Flew aboard Air India's old Boeing 777: 11 unbiased observations

70% of the in-flight entertainment screen dint work. My rotten luck that my in-flight entertainment was not working on return flight as well.

BHPian chandrda recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I had extensively used Air India for my travel between India - USA - Canada - UK between 2010 to 2014 and hated it. I had faced a wide range of issues like - missing seats, broken seats, airhostess attitude, bad food, missing luggage, broken luggage, broken trays, clogged toilets, numerous delays etc.. But had no choice since the tickets were being booked by the Company's appointed agency. Only positive was the 10kgs extra baggage over and above 23 x 2 allowed by Air India for the Company I used to Work.

In May Flew on Air India Bangalore - Delhi - Toronto and back. Air India had introduced the 200ER & 300ER to USA and Canada in 2010-11 I believe. I happened to flew in these brand new aircrafts few times and was impressed with the Aircraft, but not with Air India.

So I was a bit eager to see what changes the TATA's have done to Air India and when I saw the Aircraft type as BOEING 777-300ER, I was wondering if it was the same old Aircraft or was the upgraded ones. My heart sank as soon as I entered the flight at IGI, it was the same old aircraft.

Here is my observation

• BLR-DEL-BLR - No drama. All went smoothly and also I dint take the dinner so cannot comments.
• IGI Airport - Since I had a thorough check-in, I had to just clear the immigration at Delhi Airport.
• Pre-Boarding - This is were the problem started. After announcing the boarding, around 12 Air India staff appeared out of nowhere with 4 weighing scale. They start weighing the cabin bags of the passenger standing in queue to board. If the total weight of the cabin bag was more than 8kgs, they were asked to step aside and pay for it. Few passenger were carrying 20+ kgs in cabin bags. Passenger's were being harassed just before boarding. BA and Air France used to do this in early 2000s to late 2010.
• The Aircraft is old and it shows. Its very dull and stale.
• 70% of the in-flight entertainment screen dint work. My rotten luck that my in-flight entertainment was not working on return flight as well.
• The onward flight from Delhi had no USB charging port and with entertainment not working and no way to charge mobile, had to just sit and meditate. Luckily return flight had USB charger.
• My tray was broken and I had to keep the tray on my lap while eating.
• Onwards flight seat recliner was stuck at an awkward angle, neither back nor upright. So spent most of the time standing near the pantry.
• Food was average - Chicken was a bit stale and pudding/sweet or what ever it was.. it was just disgusting. Not sure whose idea is it to give poori and aloo bhaji on an international flight.
• No hot towel offered, no wet hand napkins provided before food.
• Positive - The flight was on time and landed on time.
• The attitude of the staff was much better than what I anticipated

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