Inoffensive Air India experience - Apr '26

TLDR: Generally positive experience, albeit on an almost empty flight from LHR to DEL

Despite my reluctance, booked an itinerary on Air India between LHR and CCU (with a connection at DEL). Initially, i had a booking on Qatar Airlines. However, when the (newest) war in the Middle East started, I decided to have a backup booking. I bought a refundable ticket with Air India, with the thought that if things went to normal, I would fly with my original itinerary through Doha. But with the current situation dragging on, Qatar canceled my flight four days before boarding.

While I was happy I had a flight to my destination, I wasn't super keen on the airlines. (Especially with their boss quitting recently.)

On the day of my flight, the check-in counter of the Delhi bound Air India flight was uncharacteristically empty. This was quite different from what I have usually seen/experienced on India bound flights from the US. Regardless, check in was quick and uneventful.

At the gate of departure, as people lined to board, an announcement of delay in boarding was announced - standard Air India experience, I guessed, but at least the plane was there and they let the crew board. When boarding actually began 15 minutes later, I thought to myself: pretty thin crowd.

Once the doors were closed, I realized that this was actually going to be a very empty flight. In economy and premier economy, most of the window rows had a single occupants and only one single occupant in the entire middle section of the first economy cabin. It was sparse. I almost kinda felt bad about the airline.

The plane itself (A350-900?) was brand new, far cry from the dinghy ramshackle borrowed Delta B777 from the last time I was on AI in 2023. Everything was clean, and things worked, on the seat and in the bathroom. The inflight entertainment system was pretty good and it had a sizeable movie catalog. Also no annoying ads before movies (ahem ahem United).

The 10 hour duration explained the rather circuitous flight path - going over the Balkans, Greece, turning eastwards around Luxor in Egypt, crossing the Saudi desert, over Oman and then entering India at its westernmost edge and going northeast towards Delhi. Poor me thought I could spot the pyramids from the plane as we were passing over Egypt.

The food in economy was solidly unremarkable. Not bad, but nothing remarkable. The service was very prompt, (would be quite surprising, even for Air India, if it weren't, given the empty flight). I did think the regular food service was a bit inadequate for the flight duration, but they were handing out snacks with water. The passenger behind me did seem to be well served with drinks and snacks at quite regular intervals.

The flight actually arrived slightly earlier than its posted arrival time. A little bumpy on the touchdown but nothing as much as a regular Southwest landing. On the ground, luggages were at the belt by the time i cleared immigration and mine seemed to be unscathed.

Overall, much better than my previous experience with the airlines. I think the mostly empty flight helped a lot. But I am quite thankful that they did fly an empty-ish plane, on a much extended flight path to get the few passengers to their destinations during the time of elevated fuel charges and cancellations on other airlines.

Am looking going to be loyal to Air India when I fly to India next? Most likely not, but I will not completely rule them out of contention.