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flyjet787
Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2010
Posts: 282
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 Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:20 am Post subject: AI F NYC-DEL on flyertalk.com |
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This was a short trip report by one of the flyertalk.com members who recently flew NYC-DEL F
| Quote: | QUick trip report AI First Class NYC-DEL
Just flew AI F NYC-DEL
(1) Limo pickup bang on schedule from Manhattan hotel Clean car friendly Sikh driver
(2) Met at T4 and escorted to check in where my boarding formalities were complete in 2 minutes
(3) Escorted to lounge, which is before security. A nice lounge with a sort of separate area for First Class passengers. Had a cup of masala tea served at my seat, nice There was WIFI and a nice view of the ramp area
(4) Boarded last -- invited to board no queue escorted to seat by Auntyji (Chief Purser)
(5)Auntyji offered choice of drinks I settled for Perrier.
(6) Huge (and very artistic) menu, Amenity kit and sleeping suit provided immediately. Eat when you like policy explained
(7) IFE worked beautifully great choice of Hindi AND latest English movies
( Seat not a suite but cocooned off from the rest of (very small) cabin. Bed reclines flawlessly.
(9) Excellent selection of drinks and snacks, unlimited Caviar Sevruga with all the trimmings, Main meals wide variety (Lobster, Rogan Josh, Biriyani I tried therte were many other choices) Great indian sweets (Rasmalai, Gulab Jamun) fantastic Cheeseboard, superb port. I drank excellent royal Salute Whisky Noted that the Gin was Tanqueray Ten and the Vodka was a Premium Stoli There was a Premier Cru Burgundy from an exclusive terroir and a good year (2002) (first rate with Rogan Josh and Naan by the way) and a Premier Cru Chablis. Served plated on proper China and the table is prepared for you including the cutlery service each time you eat
(10) Was served at various times by pretty young Miss Kaul, happy chubby friendly Mr Chakravarty and overall attended to by Auntyji when she was not being the boss...Excellent crew! Captain Yadav, post his break, came over for a brief and friendly chat. I refrained from talking shop or asking him about his psychological health as the flight was way too enjoyable to spoil 
(11) Bed made for you. Duvet and real huge pillow(s) Bed rolled up for you. Twice during the flight without asking in my case
(12) Inseat power worked impeccably the Map is great -- I dig the Hindi flight data!
No escort on arrival -- long walk to Immigration but no queues at arrival (circa 1640 pm) Bagaage awaiting me in hall
One of the best First Class experiences I have had... way better than BA, TAM and Thai. EK beats AI on the seat and possibly the range of IFE but I thought AI service was friendly and stylish compared to EK.
I really got treated like royalty, all equipment and amenities State of the art, Fantastic cuisine, top notch service. Everything a First Class experience should be. Congratulations, Air India cabin crew, I'm so proud that you continue to excel despite the best efforts of everybody else to destroy your airline!
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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/1234432-air-india-f-experience-northeast.html |
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theflyingsikh
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Joined: 08 May 2010
Posts: 551
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:02 am Post subject: |
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Excellent!
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Good to see that at least AI F is maintaining standards! Was the OP on revenue F or one of the staff seats?
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me111993
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Joined: 04 Sep 2009
Posts: 3225
Location: MAA/AMD
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:05 am Post subject: |
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Oh Nice! Good for AI! Good to see somebody enjoy the food and not bitch about the crockery it was served in!
And, going by how some people latch on to phrases mentioned in TR's, this might shut some up, certainly someone with a red signature!
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jasepl
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Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 4257
Location: bund-bay
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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Really?
I don't recall anyone bitching about crockery in general.
I do recall, however, unanimous criticism when tinfoil containers are used in First (as if it's a BMC picnic to Rani Baug), bitching when the porcelain was not clean and also ridicule when the purchase of second-grade china was turned into a laughable ad campaign.
Air India seem to have done a good job on this flight; doesn't mean it's always happiness and delight. The Air India experience can range from the horrifying to the sublime (usually leaning towards the former). And whatever they do, no matter how wonderful they become, they will not be able to turn a profit. Which is the point of an enterprise.
One more thing of note, when they're one (which, granted, is rare) the much-derided New Air India pushes out a better overall premium product than the much-idolised airline that took the place of the Old Air India.
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me111993
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Joined: 04 Sep 2009
Posts: 3225
Location: MAA/AMD
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | One more thing of note, when they're one (which, granted, is
rare) the much-derided New Air India pushes out a better overall
premium product than the much-idolised airline that took the
place of the Old Air India. |
It's always about consistancy, nothing else, on their good days, AI may even sprint ahead of SQ, on SQ's bad days, they may even be worse than UA.
The "much idolized airline" as you say, usually stays at an even 7, not fluctuate between 4 and 9 on 10, which is why they're preferred
.
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.
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jasepl
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Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 4257
Location: bund-bay
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Absolutely. Jet, I've found, stays within the 5-7.5 range. Air India can be anywhere from minus 4 to 9. Kingfisher I've never flown, so I have no opinion on their product.
Anyone in their right mind would pick Jet over AI (including me, and my mind's not always right!). Jet are a perfectly good airline; they're just not all that.
While I find Jet's standards to have declined considerably compared to what they were, without any noteworthy service or product improvement, and that their crew are now possibly the most clueless I have encountered anywhere, they remain a very good airline. Well above average in the air (on the ground they're a shambles). They're just not all that.
As for Air India, I was a big supporter until not too long ago. Then I gave up on them more for the on-ground horror than anything else. And now I seem to be the most vocal advocate of their necessary death.
(Oh, and there is no "a" in consistency or in definitely. I, being the resident grammar policeman, must point that out.)
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flyjet787
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Joined: 26 Jan 2010
Posts: 282
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:36 am Post subject: |
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Here is another short report by another member who flew F on the PVG-DEL-BOM sector.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/1234432-air-india-f-experience-northeast-2.html
| Code: | avm2806
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chennai
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, 9W PLT, LH FT, EK SL, IT GLD, AI SL, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, GF, AA EXP, CX MP, MRT SL
Posts: 779
FYI - Just a quick update for those considering AI eastbound to PVG, HKG ETC...
I just flew PVG-DEL-BOM (on the same aircraft) and was the only PAX in first. Flight was a 2200 departure - middle of the night arrival in DEL and then on the BOM.
Service as others have stated was excellent. Lounge and PVG T2 was the Shanghai airlines lounge which was very decent given that AI only flies there 4 times a week (same one used by LH / SQ and other *A Members)...
I was under the weather so didn't drink - They didn't have a winelist but was told that the champagne on offer was MOET (not very first class)....
Food was very good and served old first class style (trolley table side have as much as I want of whatever I wanted)...
When I went to bed, the Cabin-incharge made a call to his crew and told them not to come into first class on the A side if they were walking up so as not to disturb me.
I also told him I would wake up as close to landing as possible and try and get as much rest. The downside was they hadn't loaded the aircraft with the longhaul goodies other than a very good Aigner amenity kit so no big pillow or duvet. Again inflight service made up for this as they grabbed all pillows and a few extra blankets and somehow managed to make my bed very comfortable.
I was allowed to sleep till minutes before touch down. On landing they told they would take care of my hand luggage during security check and I went straight back to sleep. The next crew came to say hello on take off and kept trying to offer me food... again I slept and awoke just before touch down in Mumbai and they still managed to offer me a cup of tea. I have to say AI was truly excellent on board and like rathin the uncles and auntyji's really new their stuff. The downside was the fact that as a first class overnight flight, it wasn't equipped with the goodies like duvets sleep suits etc which it should have been. 9W has the whole shabang on HKG flights, don't see why AI doesn't.
Would I fly AI again - the answer in most definitely.
On ground in PVG not much by way of first class service. On arrival in BOM there as a porter waiting by the aircraft with a printed sheet with my name on it and I was handled upto my car. Nothing fancy like 9W but still very good...
Overall, I would say AI service wise is up there and definitely beats the european and middle eastern carriers. It's such a shame that such a wonderful airline with such a solid background and experienced crew base is being run to the ground by the lunatics in charge of our country. |
Looks like the uncles and auntiji's have finally woken up  |
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:36 am Post subject: |
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^^ Good show from the AI crew!
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jasepl
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Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 4257
Location: bund-bay
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| flyjet787 wrote: | | Looks like the uncles and auntiji's have finally woken up |
Let's see how long before they fall asleep again.
That's the thing with AI crew. They've always been largely a well-trained, experienced bunch; no general cluelessness of the PYTs that one encounters on the newer airlines.
However, the AI crew have usually seemed totally disinterested in doing their jobs (like so many others at AI, so one can't single them out). The Pyramids are infinitely more fascinating than passengers after all!
I'm not 100% sure which is worse: cluelessness or apathy, though I am leaning towards the former.
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| jasepl wrote: |
However, the AI crew have usually seemed totally disinterested in doing their jobs. |
Has our in-house grammar expert erred here? Possibly not - this looks like a nice pun. Both `uninterested' and to some extent, `disinterested' too, fit the bill.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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ssbmat
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Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 1710
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| jasepl wrote: | | flyjet787 wrote: | | Looks like the uncles and auntiji's have finally woken up |
Let's see how long before they fall asleep again.
That's the thing with AI crew. They've always been largely a well-trained, experienced bunch; no general cluelessness of the PYTs that one encounters on the newer airlines.
However, the AI crew have usually seemed totally disinterested in doing their jobs (like so many others at AI, so one can't single them out). The Pyramids are infinitely more fascinating than passengers after all!
I'm not 100% sure which is worse: cluelessness or apathy, though I am leaning towards the former. |
I dont blame them.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-staff-forced-to-borrow-sell-assets-as-salaries-are-not-paid/articleshow/9389540.cms
If they have to worry about their next paycheck for no major fault of theirs (cant blame cabin crew for a bloated aircraft order)..I am not surprised they are not enthusiastic !
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jasepl
Member
Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 4257
Location: bund-bay
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:17 am Post subject: |
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| sumantra wrote: | | jasepl wrote: |
However, the AI crew have usually seemed totally disinterested in doing their jobs. |
Has our in-house grammar expert erred here? Possibly not - this looks like a nice pun. Both `uninterested' and to some extent, `disinterested' too, fit the bill.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
You're right, it seems like I partly messed up and partly stumbled upon a semi-applicable term!
"Though AI's crew are generally uninterested in doing their job they often do it mechanically and with the utmost disinterest" - now that would be apt.
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stealthpilot
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: BLR, DXB
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Good, but what you expect in any First Class.
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