Air India

[WindyCityPilot]

Anyone here ever flown Air India? How’s the service. I’m looking for tickets to Germany and found tickets Air India for a very cheap price. I’m assuming the service is not the best and the plane will be like a cattle car but I can put up with that for 8 hours to Frankfurt. That’s at least what I have read on a few newsgroups so far. If anyone has flown them and can share their experiences that would be great.

Thanks,
Andy

[tonyw]

Here is some information about the Indian airline industry as a whole. It talks a little bit about Air India.

Indian Airline Overview

Only thing I remember about these guys is that one of their 747s almost landed gear up and one of the controllers who was honored for doing a good job warned them about it.

Anyone know how much a 747 gear up landing might cost?

[BCTAv8r]

[image]http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=785138&size=L&width=1000& height=677&sok=JURER%20%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20 %27Nve%20Vaqvn%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq %20QRFP&photo_nr=1[/image]

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

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[image]http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=785138&size=L&width=1000& height=677&sok=JURER%20%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20 %27Nve%20Vaqvn%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq %20QRFP&photo_nr=1[/image]

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A swing and a miss !

[lurkerboy]

Air Indias fine, basically normal inflight service like any US major but much better food

[I_Money]

I would imagine their planes to be a bit old and smelly!

[Mariano]

I flew with Air India (economy class) back in 99, from Bangkok to Tokio (and return). Old 747, half cargo, half passengers. The service wasn't great, the Bangkok-Tokio portion was during night time, and after dinner, the flight attendants, went and shut down the blinds in all windows without asking (which I didn't like). I can't remember well but I think that the food wasn't that bad. The airplane looked a little rusty, but it was an old one.
In the return flight, the Captain was very nice and he would point out interesting features of the terrain we were flying. ( I was seating in the left side, so all I could see was the Ocean anyways, until we've got over Vietnam).

THREAD HIJACK...................................

The most "interesting" part of that trip, was when I arrived to Tokio. The custom police started to search my bag, then my shoes, my clothes, asking me all types of questions. They thought I was trying to smuggle drugs (heroin I guess, since I was coming from Thailand). Not happy with not finding anything on me, they went, and took me to a little medical clinic in the Airport (Narita) and X-ray my abdomen. Then one of the cops came smiling and said " you clean, thanks for your cooperation" and then let me go. I was like, "riiiiight"
Why they targeted me, well I guess that I was a backpacker, very tanned (after two months of hanging around in different islands) with a nice goat tee and long hair (not that long actually). It was January, and they probably thought "what the hell is he doing here at this time of the year (very cold), when he could still be having fun in some beach" I guess.

END OF HIJACK

P.S. The best thing of air India......... the in-flight entertainment. You can't beat those Bollywood musicals

[mrivc211]

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I would imagine their planes to be a bit old and smelly!

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I 2nd that to the 1 millionth degree!

At least you'll be able to log multi multi multi multi multi multi multi mulit turbine time!

[kellwolf]

Is that Chicago to Germany on Air India? Wow. Cabotage alive and well in Europe.

[Screaming_Emu]

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Is that Chicago to Germany on Air India? Wow. Cabotage alive and well in Europe.

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oh yeah, I flew from Zurich to Dulles on Austrian once. That one confused the heck out of me before I learned anything about international flying rules and such.

[MrLeisure757]

Although I have not flown Air India, I flew Lufthansa from Frankfurt to New Delhi. Lufthansa did a fantastic job, but it is definately different flying an airline with 95% Indian influence onboard.

It felt weird being one out of a handful of white people onboard surrounded by people who are speaking a completely different language for 8 hours. I don't mind it, it's just new for me. Also, I don't mean to be rude but it was smelly just as some of you suggested.

If the fare is good, go for it.

Also, everyone clapped on landing which was new for me to experience.

[FlyChicaga]

All I know is when it's hot out, they open every exit on the B747 to let it "air out" during the turn in EWR and ORD.

[Mahesh]

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I would imagine their planes to be a bit old and smelly!

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They fly 777s and 747-400s on Atlantic routes now.

[tonyw]

And I believe they leased the 777s from United and the 747s from Singapore.

[Mahesh]

Yeah. They (Air India) really need to get their act together. After the open skies policy they are no longer the only international carrier with a monopoly. There are several domestic carrier who will start flying international.

For example, Jet Airways was voted to have one of the best services in the world. And they have all new aircarft. I have a feeling they will be quite successful when they start flights to Chicago and NY next month. The yare already flying to Singapore and London.


Mahesh

[launchpad]

Air India.......just imagine the folks at the FAA starting up and running an airline.....yep...it's just about as efficient and friendly in India too......