Would you travel Air India?

[Bell21]

I find it strange to be posting such a general question about a mainstream airline, but I'm going to fly my son on Air India (aeroplan points) home from Europe in July and I'm wondering what the 'community' thinks of the risk of flying with them?

I was actually meant to fly J in Air India last May but cancelled the trip for non-airline related reasons --- that was pre their airline disaster, but even then, I was reading about all the general choas on some of their flights (flights having to turn back for all kinds of unusual issues), and then the airline disaster happened, and then I think they had a plane(s) given non-conformance notices for flying without the proper certification.

I still think I'd take the risk, as in the scheme of risks (eg, driving a car), it's probably quite low, but it's the first time I've had any concern flying on a major airline.

 

[quick_dry]

I didn't mind the flight itself - but there is no way I would transit through Delhi unless there was no other option, and if you have to, make sure it is a short transit within 3 hrs.

The transit are begins to feel like a prison camp when people are kept there for 10 hrs+ - mostly plastic chairs, and a couple of lounge/laid back pool chairs.

Edit: to clarify, the transit situation isn't an AI problem, it was a hell for all - whether on AI, QF, ET, etc. AI was particularly bad at having staff tell you "someone will be here in 5 minutes to process... oh just 5 more minutes... just wait... just 5 more minutes..." and so on, for hours of 5 minute intervals

 

[ohmoomtang]

Never fly AI, but flew 9W (Jet Airways) before.

Overall, it is good, not the best and not the worse. Meal is mainly Indian, which is reasonable.

Passengers were OK at that time too, but that’s very long time ago.

For AI, I heard about unpleasant experiences a lot, if you are keen for only taking A->B then I think should be OK. Quality might be the same as United or a bit worse than that.

But if you are keen for comfortable then might go with other, for Star Alliance as many people mentioned, Thai is good one, and even I feel it is getting better post Covid.

 

[Bell21]

It looks like I may have an option to fly him on Etihad on points now, albeit there's clearly some downsides of that approach as well right now! (late July, so still some months ago)

 

[BjJames]

Probably a bit late now, and I am unable to respond to the OP's issue, but I think it would have been helpful to the OP to have feedback from people who have RECENT experience of flying with AI (saying when) and less opinions from people who are relying on hearsay, or their own dated experience -- and prejudices. More recent facts and objectivity, please. (Yes, I am considering a reward international flight on AI soon - so I'm interested in feedback about real recent experience - and will ignore most of the other comments in this thread)

 

[Quickstatus]

used Indian Railways (including sleeping berths)

Given the overcrowding on the trains, do you get people crowding the corridors of the sleeping berth carriages ?

 

[Mr H]

Given the overcrowding on the trains, do you get people crowding the corridors of the sleeping berth carriages ?

Every time I have traveled by long distance train in India I have had a reserved seat and never had any bother accessing it. I have not particularly noticed crowding on the trains. I think the days of people riding on the roofs and hanging off the windows have long gone.

 

[Gary T]

I’ve travelled with them from SYD/FCO a few times when they were serving FCO. Pretty ordinary but at the time a very reasonable price in B/C? Still waiting for my gin and tonic..

 

[dairyfloss]

I wouldn't trust a 3.5 star hotel in India.

Yeah - no thanks. It’s a 5 star minimum for me, there, and even then, things have turned out to be pretty dodgy from time-to-time. Never had any issues with the gut though! (other than swelling through over indulgence)

 

[Melburnian1]

Ice in the drink?

Anyway … for future reference…Travelan from chemist warehouse. Take one before eating any meal you might be suspiciouslf, and no upset tummy!

It may have been ice, I don't recall.

Thank you for the tip. Apologies for briefly going OT, but is Travelan any different from Lomotil or Gastrostop? I have only taken the latter two after acquiring diarrhea.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It may have been ice, I don't recall.

Thank you for the tip. Apologies for briefly going OT, but is Travelan any different from Lomotil or Gastrostop? I have only taken the latter two after acquiring diarrhea.

Oh yes! Travelan is made of bovine colostrum… it acts to kill and bacteria as it enters your stomach, so you can’t get sick in the first place.

It’s expensive.. $39 for a pack of 30. But in the 20 years since I started taking them - touch wood - havent been sick on multiple trips to bali, india, africa, other developing countries. Before that… bit of a mixed bag!

 

[dajop]

Yeah - no thanks. It’s a 5 star minimum for me, there, and even then, things have turned out to be pretty dodgy from time-to-time. Never had any issues with the gut though! (other than swelling through over indulgence)

Depends on how you define 5 star. I've stayed in a range of international brands (Aloft, Courtyard, Novotel, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place, Country Inn) in India - none of which I'd class as 5 stars (even Le Meridien's and Sheraton's I don't think I'd call 5 star). More solid 3.5-4 star hotels by my standards. Yet all are fine, and if you are to believe google all are 5 star hotels. I'm happy with reputable global brand or solid Indian brands like Taj, ITC. Then after that look genuine at 5 star local hotels.

 

[BjJames]

We are getting off topic !!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Depends on how you define 5 star. I've stayed in a range of international brands (Aloft, Courtyard, Novotel, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place, Country Inn) in India - none of which I'd class as 5 stars (even Le Meridien's and Sheraton's I don't think I'd call 5 star). More solid 3.5-4 star hotels by my standards. Yet all are fine, and if you are to believe google all are 5 star hotels. I'm happy with reputable global brand or solid Indian brands like Taj, ITC. Then after that look genuine at 5 star local hotels.

I think all those hotels you mentioned are actual 3 or 4 star hotels!! (Actual, not ‘self-rated!)

True 5 star you’ll find in some of the top Taj and Oberoi hotels

 

[Quickstatus]

it acts to kill and bacteria as it enters your stomach, so you can’t get sick in the first place.

It has antibodies which passively bind to diarrhea containing bacteria preventing it from binding to the gut but does not kill the bacteria.

The antibodies also bind to the toxins released by the same bacteria

Though I can't find any indications suggesting that Air India passengers are at risk of Montezuma's revenge.