FYI - Just a quick update for those considering AI eastbound to PVG, HKG ETC...

I just flew PVG-DEL-BOM (on the same aircraft) and was the only PAX in first. Flight was a 2200 departure - middle of the night arrival in DEL and then on the BOM.

Service as others have stated was excellent. Lounge and PVG T2 was the Shanghai airlines lounge which was very decent given that AI only flies there 4 times a week (same one used by LH / SQ and other *A Members)...

I was under the weather so didn't drink - They didn't have a winelist but was told that the champagne on offer was MOET (not very first class)....

Food was very good and served old first class style (trolley table side have as much as I want of whatever I wanted)...

When I went to bed, the Cabin-incharge made a call to his crew and told them not to come into first class on the A side if they were walking up so as not to disturb me.

I also told him I would wake up as close to landing as possible and try and get as much rest. The downside was they hadn't loaded the aircraft with the longhaul goodies other than a very good Aigner amenity kit so no big pillow or duvet. Again inflight service made up for this as they grabbed all pillows and a few extra blankets and somehow managed to make my bed very comfortable.
I was allowed to sleep till minutes before touch down. On landing they told they would take care of my hand luggage during security check and I went straight back to sleep. The next crew came to say hello on take off and kept trying to offer me food... again I slept and awoke just before touch down in Mumbai and they still managed to offer me a cup of tea. I have to say AI was truly excellent on board and like rathin the uncles and auntyji's really new their stuff. The downside was the fact that as a first class overnight flight, it wasn't equipped with the goodies like duvets sleep suits etc which it should have been. 9W has the whole shabang on HKG flights, don't see why AI doesn't.

Would I fly AI again - the answer in most definitely.

On ground in PVG not much by way of first class service. On arrival in BOM there as a porter waiting by the aircraft with a printed sheet with my name on it and I was handled upto my car. Nothing fancy like 9W but still very good...

Overall, I would say AI service wise is up there and definitely beats the european and middle eastern carriers. It's such a shame that such a wonderful airline with such a solid background and experienced crew base is being run to the ground by the lunatics in charge of our country.