SuperFlyBoy had asked for a J - J comparison between IT and 9W. Wee, I had a chance to do it and here gloes:
9W J From PNR-BLR:
Ground -- service is way lower compared to IT. There is no one to help you with your bags at the curb, guide you to the first baggage screeening or help you to the check in counter like IT at both airports.
Small airport, so the restaurant doubles a lounge !!! Free drink and snack, though. Upon security check call, no 9W employee to escort you thru security and help you with your bags. IT employee comes and carries your bags all the way till the PLANE !!!
Bus to the plane -- no separation between J and Y passengers. When the bus drops you off, you have to wait in line behind 100 Y pax getting on the plane from the front door thru the staircase. I even went to the front of the line and showed my boarding pass and nothing happened. The guy looked at me as if thee was no way to help the mad rush of everyone trying to get on the plane.
IT controls this well. J class pax have their own bus and when they drop you off, there is no line and you walk straight up the staircase with your helper in tow who then loads the bag into the overhead bin !!^^
My overall feeling is:
1) 9W has established themselves in India and still have a huge market share so they are following their game plan.
2) IT is jus doing this to attract all the premium pax from 9W, and they are doing a hell of a job. But let us see how long this will last.
One postive from 9W -- since I was in J and on my way back to the States, I had 2 huge bags each weighing approx 88lbs each and 1 small box. This is was way over the limit, but since I was an intl connecting pax in F on SQ, they let it slide. This is not the case with Y ticketed pax.
Overall winner in Y -- 9W with the increased room between the seats for tall guys.
Overall winner in J -- IT for now.
Now to do a J/F longhaul as soon as either airline picks a freaking alliance so that I can burn some miles theu one of the USA based carriers. But once these carriers eter the INTL marketplace, the USA based carriers will really have to get in gear to keep up with them. Both of these carriers can compete with the likes of SQ/CX on the long haul routes !!!