long haul is pretty decent in business....try a search as there are already tons of threads on this topic....
Nov 8, 2014, 10:32 am
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Having made a recent trip on AI J on the BOM-BKK-BOM route, operated by the B787, i can vouch for the Hard-product, Food & Beverages and also the staff.
The most prominent fact about AI crew, which I like is, their service and smile is genuine.. unlike the robotic drill and a plastic smile prevalent all across.
The AI Lounge at DEL is awesome and with AI now a part of *A, this should be a bonanza.
The most prominent fact about AI crew, which I like is, their service and smile is genuine.. unlike the robotic drill and a plastic smile prevalent all across.
The AI Lounge at DEL is awesome and with AI now a part of *A, this should be a bonanza.
Nov 11, 2014, 2:40 am
#7
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
AI J bookings include a free stay at the Eaton hotel airside if the connection is above 4 hours. AI has filed quite a few very decent J fares from Europe to BKK, SIN, SYD/MEL to fill their 787 service. ^
Mar 4, 2015, 9:13 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA AU (ex 10+ year 1k) 1.5MM, AS Newbie, HH ex Dia
Posts: 337
Wanted to add some additional information about the 787 to help seat selection in J.
Row 1 has several limitations. First, there is no storage allowed under the seat. This is even worse because there are no overhead bins in the center at row 1. Second, all other rows have a monitor mounted on the back of the seat. In row 1, the monitor is deployed from the center console, which must be stowed during takeoff and landing.
Not that a seat selection seems to matter. We were two passengers on a single PNR with pre-selected seats 3A/3B (weeks in advance), and discovered at check-in that one of us had been moved to row 1.
Row 1 has several limitations. First, there is no storage allowed under the seat. This is even worse because there are no overhead bins in the center at row 1. Second, all other rows have a monitor mounted on the back of the seat. In row 1, the monitor is deployed from the center console, which must be stowed during takeoff and landing.
Not that a seat selection seems to matter. We were two passengers on a single PNR with pre-selected seats 3A/3B (weeks in advance), and discovered at check-in that one of us had been moved to row 1.
Mar 4, 2015, 3:21 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sydney AUS
Programs: VA Gold, United Premier Gold, Qantas Platinum
Posts: 349
So I did book. I was in the middle section of row 2. I have no complaints about the flight itself. The food was good, the service was polite and attentive. The seats are comfortable. The monitors are a little far away and the selection of movies very limited but it was fine for me.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.
Mar 9, 2015, 3:54 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 69
So I did book. I was in the middle section of row 2. I have no complaints about the flight itself. The food was good, the service was polite and attentive. The seats are comfortable. The monitors are a little far away and the selection of movies very limited but it was fine for me.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.
Mar 9, 2015, 4:50 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ahmedabad, INDIA
Programs: Blasé..
Posts: 174
I agree when they go bad - there's nothing like them however I would say other way around too - when AI is good...there's hardly any flaw and lately i would say they are at least seriously attempting for the later one. Had some near perfect flights (>10) long-short haul with them in last 3 months across Y/J and they were great.
Whilst you can and should not definitely expect the likes of SQ/CX/LH from AI but I would say they were much better than EY/DL/EK and domestically than 9W.
Mar 9, 2015, 12:23 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
You have either not flown enough on other international carriers to know the difference
And why should I not expect the same standards as the carriers you have mentioned - after all, AI fares are generally on par with them
Last edited by AJLondon; Mar 11, 2015 at 8:07 am Reason: Mod action - edited personal comments
Mar 9, 2015, 10:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 250
So I did book. I was in the middle section of row 2. I have no complaints about the flight itself. The food was good, the service was polite and attentive. The seats are comfortable. The monitors are a little far away and the selection of movies very limited but it was fine for me.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.
However - the flight was cancelled and I was rerouted the next day through a different departure airport. So I arrived home a day late (it would have been two days if I hadn't changed airports!) I am still trying to get the compensation for the transport and hotel which was in early January so that would stop me booking with them again.