Last September, Air India announced that they would launch 3x weekly flights between Delhi and San Francisco as of December 2, 2015. This would represent Air India’s longest route, at 7,706 miles in each direction.
While Air India’s other US flights (to Chicago, New York JFK, and Newark) are operated by 777-300ERs, the San Francisco flight is operated by a 777-200LR. This is a fairly sparsely configured aircraft, with just 238 seats, including:
- 8 first class seats
- 35 business class seats
- 195 economy class seats
This plane features double the first class capacity of the larger 777-300ER, which has just four first class seats. I don’t think there’s actually a great reason that Air India has double as many first class seats on the smaller version of the 777. I assume it’s just because Air India is state run and fairly disorganized, and there were probably different people in charge of the decision making process when the configurations were decided on for the two plane types.
Well, Air India has now announced that they’re cutting first class on their three 777-200LR aircraft altogether, which they use primarily for the San Francisco route (Air India used to have more 777-200LRs, but they sold them to Etihad).
Via The Economic Times:
State-run Air India has decided to do away with the First Class cabin on its Delhi-San Francisco flight in view of “low occupancy,” barely a month after the carrier launched the services operated by a three- Class B777-200LR aircraft.
“We have seen just about 25 per cent occupancy in the First class cabin while the same for business class has picked by 30-35 per cent since the launch. Therefore, we have decided to operate the flight in two class configuration removing first class seats and adding more in the economy cabin,” airline sources said.
As part of the plan, the economy seats after the reconfiguration will go up to 298, they said.
That means they’ve seen an average of two of the eight first class seats occupied per flight, and my guess is that this is even an exaggeration.
But what’s pretty remarkable is just how many economy seats they’re adding. They’re supposedly going from 195 economy seats to 298 economy seats — that’s an increase of 103 economy class seats on Air India’s 777-200LRs.
Right now Air India’s 777-200LRs have among the most spacious economy cabins, with just nine seats per row and 34″ of pitch. I’m guessing that they’ll be reducing the seat pitch and also going to the now-industry standard ten seats per row. And frankly given that very few people voluntarily fly Air India, I can’t blame them — it’s not like people are paying a premium for the added space on Air India, as their economy seats are significantly more spacious than on Emirates, Etihad, etc.
The reconfiguration process shouldn’t cause any service interruptions on the San Francisco route. Air India has three 777-200s, so by reconfiguring them one at a time, they can still operate the route without any downtime:
The sources, however, said that the airline will not have to deploy any more planes on the San Francisco route during the reconfiguration period, which requires grounding of an aircraft as the entire exercise will be completed on rotation.
“We have three B777-200LR and all these will not be reconfigured together, but by turn,” they said, adding that the airline was expected to incur upto USD 2 million on reconfiguration of each aircraft.
Bottom line
I guess I’ll be flying Air India first class on this route just in time, and can’t wait to review it. While I’m sad to see first class eliminated, I also commend Air India for running the airline like a business, for once. Adding another 103 economy seats to the flight greatly increases their odds of turning a profit on the route, or perhaps at least not bleeding money.
What do you make of Air India eliminating first class on their 777-200LRs?
(Tip of the hat to James)
Ben - When is this supposed to take effect? My wife and I are booked in CONFIRMED AI First Class DEL-SFO mid December 2016, however there is no seat map available which makes me nervous we will get down-graded to Business Class now?
My last experience with AI in Business Class is NOT something I care to repeat...
@Kevinwdw
I agree with your observations - had the same good experience and found DEL to be a pleasant airport. Another word of warning, you need to show your ticket and ID to the security personnel at the airport before being allowed entry into the airport. We made a mistake of not having this, but AI staff helped us out and obtained the documents for us.
Overall, I would fly AI again.For us, they actually...
@Kevinwdw
I agree with your observations - had the same good experience and found DEL to be a pleasant airport. Another word of warning, you need to show your ticket and ID to the security personnel at the airport before being allowed entry into the airport. We made a mistake of not having this, but AI staff helped us out and obtained the documents for us.
Overall, I would fly AI again.For us, they actually brought all of the dishes on a trolley so my understanding is that consistency seems to be the main issue with AI. Yes - the seats were also worn out but I agree that they were extremely comfortable (maybe because they were worn out and softened?).
We flew Biz from DEL to JFK last August and despite hearing negative news about the Food and Service, we had all positive impressions.
Flight was on time. Note to everyone checking in at Delhi. Security will not permit you to enter the airport terminal until 3-3.5 hours prior to departure. We showed up six hours. Not sure if giving a tip would have helped us but we met fellow well to do Indian...
We flew Biz from DEL to JFK last August and despite hearing negative news about the Food and Service, we had all positive impressions.
Flight was on time. Note to everyone checking in at Delhi. Security will not permit you to enter the airport terminal until 3-3.5 hours prior to departure. We showed up six hours. Not sure if giving a tip would have helped us but we met fellow well to do Indian citizen that this is normal. You may need to pay a few rupees to use the waiting room.
Service, very good. Flight Attendant were constantly walking by. Nice, polite, professional and three wanted to chat with us but the other biz passengers were a bit demanding during the whole flight and took their time away from is.
Food - so much food! I'm not Indian but found the food very good. Flight left New Delhi late, late night so a not so heavy meal was served. But portion was on the big size. There is a snack basket in the galley during the flight. 1.5 hrs before landing it was dinner service even though NY time is 5am. No menu is given it rather given three choices: chicken, vegetarian, and seafood.
Seat. Yes the seat looks old but it was the most comfy biz seat to date. Or that the flight left at 1am and I was just tired. Seat is angle flat seat it and I like this seat angle better especially if you want to sleep after a heavy meal.
Entertainment - I usually watch the map channel.
Amenity kit. We were given in socks, eye shade, and toothbrush in a paper envelope. I thought it was disappointing but the real surprise came when the flight attendant ask us our clothing size. We were given white PJ set. I'm 5'7" and 185lbs and the size was good but the length of the PJ's sleeves and pants were too long for me. Also they offer youth size PJs.
Overall I was pleased and would fly with them again.
Good post.
Makes a lot of sense since it is more within reach of the paying public and I have yet to find a first class cabin on my travels with full occupancy.
@Santastico I agree and would say the same for the big three American airlines. Absolutely dreadful interiors.
It would actually be great if you'd review on of the Business class products, given that seems to be the direction most of us would be able to access AI premium class, if they're reducing/eliminating F.
Just a thought.
"Etihad remains the only carrier with a 1-1 premium configuration on widebodies."
Only the A380, no? All of their other planes offering first class is still 1-2-1.
Looking forward to the Review
@Joe @NRTBound they're likely trying to differentiate it from business class which is 2-3-2 (like EK's 777), so each row has a middle seat, and at least 3 passengers in each row have to climb over another passenger to get out.
@Joe I agree that the wording is confusing, but I think the key is that it says, "you are always in an aisle or window seat. Never in between "
In a 1-1 configuration, all seats would be both a window and an aisle, while in a 1-2-1, the 2 interior seats would obviously not be window seats, but would have direct aisle access (which seems to be the feature that they are highlighting...
@Joe I agree that the wording is confusing, but I think the key is that it says, "you are always in an aisle or window seat. Never in between "
In a 1-1 configuration, all seats would be both a window and an aisle, while in a 1-2-1, the 2 interior seats would obviously not be window seats, but would have direct aisle access (which seems to be the feature that they are highlighting - i.e., that you'll never be stuck in a seat that requires you to climb over another pax in order to get to the aisle.
Okay, this situation is kinda tricky. This is a quote from their website:
"When you snuggle into your newly installed, highly comfortable, 180-degree recline, sleeperette, we will ensure that you disembark at your destination just as fresh. The two-abreast seating ensures you are always in an aisle seat or a window seat. Never in between. The ethnic interiors, you will observe, are designed to be particularly pleasing to the eye. The Air show constantly...
Okay, this situation is kinda tricky. This is a quote from their website:
"When you snuggle into your newly installed, highly comfortable, 180-degree recline, sleeperette, we will ensure that you disembark at your destination just as fresh. The two-abreast seating ensures you are always in an aisle seat or a window seat. Never in between. The ethnic interiors, you will observe, are designed to be particularly pleasing to the eye. The Air show constantly screens your flight pattern, aircraft altitude and speed. And much more."
I can see from this that it's a "two abreast" seating, but in seatguru it shows 1-2 rows of 1-2-1 seating.
Which of them is right?
@Santastico Agree. They would look much better in a white and red rather than the beige/cream color they are using currently.
@ Lucky That's what they advertise on their website.
I would never bother going on seatguru, don't have time to waste for that airline.
Not a lot of need as most people flying to India can afford it.
Plus more room for the rats on board.
Just for the looking of the exterior of their planes I have no desire to see the interior. It looks dated and unattractive.
@ Lucky: Yep.
Etihad remains the only carrier with a 1-1 premium configuration on widebodies.
Possible that they've strategically decided to avoid marketing to the ultra high end traveller?
They promote the "attainable lounge experience," in their recent promotional materials... and ditching F altogether on the new routes.
But look. Lucky, all first class on Air India is configured 1-1. It's a very bad configuration for a B777, they can always do 1-2-1 and have enough space for everything.
I think that's why they're suspending it, because I can't find a way that they can profit from the configuration.
@ Joe -- Sorry, I might be missing something, but Air India 777 first class is in a 1-2-1 configuration, no?