Not sure if this is the best place to ask but:
All else being equal, would you rather fly F in the 777-300 or J in the A350?

Considering both for IAD-DEL and NYC-DEL respectively. F costs more miles but IAD is more convenient so assume it is a wash in all ways other than directly comparing experiences.

F > J seems like an easy answer but the A350 certainly beats the 777.

Air India 777 first class is disgusting

I would avoid any legacy AI 77W or 77L. The EY 77W first class is a good product. Will look a bit old but the amount of space is much bigger than J in A350. Also AI’s soft product in F is nice. You usually get taken to the gate (usually - which is nice). On AC it’s like 30% for for AI F over J - worth it. On UA it is like 50% more - not worth it. That all said, if I was on an old AI 77W - I would go with F because the seat is wide and true lie flat. Nonstop USA-India is just great any way you cut it and worth having small issues over other airlines (note I said small). Also I have noticed a difference between the AI crew based in BOM vs DEL. The BOM crew is better IMHO - like old school AI - were polite, speak well and have refined service. Also they treat older people very very well (If you are ever considering sending your parents in their premium cabins).

I second this, BOM crew is much better in F. Though the DEL crews are not bad. I must say that the biggest single improvement that I’ve seen in AI since privatisation is the cabin crew across all cabins.

I would pick J in the A350 given these choices.

I just flew BOM-LHR.

• Fantastic crew.
• But the saree-blazer-fusion-whatever-its-supposed-to-be looks just awful. Like something clumsily thrown together by an addled 4-year old. NOT a fan.
• And the hilarious bit is in the pics

The menu per the app:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...da8aa17823.jpg


The actual inflight menu:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...87ee863a60.jpg

This was also something per the AI app:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...61fc16cb88.jpg

I agree, I don’t like it either. It feels like Manish Malhotra spent so much time designing this that he didn’t get any time for the male flight attendants or pilots uniforms. Those look fine and smart but very plain.

Alright. Trying AI F for the first time on their old 777-300ER!!

I’ll essentially be connecting from an SQ Suites flight, the night prior, in DEL, with a connection of about 7 hours (planning to take a room at HI at the airport), before my AI flight.

Realistically, what should I expect from the flight (not that I’ll expect anything close to SQ level service / amenities / suite)?

Here’s what I am thinking:
1. Probably someone should call me about a day before the flight (saying where they’ll meet me, and giving me a phone number to contact them, once I reach the airport)? Do they call if someone has their international cell phone listed on the reservation, or will it be only Indian numbers that they would call?
2. Hopefully (not that I need it), someone will accompany me to check in (provided 1 happens ) and then to the lounge and onto the aircraft?
3. Better service than J?
4. Same food as J?

anything else, probably?

Edited to add: my wife is traveling with me, but she’s joining me in DEL, and will be in J. Any chance she will be able to: 1. Check in and go to the same lounge as me? 2. Probably join me for meals onboard (understanding that the catering will be that of J class)?

They will pick you up at the HI if you tell them in advance. Right now the AI lounge in DEL is closed so you will be taken to the Encalm Prive lounge complex, which is the same for business pax. The F seat in the B77W is probably not so spacious to allow F2F dining. It really depends on the mood of the crew if they will allow it.

this is very helpful! Thank you! Is there a phone number (that you can share) to contact the AI ground team (not sure if they’ll proactively reach out to an international number)?

I really hope the crew allows for buddy dining (even if it is J meal).

AI F baggage allowance is the same as J

While status helps, has anyone had any experience of getting an answer why? Can they be pushed to match other F products?

On the same lines even the food (limited) and bar (entirely) menus overlap with J.

Saw a recent AI F experience on YouTube and to my surprise they finally got a seperate First Class wine list, with pretty good stuff:

- Charles Heidsieck BdM
- 2021 Albert Bischot Pouilly-Fuisse
- 2020 Brunello di Montalcino, Vignaferrovia

I just watched the nonstop Dan video. It kind of makes me want to give them a chance in First, but I feel like everything may have just aligned for him to have such a great flight. I also think his expectations were so low that it impacted his review.

AI have got / will get soon a few aircraft with the new hard product. Excellent. And they of course need to choose where to deploy said planes.

It seems in a few months:

• Destinations that will have First = Chicago, Melbourne, Toronto, Vancouver
• Destinations that will not have First = London, New York, Paris, Tokyo

I struggle to to identify the logic that might have been used to arrive at this decision.

I don't see any planes this year or into 2027 with FC other than the legacy 777s. Melbourne is switching over to 777ws from July 2026. Toronto is switching over to 789s from Aug 2026 replacing 777Ws. So, no FC.