777-300ER BOM - DEL - ORD, First Class. Air India called me and texted me a few hours prior to the flight in Mumbai instructing me to call them when I arrived at the airport. The process was somewhat confusing but when I arrived at the airport and called them the ground staff met me outside the airport and walked me to the lounge. Entry into the airport is problematic with security so the process is of value. Both planes were the old planes with 4 seats in first and the 2-3-2 business class seating. The lounges at both airports include both first class and business class but the amenities were primarily on the business class side. Boarding was typical with the gate agent starting with business class and everyone ran to the gate to board. The planes are old and one doesn't have to look far to find something that doesn't work. The seat didn't work correctly on the first flight and the lights didn't work correctly on the second flight. The staff highlighted the investment in new equipment and the refurbishment of the old equipment. No value in apologizing for the non-working equipment as zero opportunity for remediation. The food was quite good. The staff highlighted the Western items on the menu but I insisted on the Indian items on the menu and I couldn't have been more pleased. Start and end with the Indian items. I told the purser to skip the Western starters altogether for the Indian meals but he seemed a bit confused. The kheer was a wonderful desert. As with other airlines, Air India should have a Indian menu and a Western menu. The Indian food was likely the best I have ever eaten. The online entertainment was working but the options were very limited. The Bose QC20 headphones didn't work with the onboard entertainment due to excess feedback. The Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC did work, oddly enough; albeit with some feedback. The Poly devices haven't worked well on other planes so I travel with the QC20 devices. The staff were competent and personable but didn't quite understand the value of limited interaction on a 15 hour flight. Offering bottled water to a passenger with two bottles of water isn't of value. I was offered tea or coffee or alcohol 10 times despite indicating none of the above were required or desired. The bathrooms were clean and convenient. Two bathrooms are located in the front and access was limited to first class and staff. The amenity kits are nice and the lip gloss has an awful smell. I threw the lip gloss away immediately after the first use.

Air India first in the old planes equal to a good business class. Air India business in the old planes is equal to a good economy comfort. With the new planes traveling east or west via India isn't ideal due to the ground experience.