Originally Posted by
cover point
...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?)...
That is because AA studiously avoids Iranian air space; whenever I have flown on AA to DEL, I have noticed the plane taking a sharp left turn at the southern tip of Kazakhstan and giving Iran a wide berth. Presumably, AI has no such problem in overflying Iran.
Agree 100% that the lack of AI's affiliation to a recognized alliance stops a lot of people from flying them