“Air India sucks”, “Stewardess are rude and the service is horrible” – I had heard a lot of such negative comments about the ‘perpetually in loss’ national airlines. If I could take the pictures and video of the aircraft I was on, I would have proved these people wrong. To start with the aircraft was really nice – 777 ER – with its better seat pitch and width was far better than other airlines I had flown with previously. Each seat has got its own TV with decent programming in English and in Hindi. Air-India has recently procured 777 ER and so the aircraft was new and neat. Whoever says AI-126 is a non-stop flight is lying. There is a 1 hour layover at frankfurt airport. You do have to get out of the aircraft but with kids, it is a welcome break allowing them to stretch their legs for a while. The terminal where the aircraft docks is a small one and you cant go very far from the gate as an hour goes by fairly quickly. First class has Pods for sleeping but we were in 3-4-3 seating in economy :). (Check out more details at Air india Fleet page – AI 777 ER) We had taken the bassinet seat thinking we could have my 1 year old girl sleep peacefully. Seeing 2 kids with us, the stewardess (she was really nice and polite) suggested that since the flight was light (if you fly out between Tuesday and Thursday, chances are that air india flights will be really light), we should move back and take 2 rows so the kids can sleep peacefully since the bassinette seat handles are fixed and cannot be moved up. “See the bassinet seat width is less and the handles won’t move no, so better only no if you move back no”. “No” and “Na” are used as punctuation marks in Bombay – no? So we got to brush up on our Bombay English – another plus for Air India. Food was not bad either – daal, paneer, dahi – and it was piping hot.
After people moved back and forth in the aircraft looking for empty seats for the night, the captain finally announced that it was time to settle and our 17 hour journey to Bombay was on its way – “Namaskaar, welcome to air india flight 126 to Bombay….”
well I am yet to fly in that particular flight…and I am doing it tomorrow…but I must let everyone know that if u are flying in economy class in air India u can not do online check in…i am pretty sure u can do it in other airlines( I have flown in several myself).
Air India really rocks ! Will get the desi-apnapan
Well, it’s been a while since the planes were brought into service. Now the equipment is old but still nice. Unfortunately maintenance is something that Air India needs to learn. The “personal videos” were not working on my flight. Another one important thing that Air India should work on is the flight status updates. India is develops software for the entire world but for Air India. Have you checked the website, it sucks big time. The flight status updates are not correct. I just talked to some in Mumbai and they told me the flight is delayed but the website and Air India phone representative insists that the flight landed in Mumbai on flight. 😦
I like air India flights from Chicago to Mumbai every time, because I love food and entertainment and crew is very helpful. I want to suggest Air India to introduce direct flight to Mumbai.
I prefer Air India Flight from Chicago to Delhi being Indian, food supply and I feel Maharaja like feeling as it is Indian Carrier with all facilities.
I and my wife are flying in AI 127 @ AI126 every year since 2011 coming in summer and going back to Delhi before the onset of snowy weather (twice in business class and then in economy).We faced no problem except during strike in 2012. The food is nice but some improvement in the quality and number of pegs is needed in economy class.