SkyTeam to India pricey out of ATL?
 

I'm starting to look into business class flights from ATL to Hyderabad, India, for off-peak days in January.

British Airways can do it for about $5000/person, and with only a single transfer, at Heathrow. (Additional options via AA from O'Hare are also available.)

On SkyTeam (AirFrance), I can't get anything under $7500, and some of the more decent itineraries are $8k+.

I'm willing to pay perhaps a slight premium (10%) and deal with an additional transfer to stay on a Delta partner. But not 50-60% more.

Is there something special about the SkyTeam airlines' business product to India that makes it worth 50-60% more than those of the OneWorld partners?

(BTW, I also tried just looking at flights from ATL to BOM to avoid the Hyderabad rarity issue -- same issue between SkyTeam and OneWorld. Star Alliance was actually even cheaper here -- $4660 to BOM.)

Business class to DEL has been pretty reasonable on Aeroflot this summer. Perhaps try DEL with your dates in Jan.

Just as with US Domestic travel, Delta (and Sky Team) service is most often priced significantly higher.
I do not believe that the quality is proportionally better, so your decision is essentially a personal choice.
Of note, you would most likely be happier if you are able to avoid BOM (especially a international>Domestic India transfer).

Hub captive Skyteam premium. And no, AF business class does not warrant a premium over BA. More like the opposite.