I flew AI in J last week, ORD-(FRA)-DEL-CCU. My last time on AI was in 1985.

First the good: check-in was efficient, flights were on time, assisted by high tailwinds (except for DEL-CCU which was one hour late taking off, because of late arrival of the previous flight, but adequate information was given at the gate and profuse apologies in flight---a big change from many years ago). I am not sure why the J seat on the 773 is neither flat nor horizontal, but it is close, and comfortable enough. For the price, one can't complain. My luggage arrived safely, and emerged very quickly in CCU.

I must say, though, that the food and service were not what I'd expected.

For the first meal there was no menu, only a surly FA saying "veg or nonveg?" When pressed she admitted that they also had "continental" (I haven't heard that word in years).

The food came all on one tray, the items still in their aluminum containers (i.e. not plated). Certainly there was a large quantity, but otherwise the food wasn't distinctive in any way. Just as an example, the hot item was a rectangular reheating container with rice in the middle, vegetable on one side, chicken on the other. The quality was comparable to economy class---edible, definitely not memorable.

I was woken up ~2.5 hours before landing in Frankfurt; apparently the fact that I might prefer to sleep rather than eat hadn't occurred to them.

No choice offered for this meal, just a tray put in front of me. Starting with this second meal we got real plates. No choice after takeoff either, just a breakfast tray consisting of convenience-store-grade baked goods. Finally, 3 hours before landing in DEL, we actually got a menu with 4 items to choose from. Again, large quantity, mediocre quality (lots of potato in the cooked dishes, lots of rice, bread). I would guess they wanted to feed us so far in advance of landing so that they could finish their work and relax.

No kits were ever handed out.

Much of my J flying is on AA these days, because I have miles and status. No one will accuse AA of being a top airline, but J meals are served course by course, with some attempt at putting on a show (e.g. sundaes). When they still had ORD-DEL, their Indian entrees were produced by Vermillion, an upscale Chicago restaurant. I'm not saying the food was great, but it was certainly better than AI.

The AI 'lounge' in Delhi T3 is the Dare Devils sports bar. The national airline can't operate its own lounge in its biggest hub? You can't even see a flight departure screen from the bar.

The former-IC domestic flight was better, perhaps because I was expecting less. Service was definitely more attentive and pleasant, and while there was less food, it was better tasting and better presented on plates, which is a great tradeoff. But my last time on 9W there were menus and options in domestic J (same route); nothing like that here.

So my overall experience was the reverse of the conventional wisdom: no irrops, but forgettable food and service.