No Money? Distinguish Your Pride and Fly Air India... (Air India)

Member Name: jchaon

Product:	Air India
Date:	22/09/00 (1521 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very inexpensive, fine service, possible upgrades

Disadvantages: unkempt, arrives to London after a 12 hour flight from India - with passengers on board!

I have flown Air India to and from Chicago from London Heathrow nearly seven times. Each time I vowed was my last. However, the key here is money. I would not have been able to fly seven times on British Airways, American Airlines, or United Airlines.

Upon boarding the aircraft, it is a bit disconcerting to see Indians strewn about sleeping across seats, rubbish throughout the aisles, and yes I have literally seen duct tape on the seat in front of me.

I have had to ask the flight attendant to remove a sleeping Indian from across my row of seats. AND she did NOT replace the pillow - ugh. I have put down my tray to eat and had loads of crumbs floating about on top of the tray (none of which were mine - ugh). I have sat behind a seat that was duct-taped. Frightening.

Negativity aside, I have also been complimentarily upgraded to FIRST CLASS - so excellent. My husband and I have been upgraded twice to business class and all but twice I have had my own row of seats!

The food is excellent - it's Indian, of course. Great for those who love a good curry. Air India has been late only once, every airline is entitled, I believe.

But back to the key issue mentioned earlier - money. It is by far the most inexpensive flight I have taken and because of that you have to accept a lot of little negative issues. You DO get what you pay for. In cases where I was upgraded, I received a LOT MORE for what I paid. You may have good luck, you may have bad luck, but the bottom line is that you didn't pay very much at all. And that's why you took Air India in the first place, isn't it?

Summary: