So just a quick update here as I flew the two segments. I'm mostly a business class flyer these days, so I'm not super hard to please (in my opinion), but this whole experience was just bad, and all in a very Air India kind of way.

First - Ground service in BOM and DEL was non-existent. My domestic segment was downgraded from a 777 to a 787 a couple of months ago, so I'm not sure if that was a contributor to the issue, but when I checked in at BOM, the agent could not even figure out how to get me checked in for the flight because it was a Lifemiles redemption and hence not on AI ticket stock. After consulting with a supervisor, she got it done, but didn't explain anything, even basic stuff, like the Biz class security line, the lounge details, etc.

The BOM-DEL sector was supposed to depart at 21:00. Of course that time came and went with zero announcements and the flight status showing "on time" the entire time. Classic AI. Infuriating. If they could just make an announcement to tell you every fifteen to twenty minutes what is the status, I would be completely fine. Things happen and I just would like to know what is going on. But they act like everything is fine, and just don't say anything.

The flight itself was fine (biz class) and we ended up landing about an hour behind schedule. We ended up at a remote stand, so I was thinking that with an hour late and a remote stand, there might be someone waiting for me. There was not. Fine, whatever. I started making my way through the transit passenger process, and this is not AI's fault at all, but that process really is horrible. There was only 3 immigration officers processing, and they move at one speed, and that speed is not fast. And even with so few people working passport control, there was still a (long) queue to get through re-screening. The whole experience took just over another hour to get from off the bus to the gate. The thing is, while I was going through the transit process, there was other AI F passengers with escorts helping them get through (marginally) faster. I'm not sure if I didn't get the service because I had a redemption ticket, because I reached DEL in business class, or if they just forgot about me, but I found it more annoying that some people got the service and not sure why I did not (and there was at least two in the transit process, so it clearly wasn't because they were originating in DEL).

After boarding the DEL-ORD aircraft, I was escorted to my seat from the FA, and wow, basically everything everyone says about this aircraft is true. Old, run down, barely functional, just sad. I can't believe that AI can sell these seats for basically the same price as other carriers.

The pre departure service is pomegranite juice or lassi. No champagne on the ground. Once in the air, and as mentioned by someone else up thread, I asked for a glass of champagne and it was served warm, not sure what is the deal with that. I think it might be how the flight is catered as later in the flight I had some red wine and it was actually a little too chilled, so maybe the bottles are boarded in the carts without being kept cool in advance.

On our departure, all 4 seats were taken. I was seated in 1K, there was a couple traveling together in the center and a single woman in 1A who was one of the people that I saw in transit process with an AI escort.

I did receive the new Tumi amenity kit and pajamas, along with slippers. Headphones were distributed along with paper menu cards and wine list. The IFE selection was horrible. There was literally one english TV show and maybe 8 in Hindi. The movie list was a little bit better with a couple of pages and some newer stuff in both English and Hindi. The inflight moving map did not work (was showing some error message), so there wasn't really any way to keep track of how long was left in the flight. I found that kind of annoying, I wish that the screen would at least just say how much time remaining until landing.

The F service was fine from the crew and they were always happy to help whenever asked. Their normal meal flow is to serve a snack after take off, a breakfast service mid-flight and a 'main meal' before landing. I asked if they could serve the main meal mid-flight instead of the breakfast and they were happy to accommodate that (I skipped the pre-landing meal as I usually do). The food itself was fine, but certainly nothing special.

We landed in ORD on time (a little early actually), and there was nothing special about our deplaning or processing into the US. My bag was one of the first ones off the belt, whether that was luck or intentional, I will never know.

As I mentioned in my initial post, I was doing it more for the novelty than the luxury, and now I can cross off the experience from my list and not need to repeat it again....

I always say that the first time you fly Air India, it is their fault. The second time you fly Air India it is your fault. So I accept the blame on this completely :-)