Was flying AI from CCU to DXB and back recently.

Flight 1 CCU DEL
Arrived at CCU airport. As usual boarding is a mess. Still need to get the check in bags through X-ray yourself and then wait in long lines. At the counter asked the agent if two aisles seats were there side by side. She said flight sold out and people getting upgraded. Even as a *Gold with AI she did not bother to ask her supervisor to upgrade me and my dad. After check in had to go to the supervisor and get the seats upgraded. He seemed more inclined to upgrade but the staff below couldn't care less.

Flight 2 DEL DXB

Again check in agent said flight sold out. I asked if they were upgrading passengers and she said only at the gate. I asked her to keep my boarding pass number which she didn't only replied one can see in the system. We were late to reach the counter hence couldn't get seats together. However on boarding found the entire back row was blocked for crew and there was no crew there on those seats. Also many more empty seats giving me an opportunity to shift and make myself comfortable. Seems either people missed their flight or check in agent was lying

DXB to DEL
Used the get upfront offer. One needs to go to the dnta counter to pay for the same. Executive class was wide open and the online seat cost was equal to the upgrade. However they couldn't change existing reservation so missed out on the miles. Got on the plane and slept comfortably.

Flight 4 DEL CCU
Check in agent confirmed flight sold out, however was not willing to upgrade me until the last passenger checks in. This is 55 minutes before the flight. Had to go to the supervisor and again request, she said unless all passengers are checked in she will not upgrade, asked her to take my BP numbers which she did. Was upgraded at the gate with at least 5 more people. Not sure if they would have upgraded me if I had not talked to the supervisor.

Other than the DEL DXB flight all were on the Boeing 777-200 LR. Flight itself was comfortable, seats were worn out but for such short flights were decent. The in flight system worked, though somewhat buggy, but the headphones were not up to the mark, making lot of white noise once in a while.
In all the AI SBI annual fees paid for itself in this one trip itself, so no complaints. 😇