Has anyone flown Air India? Opinions?
Jan 8, 2016, 9:12 am
#61
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 408
Yet another reason to not fly Air India. Four hour delay with poor communication.
http://www.india.com/news/india/air-...irport-846052/
Years and years of inefficiency, losses and bureaucracy - without a care for the flying public. Good thing private airlines came into India - otherwise folks would be at the mercy of the flying maharah !!
http://www.india.com/news/india/air-...irport-846052/
Years and years of inefficiency, losses and bureaucracy - without a care for the flying public. Good thing private airlines came into India - otherwise folks would be at the mercy of the flying maharah !!
Jan 8, 2016, 10:22 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
Yet another reason to not fly Air India. Four hour delay with poor communication.
http://www.india.com/news/india/air-...irport-846052/
Years and years of inefficiency, losses and bureaucracy - without a care for the flying public. Good thing private airlines came into India - otherwise folks would be at the mercy of the flying maharah !!
http://www.india.com/news/india/air-...irport-846052/
Years and years of inefficiency, losses and bureaucracy - without a care for the flying public. Good thing private airlines came into India - otherwise folks would be at the mercy of the flying maharah !!
Whenever an AI flight I have taken is delayed, I at least get a text on the registered number and a phone call in most cases.
And do you not think that Delhi fog is an actual reason for a flight to be delayed? If you have access to any flight-tracking websites, you will notice Indigo has accumulated 5 hours of delays on many sectors today, as has Vistara; two of the airlines with the best On Time Performance in the country.
Lastly, to call BS on the poorly researched article in the link, no AI flight between BLR and DEL is currently operated by an aircraft that carries 240 passengers. AI bashing with pathetically written articles is media's favourite pastime.
Jan 8, 2016, 2:58 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
Feb 13, 2016, 9:01 am
#66
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
My recent experience..
Hi there,
Over the years my India domestic travel had been on Jet, Kingfisher or other
private airlines. With the * alliance entry, I wanted to avail my * Gold status
on A.I. Baggage allowance was another factor to fly them.
I had two flights booked separately.
1. DEL to BOM on the 4 AM AI flight after my arrival from LHR
This flight comes from China and continues to BOM. As I went to
check for the flight, I was told that the flight was delayed and will
depart DEL at 9:30 AM (5:30 hours late). As I had an early
meeting in BOM, I asked them to put me on the next available flight
which was 7 AM. Economy was sold out only business was available
on that flight. I asked them to get me on that flight which they could
have done by moving their elite FF to Business. But they declined. After
lot of arguments they asked me to buy upgrade fee of INR 7500 for
business class seat. I thought this was poor customer service. I did
it but left a bad taste for not taking care of someone that was
delayed. This 7 AM flight boarded on time but took off at 10 AM due to
fog but that was not AI's fault. I am not sure when my original 4 AM flight
took off if at all..
2. BOM to GOI: This flight boarded few minutes late but was delayed
90 minutes because a crew member was missing. This was from Mumbai
where I assume they have lots of crew. These things happen but from what
I have been reading, happen to AI a lot..
Lounge facilities in DEL were OK. Internet was not working. BOM lounge
is a contract lounge and service was good with good internet.
Baggage was delivered OK but not priority although I had the * Gold.
These were short flights (2 and 1 hour) but they managed to give some
food. The food quality was not that great even in Business. The service was choppy
and not smooth in business...
Fortunately most of the flights in India are short duration so you can
ignore the poor on board services. The ground service of AI definitely
needs some work..
F.A.
Over the years my India domestic travel had been on Jet, Kingfisher or other
private airlines. With the * alliance entry, I wanted to avail my * Gold status
on A.I. Baggage allowance was another factor to fly them.
I had two flights booked separately.
1. DEL to BOM on the 4 AM AI flight after my arrival from LHR
This flight comes from China and continues to BOM. As I went to
check for the flight, I was told that the flight was delayed and will
depart DEL at 9:30 AM (5:30 hours late). As I had an early
meeting in BOM, I asked them to put me on the next available flight
which was 7 AM. Economy was sold out only business was available
on that flight. I asked them to get me on that flight which they could
have done by moving their elite FF to Business. But they declined. After
lot of arguments they asked me to buy upgrade fee of INR 7500 for
business class seat. I thought this was poor customer service. I did
it but left a bad taste for not taking care of someone that was
delayed. This 7 AM flight boarded on time but took off at 10 AM due to
fog but that was not AI's fault. I am not sure when my original 4 AM flight
took off if at all..
2. BOM to GOI: This flight boarded few minutes late but was delayed
90 minutes because a crew member was missing. This was from Mumbai
where I assume they have lots of crew. These things happen but from what
I have been reading, happen to AI a lot..
Lounge facilities in DEL were OK. Internet was not working. BOM lounge
is a contract lounge and service was good with good internet.
Baggage was delivered OK but not priority although I had the * Gold.
These were short flights (2 and 1 hour) but they managed to give some
food. The food quality was not that great even in Business. The service was choppy
and not smooth in business...
Fortunately most of the flights in India are short duration so you can
ignore the poor on board services. The ground service of AI definitely
needs some work..
F.A.
Last edited by flyalways; Feb 13, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Feb 13, 2016, 11:23 am
#67
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
DEL fog delays are something that you need to plan for with any airline during the wintertime. Most flights (whether they are coming from China or originating in India) are likely to get delayed during early morning hours, and cascading delays all day are common.
As far as being forced to pay the upgrade fee to be rebooked in Business, that's pretty standard practice in the industry. At least AI offers affordable buyups - once, UA canceled a PHX-CLE flight I was on due to maintenance, and they charged me $800 to snag a biz seat on PHX-EWR!
As far as being forced to pay the upgrade fee to be rebooked in Business, that's pretty standard practice in the industry. At least AI offers affordable buyups - once, UA canceled a PHX-CLE flight I was on due to maintenance, and they charged me $800 to snag a biz seat on PHX-EWR!
Feb 21, 2016, 7:43 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,213
I have flown AI in Business class and had a good experience - except that they "lost" my baggage going to DAC and coming from DAC. Origin was DXB. Eventually I got the baggage within 24 hours.
In September, during Eid, I have a week holiday and I will fly (DXB-CMB) Business class and will have carry-on only. Faster at arrival. On the return flight, I expect a MAA stop over of 24 hours because of connection issues - but there (apparently) is no layover provisions even though the schedule issue at MAA is AI's making.
Does AI have layover provisions at MAA like UL has at CMB? If so, please advise. I cannot find any info on the AI website and it seems I must foot the bill for a hotel in MAA for the 24 hour stop over. It is due to the AI schedule where the CMB-MAA flight arrives as the MAA-DXB is departing. Only 1 flight per day apparently
In September, during Eid, I have a week holiday and I will fly (DXB-CMB) Business class and will have carry-on only. Faster at arrival. On the return flight, I expect a MAA stop over of 24 hours because of connection issues - but there (apparently) is no layover provisions even though the schedule issue at MAA is AI's making.
Does AI have layover provisions at MAA like UL has at CMB? If so, please advise. I cannot find any info on the AI website and it seems I must foot the bill for a hotel in MAA for the 24 hour stop over. It is due to the AI schedule where the CMB-MAA flight arrives as the MAA-DXB is departing. Only 1 flight per day apparently
Feb 21, 2016, 11:18 am
#69
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
My wife and mother-in-law have not flown on AI for decades - but they will be flying as part of an AC ticketed itinerary in a few weeks.
They will be flying DEL-BOM staying overnight, and then flying BOM-DEL. This will be in business class. My mother has Star Alliance Gold status with Air Canada - my mother-in-law has no status with any airline.
One concern; they did get the impression in the past - correctly or not - that the flight attendants seemed to be more attentive to the non-Indian passengers' needs compared to the Indian passengers' needs.
PPS-I have flown on Indian airlines (economy) domestically in the 1960s and 1970s - so that is my frame of reference. I now fly mostly on AC in J class internationally - sometimes LX/LH/TK/Thai/Asiana/SQ. So how does AI's international business class compare to those airlines?
They will be flying DEL-BOM staying overnight, and then flying BOM-DEL. This will be in business class. My mother has Star Alliance Gold status with Air Canada - my mother-in-law has no status with any airline.
One concern; they did get the impression in the past - correctly or not - that the flight attendants seemed to be more attentive to the non-Indian passengers' needs compared to the Indian passengers' needs.
PPS-I have flown on Indian airlines (economy) domestically in the 1960s and 1970s - so that is my frame of reference. I now fly mostly on AC in J class internationally - sometimes LX/LH/TK/Thai/Asiana/SQ. So how does AI's international business class compare to those airlines?
Feb 22, 2016, 2:10 am
#70
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,097
Does AI have layover provisions at MAA like UL has at CMB? If so, please advise. I cannot find any info on the AI website and it seems I must foot the bill for a hotel in MAA for the 24 hour stop over. It is due to the AI schedule where the CMB-MAA flight arrives as the MAA-DXB is departing. Only 1 flight per day apparently
Code:
>fqn12*so
FQN12*SO
** RULES DISPLAY ** TAX MAY APPLY
SURCHG MAY APPLY-CK RULE
22FEB16**22FEB16/AI FRASYD/NSP;EH/TPM 10256/MPM 12780
LN FARE BASIS OW EUR RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
12 JHAU12DE 2550 J + S01JAN 31DEC+ + 7 12M R
FCL: JHAU12DE TRF: 4 RULE: DE04 BK: J
PTC: ADT-ADULT FTC: BR -BUSINESS CLASS RESTRICTED
SO.STOPOVERS
FOR FARES WITH FOOTNOTE 6H
2 STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
LIMITED TO 1 FREE AND UNLIMITED AT EUR 75.00 EACH.
NONE IN GERMANY
1 FREE IN INDIA
UNLIMITED AT EUR 75.00 EACH.
NOTE -
STPC INCLUDED IN FARE // OR INDIAN TRANSIT VIA
FEES OF EUR 40 - WILL BE REIMBURSED ON PRODUCTION
OF VALID VISA AND RECIEPT
PAGE 1/ 1
>fqd dxbcmb/aai
FQD DXBCMB/AAI
AF AY AZ BA BD CI CX EK EY TAX MAY APPLY
FZ GF HU IC JL KL KQ KU LH SURCHG MAY APPLY-CK RULE
LO LX MH MJ MU NH OK QR SN
SQ SV TG TK UL WY 9W /YY*AA
AC AF AK A0 BG CA C6 DN DY
D2 D7 EK E6 FD FR FZ GI GX
G5 HV H1 JD J2 KC KE LH LL
LQ LS MF OD O2 QH QW QZ RB
RY R3 R8 SB SP TB TW T4 UA
UN UR U2 VB VK VY V7 WW W7
XF XJ XY X5 YC YZ ZJ Z2 2L
4Q 4U 5Q 6Q 7A 7C 8I 9B 9G
9H 9Q 9X
ROE 3.672970 UP TO 10.00 AED
22FEB16**22FEB16/AI DXBCMB/NSP;EH/TPM 2043/MPM 2451
LN FARE BASIS OW AED RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
01 CLOWAE 1520 C + B31MAR O31MAR+ - - - R
02 CLRTAE 3030 C + B31MAR O31MAR+ - - 12M R
03 DLOWAE 1420 D + B31MAR O31MAR+ - - - R
04 DLE6MAE 2730 D + B31MAR O31MAR+ - - 6M R
> PAGE 1/ 4
>fqn4*so
FQN4*SO
** RULES DISPLAY ** TAX MAY APPLY
SURCHG MAY APPLY-CK RULE
22FEB16**22FEB16/AI DXBCMB/NSP;EH/TPM 2043/MPM 2451
LN FARE BASIS OW AED RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
04 DLE6MAE 2730 D + B31MAR O31MAR+ - - 6M R
FCL: DLE6MAE TRF: 33 RULE: AEIN BK: D
PTC: ADT-ADULT FTC: BX -BUSINESS CLASS EXCURSION
SO.STOPOVERS
2 FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT - 1 IN EACH
DIRECTION IN INDIA.
NOTE -
DOMESTIC YQ WILL BE APPLICABLE.
PAGE 1/ 1
>
Feb 22, 2016, 2:13 am
#71
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,097
My wife and mother-in-law have not flown on AI for decades - but they will be flying as part of an AC ticketed itinerary in a few weeks.
They will be flying DEL-BOM staying overnight, and then flying BOM-DEL. This will be in business class. My mother has Star Alliance Gold status with Air Canada - my mother-in-law has no status with any airline.
One concern; they did get the impression in the past - correctly or not - that the flight attendants seemed to be more attentive to the non-Indian passengers' needs compared to the Indian passengers' needs.
PPS-I have flown on Indian airlines (economy) domestically in the 1960s and 1970s - so that is my frame of reference. I now fly mostly on AC in J class internationally - sometimes LX/LH/TK/Thai/Asiana/SQ. So how does AI's international business class compare to those airlines?
They will be flying DEL-BOM staying overnight, and then flying BOM-DEL. This will be in business class. My mother has Star Alliance Gold status with Air Canada - my mother-in-law has no status with any airline.
One concern; they did get the impression in the past - correctly or not - that the flight attendants seemed to be more attentive to the non-Indian passengers' needs compared to the Indian passengers' needs.
PPS-I have flown on Indian airlines (economy) domestically in the 1960s and 1970s - so that is my frame of reference. I now fly mostly on AC in J class internationally - sometimes LX/LH/TK/Thai/Asiana/SQ. So how does AI's international business class compare to those airlines?
), yesterday I did CCU-DEL they did a three course meal on a two hour flight, with pre departure drinks etc. Very caring of all pax, we had Indogermans like me, one European, one elderly couple, politicians etc etc. All were treated nicely and they took good care of all of us.
Feb 22, 2016, 5:13 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London
Posts: 203
Recent AI business class trip report
-I have flown on Indian airlines (economy) domestically in the 1960s and 1970s - so that is my frame of reference. I now fly mostly on AC in J class internationally - sometimes LX/LH/TK/Thai/Asiana/SQ. So how does AI's international business class compare to those airlines?
I wrote a trip report Jan 2016 on a four sector AI trip UK - DEL - AUSTRALIA business class trip. The flights were good, quite a few positive points and one or two not so good. R
I wrote a trip report Jan 2016 on a four sector AI trip UK - DEL - AUSTRALIA business class trip. The flights were good, quite a few positive points and one or two not so good. R
Feb 22, 2016, 6:17 pm
#73
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
AI's business class is 2-2 seating like in the US doemstic F service. Food service is amazing (like the thali setting they are now offering for indian option along with chai cups that look like earthern pots ), yesterday I did CCU-DEL they did a three course meal on a two hour flight, with pre departure drinks etc. Very caring of all pax, we had Indogermans like me, one European, one elderly couple, politicians etc etc. All were treated nicely and they took good care of all of us.
), yesterday I did CCU-DEL they did a three course meal on a two hour flight, with pre departure drinks etc. Very caring of all pax, we had Indogermans like me, one European, one elderly couple, politicians etc etc. All were treated nicely and they took good care of all of us.I would however guess, for those who have flown AC - that AI does not offer the private pods in their business class cabin.
Feb 22, 2016, 10:13 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,648
they do not....
Feb 22, 2016, 10:21 pm
#75
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
