The Air India Experience: Boeing 777-300ER Economy from New York JFK to Delhi

Dear Josiah. Does this Flight AI102 provide Internet? 😢

Air India Now 70 Years Old -- Still the Most Unfriendly and Unreliable
This year three of us travelled to India and made the mistake of flying Air India Express from Bagdogra to Delhi on 23rd April 2024 [Flight IS-776] to catch a connecting international flight within 9 hours on Emirates [EK 515]. Since we were traveling internationally, we packed our bags as per international rules and regulation because we had a connecting flight within 9 hours. To my surprise, Air India Express at Bagdogra charged us Rs 16,950 for an extra baggage. We told them that we were in transit for a connecting flight but they wouldn’t listen to our concern, rather they were rude, arrogant, discourteous, and shoveled us apart, blaming us that we were wasting their time and holding up line. They suggested us to talk to Air India Office at New Delhi IGI Airport. So, we did.
We met Air India Supervisors, and in principle, they agreed that Bagdogra staff should not have charged international passengers Rs 16,950 who had connecting flights. But they did not help us at all because they did not have any mechanism to refund money so they suggested us to write to the Main Office/Head Office for the refund. Thus, I explained my case to Air India Customer Service. But I had to explain them over and over again because Air India would direct me to Air India Express Office, and they in turn, would direct me back to Air India Office. This back-and-forth exchange of emails including two international calls happened 6 times, and every time their response was that, “we are “looking into the matter.” Finally, they agreed to refund me some Rs 3000, which I declined. I wanted full refund or nothing -- it was a matter of international rules and regulations. They argued that our itinerary did not mention the word “Transit,” even though we showed them our boarding passes. I have saved all the letters and receipts. For no fault of mine, I had to face their most rude, unfriendly and uncompromising behavior. This is how NRIs are treated in India. Thus, I would suggest all my fellow travelers never to use Air India for local flights.
More Frustration: Last year (Feb 2023), three of us flew from Washington DC to New Delhi by Air India’s Business Class. As soon as we entered the plane, they announced (in Business class) that their Entertainment system and floor lights, were NOT working. Upon our continued insistence, a technician was called upon who eventually fixed the system. Flight was delayed by 45 minutes. Then, as night fell upon us, we tried to flatten seats but one seat wouldn’t flatten for sleeping. So, we called the steward, and he discovered that a spring was broken inside which didn’t allow the seat to flatten. He managed to flatten it but then seat wouldn’t go up in the morning [because the spring was broken], so one of us had to travel sitting on a flat seat without the back support. Imagine how uncomfortable it must have been for several hours. No refund was ever given. This was in Business Class folks! So, my advice again to fellow travelers that never ever fly Air India Business Class from Washington to New Delhi.

Insightful review

Too bad they are going to 10 across in coach from 9 now. 777 10 across is a plane I avoid all costs.

Too bad they are going to 10 across in coach from 9 now. 777 10 across is a plane I avoid all costs.

I will fly JFK to Delhi on 22nd July in AIR INDIA 👍 Air India is our Flight I love Air India Jai Hind. 🙂💕💕

very bad ugly color of the seats

The day, Cambal because the Air India the airline became expensive, KLM from Holland to Delhi it costs 1350 euro returns KLM to Delhi it costs 890 euro. Air India is worst removal this Air India from his post ,it's negative new logo of Air India is worst. Who's created the logo, very bad.

Painful trip

Well air india working on replacing those old school seats and old plane , bring in the new A350 which is starting international soon ..

The unclean plane is not the fault of air India. It’s the fault of the Indian people who don’t take care of their own stuff and are generally unclean. Their whole country reflects it. This is the harsh truth. They actually seem to like squalor. It’s not that they are poor, even the wealthy Indians live in a shabby unclean way.

Imagine the smell inside that plane being made to sit with hundreds of Indians in an enclosed space. 🤮

Worst airline in the whole world, especially after the much-hyped Tata takeover. At least when it was a loss making entity under the Indian Government they would fix the broken international flight seats, make sure they was working in flight entertainment, etc. Under the greedy Tata's they are not spending a single dollar fixing even broken seats etc. Since the last 3 years they keep dangling the arrival of new planes knowing fully well that their long haul flights wont even be ready for delivery until 2025. In the meantime they are flying millions of customers under unsafe, unhygenic and unacceptable conditions. They are simply tapping on the weakness of Indians with food. On the domestic sector give Indian cheap idli, dosa and upma meals and they will jump on to social media and sign the praises of Tata. In my 25 years of International flying (I flew the inaugural 777 non-stop EWR to DEL on business class with AI) I have never seen an airline in such a deplorable condition. Will pay an extra $75 to $100 for my dignity and self-respect but not fly this horrible greedy, cheap and miserable airline. Stay away!

I am considering a JFK-BOM flight with Air India, returning from Delhi back to JFK or Dulles. I had seen great reviews of Air India's business class but those must be on the newer planes. For a 14-15 hour flight I would definitely want a working media unit plus some cleanliness. I wonder if there's a way to tell when booking if the plane will be a newer model or if the route is the biggest clue (you mentioned newer planes being used for Mumbai flights only). Thanks for any additional suggestions!

Dude I just visited other aircraft, cleaning is important but please bring back foot rest legroom and bigger food trays😢😢

Air India is to lazy to fix the broken inflight entertainment.

On Delhi Newyork route via London on Virgin Atlantic will be a better option . Virjin atlantic food is good and IFE is far better than Air india and American carriers.

Try A350 Soon coming to JFK

I am not going to fly in air india again.....

Try new air india it is good guys do not send hate I am from India that makes sense india is a cheap country but also it was controlled by British and it is old so please be nice I would like that

After six months airindia changed allover and we feel sorry to our country flight bed condition and facilities

Don't fly air india for the next 4 years minimum . After that there is a 80 % chance you might be on a new plane . Before that you playing the lotto . I would not want to sit in this junk yard before that

if you can choose between taking a sailboat or AirIndia, take the boat, nothing will change with this POS ever. ownership does not change mentality, and they can never compete with CP or AF . I have friends who still use it for the cross Atlantic flights and repent it immediately :P, choose anything but this . I am in my late 30s and have lived in 3 continents and can confirm this is the worst airline I have ever used, even AA seems like an upgrade from this !!! shit service, zero accountability, clueless staff , if things go south, you are by yourself! and the latest icing on the cake and by latest I mean in the last 3-5 years, the identity theft and fraud issues ( yes , after change in ownership go the fanboys can relax, there are entire segments on it on YT and reddit.

AVOID it like the PLAGUE!

Sir United airlines is also providing nonstop service to New Delhi like Air India with their almost new 787 dreamlike aircraft

Useful review.

I experienced much worse experience in Emirated europe-US sector. They are over staffed and service is really bad. Who serves alcohol with dinner or lunch. It has to be an hour before the meal.

The experience flying Air India has deteriorated so much since the TATA takeover that I am also not flying Air India again at least not until for the next 5 years at least.....Tata being a private owner has dug AI to the ground. They are not spending a single dollar to fix the terribly broken flights between the US and India even after 2 years of takeover. They are shamelessly waiting for the new plans to arrive until late 2024. In the meantime they are exposing travelers to broken seats, no in flight entertainment, and horrible food service year after year. This is the worst strategy ever. All these people that are giving benefit to Tata saying it will take time are all domestic flyers. Flying 16 hours in a broken and dilapidated plane since the last 2+ years and continuing to do so until late 2024 is simply pathetic and unacceptable. At least under the Indian Government they were spending some money on fixing broken plans and doing some repairs.. Under Tata they are so cheap that seats that are completely broken are falling apart are also not being fixed. Shame on Air India and Tata sons.

Crashy indian boeing!

Alcohol beverages are bit limited due to some people creating nuisance after drinking on this route

Thank you for this review. I am taking my first trip to India this week. Extremely helpful.

I met a guy on this plane who took 2 days layover on Delhi, to again take, delhi to hyderabad airport

Such a pathetic flight please Do not take this flight 13 hours flight there is no Entertainment air india doesn't disclose this . More then 3 months there is no entertainment. Seats are horrible. Please don't take air india flight

Hey, i think you meant water when you say drink at the end of the video to remain hydrated. Air India provides water on demand, you could have just asked the crew. It’s not chargeable too… rest of the points are spot on!

Not flying Air-India till they bring the new A350 to Canada/USA.

I'm pretty sure it's Smells like underarm, if you know what I mean

Moore David White Steven Taylor Jose

Nice review

I agree with all your critiques except I’m from the school of flight courtesy where the shades should be open for take off and landing but remained closed for the duration of the flight.

3677 Ryan Valley

99143 Sheridan Trail

Hudson Branch

flying this on saturday

Air India has replaced new A350s on this route.. Cheers

Looks super comfortable with a 9 abreast configuration and well padded seats. Pre dinner drinks and snacks too and meal looks well portioned. I would rather fly this airline that US airlines and some European carriers.

Air India is far superior than American Airlines

No IFE for 15 hours is a deal breaker

New Tata Group 💺 Reeba Bano

dont airlines have cleaning crews that come on the plane between each flight to clean the planes well?

WISH I SAW THIS SOONER, I WOULD HAVE BOOKED ELSEWHERE