AvidFlyer1990

Hello all,

Pretty new to this forum, so apologies if this question has been asked before. Planning a long-haul flight, and due to price (around my desired dates), departure station and my desire to upgrade to the next status in TK M&S program, I was thinking of going with AI in J. So my questions are:

1. In J, how good are the beds (seats) for sleeping; basically, say AI's J hard-product compared to, say, LH or LX or SQ or OZ or TK or OS J hard-product?

2. How is the overall soft-product (catering, service, etc.)?

3. Flightaware shows a regular delay, ranging from 1-1.5 hours, sometimes more. If I book a separate domestic ticket, how long of a layover/buffer should I build into it? Trying to get a dom AI or 9W J flight, so that I can stay in T3, but, if the schedule is too much of a problem, I might have to go with an LCC operating out of T1.

4. The website shows limo service for premium pax. Is Limo service really available, and has anyone tried it? Is there a number to call for this, and how reliable (in that it's actually going to show up)?

5. As a *G, can I expect a little better treatment, like, say, AI blocking a J seat next to me?

6. Out of the Swiss and Maharajah lounge, in T4, which one would you prefer? Have been to the LX one many times, and it's kinda underwhelming. How is the food in the Maharajah lounge?

Thanks much! And any other info, is much appreciated.

Keyser

i like the beds & have always managed to get some sleep....

ai has always been good once in the air....the food & service is generally very good....

my suggestion would be to book your next leg on the same pnr....this way if the flight is late then they will put you on the next available flight....

see here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...o-service.html

no better treatment....

the lounge is ok....nothing to write home about....its good to kill a few hours in....

AvidFlyer1990

Thank you so much, Keyser. Your helpful inputs are much appreciated!

worldtraveller73

1. I find it tough to beat the newer aircraft for LH and TK that offer full flat seating in the 2 - 2 -2 configuration among these three.

2. I personally have found while the service levels on AI can be wonderful, the food and catering are nothing like LH, LX, SQ or TK. Three of those are Do + CO catering (ok perhaps not Swiss) and SQ generally has excellent food. AI isn't unfortunately anywhere near in the same league. The food is tasty, just not as fancy.

5. We didn't see much difference travelling as Star Gold domestically and internationally on AI. Certainly no blocked seat on our economy segments.

The lounge in New Delhi has been nicely refreshed, although for an international lounge it's clean but not to memorable. There are some disasters out there in the system (Chennai International Marhajah comes to mind).

Best of luck!

oliver2002

TK and AI:
- have exactly the same seat installed on the 787 and 77W (Zodiac Aura Lite: http://www.zodiacaerospace.com/en/pr...aisle-aircraft)
- TK catering is great out of IST, but FAs responsiveness is the same at both
- TK lounge is nice in IST, airport is far worse than say DEL or BOM
- TK service out of BOM is on 77B aircraft, which are op by 9W

AvidFlyer1990

Thank you worldtraveller73. I actually like the 788 on AI's config in J. An awesome amount of legroom, I must say, and it's in a 2-2-2 config. Not expecting much in terms of catering from AI.

That said, I had two domestic J flights, as a *G. The first one, had about a 50% load in J, but the seat next to me was empty. The second one, was literally THE ONLY ONE, in a 12-seat J-cabin. With regard to those two experiences, I thought that they might (capacity permitting, ofcourse) block seats next to *G's in J.

I agree with you on the lounge. However the food options were decent, both in the international & domestic lounge (talking about at like 2 am in the morning for international!), ofcourse not in the leagues of other international lounges.

Thanks oliver2002.
1. I agree, as I have tried both. However, TK's 777 has the 2-3-2 config like the one in AI's 777 (not very ideal).
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Do they still wet-lease the 77B's from 9W? I thought that ended sometime ago, with the EY-9W partnership? So does it mean that TK E's and E+'s in J still have access to those coveted F-suites?

Thanks much!

oliver2002

Ah sorry the TK IST thing has switched to 77W. No more 9W.

AvidFlyer1990

Another question, thought I would bump this thread up, as opposed to creating a new one:

Since I will already be airside, coming off of a domestic DL flight, can I check-in and do doc checks at the AI Maharaja Lounge/Swiss Lounge, as opposed to going to landside again and doing the whole TSA nude-o-scope thingy?! P.S. I will not have any checked-in bags. Thanks!

erik123

Very doubtful at the lounge (requires a paper invite to get in). You can try at the gate.

AvidFlyer1990

Thanks for the answer, erik123. As of now, it is looking more and more like I have to go out, and do the whole check-in SHABAANG all-over. Aaahhh...the 90's!!