Air India via Mumbai

[Rawhide2 1,443]

I thought I had done a report here before from last October over using Air India via Delhi

Its possible it was elsewhere as cant find it here...no problem

Recap back to October I had flown out of Heathrow via Delhi....one of the reasons was certainly price one way but also the fact Air India had literally just taken delivery of a brand new A350 few weeks before

Now the Heathrow Delhi sector was excellent as expected but Delhi Bangkok let it down with single aisle A320 and an old one at that. No screens no nothing. Chalk and cheese compared to 1st sector

Fast forward and am on Air India again but this time via Mumbai again price was excellent

Main sector was on 777-300ER but probably older version clearly....seats were fine no problem not on a par with A350 but quite acceptable nonetheless

Onto to 2nd sector and after choosing 25C aisle at online check in near the back (and obviously having that boarding card at Heathrow) going through final gate the scan flashes red and says seat change...thinking immediately might have been upgraded no in hindsight I've been downgraded lol

New boarding card showing 29C so think no problem until I got on

29C was final row and not only was the seat back jammed hard against bulkhead its clear the seat pitch is less than other rows...visibly different

Spoke to male flight attendant who immediately contacted someone from ground handling who came 5 minutes later...Really sorry Sir we've had to substitute the aircraft which has different configuaration.....Very politely quietly non aggressive I say I'm not sitting there. I cannot genuinely get my legs in straight.

Off he goes and says flight is full sir completely......this time I did speak slightly louder saying dont make your problem my problem. You'll have to offload someone I said (clearly not the wisest thing to say) lol

Back he comes and says sit 26D and very small lady got lumbered with my initial seat....in hindsight I should have stayed there !!

Half the passengers were up walking around talking to other passengers standing in aisle...how many times I got accidentally whacked I dont know....only 2 shitters at back so queue all the time past where I was sitting

Nighmare 4 hours that was !  They are so ignorant without outright naming the nationality !

Definately thats it never again !

Edited Friday at 06:06 AM by Rawhide2

[jacko 8,928]

16 hours ago, Rawhide2 said:

Definately thats it never again !

Try their Biz Class! That is the last Air India flight I did and it was OK. I think I was the only guy up front and was well treated. I got an impression there was a fine scotch that needed to be finished off. 

Beyond that, and not wishing to pass aspersions, I wouldn't dream of using them!😀

[Rawhide2 1,443]

On 4/25/2025 at 11:19 PM, jacko said:

Try their Biz Class! That is the last Air India flight I did and it was OK. I think I was the only guy up front and was well treated. I got an impression there was a fine scotch that needed to be finished off. 

Beyond that, and not wishing to pass aspersions, I wouldn't dream of using them!😀

What I dont understand is why Air India dont allocate a widebody onto that 2nd sector from Delhi and Mumbai to Bangkok......from reading airline forums these connections are full every time

Now China Eastern on their 2nd sector start January Shanghai Bangkok had an A330 on that sector and that was full as well

If a widebody was allocated it would make the experience perfectly acceptable especially for the price on Air India and pricewise at £289 very good indeed

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Rawhide2