Bit of a post flight update:

Ground service:

- Day of departure, I got a call on my local mobile phone from the AI airport CIP team, where they took car details, expected arrival time etc, and gave me a direct number to call when I am close to the airport. Also gave me the option to reach as late as 1245 for a 2am departure. I was met at the car drop off area by a staff member and a valet and taken to the F check-in desk, where everything was already prepared and ready. They even filled the immigration form, and then escorted me thru immigration to the lounge.
- Same staff members and valet collected me from the lounge and fast tracked all boarding queues, and the gate security check.

Onboard:

- I was the only pax in F
- Pyjamas were offered (in three sizes!)
- Amenity Kit was quite elaborate and in addition to the typical creams, toothbrush, earplugs, socks etc, it also contained a hairbrush, shoehorn, sewing kit etc. Some New Zealand based company.
- Menus were offered
- There were three meals onboard for this flight. I was told I could choose anything anytime and have them in whatever order I desired
- Excellent food quality. (Some amazing tandoori prawns and lamb keema samosas in the first meal. And a really nice south Indian coconut based mutton curry for one of the other meals I had.)
- A quite decent French Chablis and a quite reasonable cheese platter with 4 kinds of cheese and lots of Taj chocolates
- The FA suggested I use 1D as my bed, and keep 1A as my eating, lounging and IFE seat. The bed was very comfy. Mattress and duvet, all covered with crisp white cotton linens, and two fluffy full size pillows. I slept for about 9 of the 15 hours very very comfortably.

Arrival:

- At ORD jetbridge there was a lady with a placard offering any help I needed with baggage etc.
- Both my checked bags arrived within the first twenty or so bags.


All in all, an outstanding experience. But this is AI so my one caveat would be, past performance should not be taken as any indicator of future results!!