How bad is AI in Biz and First?
Nov 6, 2013, 5:12 am
#1
Original Poster
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How bad is AI in Biz and First?
I may have to go to India (from London) for a client and they want to me fly AI, and I'd normally use BA. But they're paying and AI is less expensive - but not so much cheaper that we can't fund the difference ourselves if AI really is very poor quality. I'll have to do a Red Eye and work when I get there, so ability to sleep as well as possible is quite important. Most of the comments here on the board seem to be quite negative about AI...
BTW, 9W works out more expensive than BA 'cos of the BA Luxury Sale over the period I'll be travelling.
Any thoughts / advice / experience that might be helpful? Many thanks!
BTW, 9W works out more expensive than BA 'cos of the BA Luxury Sale over the period I'll be travelling.
Any thoughts / advice / experience that might be helpful? Many thanks!
Last edited by FF; Nov 6, 2013 at 5:37 am
Nov 6, 2013, 6:51 am
#2
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ai can be hit & miss but in general their business & first is pretty decent....i end up taking about half a dozen ai long haul flights in business every year....their service on ground is terrible but once you get on the flight then its quite comfortable....
Nov 7, 2013, 12:49 am
#4
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Nov 8, 2013, 2:03 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
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With that kind of question as a thread starter, I can deduce that you will find it the most traumatic journey of your life.
lets take it a step back:
AI have a solid to execellent F seat and hardware.
AI have great Indian catering (although presentation can be improved)
AI have a decent wine list (ok no Krug but a decent choice of champers)
Put all three together and add in the red eye factor, you will get a very good sleep.
therefore, unless you are forking the price if the ticket in its entirety or you need OW miles, AI should be an adequate choice.
lets take it a step back:
AI have a solid to execellent F seat and hardware.
AI have great Indian catering (although presentation can be improved)
AI have a decent wine list (ok no Krug but a decent choice of champers)
Put all three together and add in the red eye factor, you will get a very good sleep.
therefore, unless you are forking the price if the ticket in its entirety or you need OW miles, AI should be an adequate choice.
Nov 8, 2013, 7:13 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Goa, India
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Don't mean to dampen your spirit but this is what my pillow on a domestic AI business flight looked like today..
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
Nov 8, 2013, 10:18 am
#8
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Don't mean to dampen your spirit but this is what my pillow on a domestic AI business flight looked like today..
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
Nov 8, 2013, 10:52 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Delhi
Programs: Emirates gold *alliance silver jet airways platinum tridentprivilege gold.
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Just flew AI to london and back in biz on the dreamliner...
Plane was smelly and dirty, staff was crude surly and badly spoken, f&B lacked style and elegance booze ( premium blended) was ok for whiskey swilling Indians the ( red ) wine was undrinkably bad
but the hard product was just fine for a good nights sleep aloft. Dreamliner beds are proper flatbeds. Ugly garish cabin but ok for a sleep... flight took off and landed punctually. Priority baggage came....Fast at both ends... lounges were ok at both ends
That's intercontinental.... Domestic is all right in business - about as good as Gobusiness at 4-5 times the price
Plane was smelly and dirty, staff was crude surly and badly spoken, f&B lacked style and elegance booze ( premium blended) was ok for whiskey swilling Indians the ( red ) wine was undrinkably bad
but the hard product was just fine for a good nights sleep aloft. Dreamliner beds are proper flatbeds. Ugly garish cabin but ok for a sleep... flight took off and landed punctually. Priority baggage came....Fast at both ends... lounges were ok at both ends
That's intercontinental.... Domestic is all right in business - about as good as Gobusiness at 4-5 times the price
Nov 8, 2013, 12:15 pm
#10
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Nov 9, 2013, 6:28 am
#11
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FF fly with LH or BA, we flew LH in J and liked it very much, they were very professional. We flew, YUL-MUC-BOM-DEL, due to the strike LH was nice enough to re-route us with J on Jet from BOM to DEL.
Nov 9, 2013, 3:24 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ORD
Posts: 746
Don't mean to dampen your spirit but this is what my pillow on a domestic AI business flight looked like today..
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
https://twitter.com/anishsood/status...136000/photo/1
Nov 9, 2013, 3:30 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ORD
Posts: 746
I may have to go to India (from London) for a client and they want to me fly AI, and I'd normally use BA. But they're paying and AI is less expensive - but not so much cheaper that we can't fund the difference ourselves if AI really is very poor quality. I'll have to do a Red Eye and work when I get there, so ability to sleep as well as possible is quite important. Most of the comments here on the board seem to be quite negative about AI...
BTW, 9W works out more expensive than BA 'cos of the BA Luxury Sale over the period I'll be travelling.
Any thoughts / advice / experience that might be helpful? Many thanks!
BTW, 9W works out more expensive than BA 'cos of the BA Luxury Sale over the period I'll be travelling.
Any thoughts / advice / experience that might be helpful? Many thanks!
AI bashers aside. I love the AI F product. I've done ~6 trips ORD-DEL in F and absolutely have a better time anytime compared with anything else on that route.
Having said that I've flown the J on Maharajah 787 and they are fairly decent IMHO. I'd say go ahead and you will have a decent time. Yes there is the curry smell but people always find something to pick about almost anything.
Nov 11, 2013, 5:40 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Goa, India
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Nov 11, 2013, 5:50 am
#15
Original Poster
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I ended up booking BA - plus 9W for the internal flights - thanks for all the info!