Air India service to Washington (IAD) (2017-)
Mar 20, 2016, 4:37 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Jan 19, 2017, 5:39 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS (IAD, DCA, BWI)
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, WN CP
Posts: 245
AI starts DEL-IAD direct service from July 2017
Jan 20, 2017, 2:39 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
i travel to the dulles area 5-6 times a year....this option would save me a lot of time as compared to transiting via either cdg or ams....but on the flip side i would have to give up my diamond status with delta if i switch over all these flights to ai....tough choice....lets see how well this flight does initially....
Jan 21, 2017, 11:04 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
i travel to the dulles area 5-6 times a year....this option would save me a lot of time as compared to transiting via either cdg or ams....but on the flip side i would have to give up my diamond status with delta if i switch over all these flights to ai....tough choice....lets see how well this flight does initially....
Jan 21, 2017, 9:57 pm
#6
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
on the other hand i have top status with star alliance as well since i end up taking over 100 domestic flights on ai every year....
Jan 23, 2017, 6:22 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS (IAD, DCA, BWI)
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, WN CP
Posts: 245
I fly to India quite a bit, and used to be loyal to NW/DL. I burned all my DL Skymiles (280K) on two J tickets just before the devaluation. Now I am almost out of DL/Skyteam. I fly OW and *A now.
Jan 24, 2017, 11:54 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
delta status is not at all useful between india & the us & as you said, redemption took a big hit when dl raised its rates but i find delta status to be of great value when i am in the us....upgrades, lounge access, free luggage, no cancellation charges on award tickets, etc make it worthwhile for me....
on the other hand i have top status with star alliance as well since i end up taking over 100 domestic flights on ai every year....
on the other hand i have top status with star alliance as well since i end up taking over 100 domestic flights on ai every year....
While I never ever want to set foot on United, which means never reaching Elite status, Star Alliance seems like the best bet for me since there always seems to be good availability for 80k o/w.
Jan 24, 2017, 11:55 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
Lucky break on the J awards before the devaluation! Kudos ^
Aug 9, 2017, 4:14 pm
#10
formerly gantid
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Platinum, Marriott Platinum elite, *G, Hilton Gold
Posts: 198
I wil be flying AI for the first time from IAD-DEL on J class. I am *G (United Platinum), so I can use LH-Sen or TK *G lounge in IAD. Has AI contracted with any other airline lounge?
Aug 10, 2017, 2:53 am
#11
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
LH & TK will let you into their lounge as *G travelling AI without issues. AI 104 leaves from B45, so its near to the LH/TK lounges.
Feb 7, 2018, 7:27 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Raleigh-Durham
Programs: HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; AA Platinum
Posts: 758