Just off the flight from ORD-DEL here is a mini TR.
I am a regular flyer on AA 292/293 (every three months) and had been forced to buy AI since the price for AI was about half that of AA.
I Used the free Limo service which promptly arrived at my home at 12:30 PM for the 2:45 PM flight. The limo was very comfortable (a black Lincoln Town car). Only thing I gave him was the tip.
Dragged my two suitcases from outside to the AI checkin which was pretty empty. There was a person checking boarding passes before the checkin line and saw my Business class ticket and showed me to the empty F checkin.
Check In was smooth and the agent was pleasant. I asked her if she could block the seat next to me and she said Business class was pretty empty so I can sit anywhere I want. Security was quick and I was in the lounge by 1:15. AI used the world services lounge next to gate M10 (which happens to be the departure gate). Lounge itself is pretty sparce (and had just 4 others in it .... which happened to be the other AI J class passengers.
They called the Business class checkin at around 2;15 by which time rest of the passengers had already boarded. Was nicely escorted to my seat.
There were a total of 5 of us in Business (total capacity around 35?) and there were 6 attendants for the service. They offered to help me with my bags (I only had one carry on .... my laptop backpack) so I declined politely.
Pre-departure they offered juice. The flight took off right on time. Noticed that the IFE screen on AI is roughly twice the size of the AA one. The movie selections both English and Hindi were excellent though the TV selections were minimal.
The service started with 4 course appetizers (of Kebabs, Shrimp, Chicken and some sort of veg patties). The beverage card seemed to be well stacked and they were quick to refill your drink.
Lunch had 3 options (two of them Indian) with some of the best paranthas served on the side.
Watched a couple of movies and then went to sleep only to wake up around Tashkent with another 3 hours of flight to go.
Flight arrived about 30 mts early (interesting the distance AI travels is about 300 miles longer than AA ... since it takes a more southerly route. Wonder why?). Was the first off the plane and whizzed through Immigration. The priority tagged bags were among the first to arrive and was in a cab 20 mts after landing.
Inside of the plane was very nice with different ambient lights through the flight. The seats seemed to be more spacious ... definitely more room between rows BUT were not fully flat. Neither were they as angled as the AA ones. For some reason the top of the seats was fully flat but the legs portion seemed a bit angled.
Overall thoroughly enjoyed the flight. The bummer remains that AI miles are useless and until they join Star Alliance people will continue to avoid AI. But if I could earn miles on a US carrier, this could have been a great flight.