For the next portion of my Iceland to The Residence via Cambodia trip, it was time to fly Air India’s Airbus A350-900 business class on the 9hr10min flight from London (LHR) to Delhi (DEL).
Continue reading: Review: Air India Business Class Airbus A350 (LHR-DEL)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Can’t go wrong with an a350; my only concern is that AI would pull a last-minute swap for one of their ancient 777s.
The naysayers will fill their boots with adverse comments even though they will never have set a foot onto an AI aircraft. Truth be known, the U.S. airlines have much work to do to compete with this product.
I find there is a tradeoff between privacy and space in those types of seating on the sides of the cabin. The seats closer to the window have more privacy while the seats closer to the aisle have more width and space. I find I am willing to tradeoff the privacy for the additional space for side sleeping. I find I can keep the door open and feel less confined. Obviously a personal preference, but I find many of the seats closer to the window too confining for me.
Thanks for a great review.
Nice they have a robust mocktail list. Western airlines need to do better here as people are drinking less and less.
Just to get this out of the way, which 1990 is this? Orginal 1990, Not Orginal 1990, Famous 1990, Famous Original 1990 or World-Famous Orignal 1990?
Enjoyed this flight in the reverse (DEL-LHR). To @1990s point, I did have a swap for a maintenance issue, thankfully it was to another A350. I do think the 2x frequency to LHR helps so they can swap between those planes if they need to work on one, etc.
Can vouch for 6A - very comfortable seat. Soft product is really, really good. I especially liked the throw blanket, wanted to take it home with me! Very high quality. Food was good, nothing amazing, but nice to have a dosa for breakfast instead of the usual reheated eggs.
My headphones did not work, but it was an overnight flight and focused on sleep, so did not really care. Did not mind the extra hour diversion for that reason - actually allowed me to get a bit more rest on the flight. (Still took a nap in the aerotel at LHR on arrival - thanks Dayuse.com!).
As of last week, AI has changed the amenities to an Indian brand called Forest Essentials. Also there wasn’t anything in the back galley but the staff were brilliant and did turn down service when I got changed
@Ben quick side note, the date on the header appears as "July 2025" but the trip was taken on Nov 1st 🙂
The cabin stunk to high heavens. The brand new A350 developed mechanical issues during the flight. Air India covered them up.
What a Karen!
I always knew you were indian. LARPing as a Brit lol. That’s why your bogus “British” diction always seemed off.
And if you think Air India is competing with any of the US4/5, any crumb of credibility you had before is gone.
I'll take mine Coney Island style, please.
(Yes, it was the first '1990,' not the impersonator. Is the real 'John'?)
"Now that's a comment worthy of your name."
The OP was referencing a post from yesterday where a TikToker said that the AI lounge in JFK was the worst, and she cited the smell of Indian food as evidence of that.
While I have not, nor will I ever, set foot on an AI aircraft, this review is definitely encouraging for the future of the airline, assuming AI manages crew service delivery consistency across the board, and they maintain / upkeep the hardware for the next 10-20 years that these seats will be in service.
I want to know as well. I go to India every year on business and the smell is not very nice.
LOL, Air India cant compete with anyone. I wouldnt touch it with with a 10 foot pole.
any consistency to which routes get a350? Looking out of JFK/EWR and it seems like both are possible
Interesting that you say you’ll never set foot on an AI aircraft, given your well-travelled experience. AI seems really invested in its turnaround, and with new and retrofitted 787-8s/9s and new A350-1000s entering service this year, it’s certainly trending upwards. Of course, the old 777-300ERs and 787-8s are in dire need of urgent help, and supply-chain constraints are by no means helping, but AI is doing the best it can.
@Eskimo/Mason/John: no discussion on Air India is complete without your claims of my gaslighting, so let’s see what you have to say!
Happy 18th birthday, OMAAT, and here’s to many more of these reviews — no premium airline product or lounge feels complete without your words!
On the topic of this review: I think it’s really heartening to see the camaraderie among the cabin crew, and the way in which they’re invested in delivering top-class service. It may well be the Vistara effect. Given the shock of AI171 and the resulting loss of morale, what AI’s crew has done is nothing short of remarkable.
Since your flight air India has significantly upgraded their meal service and wine list. Did you also get a chance to checkout encalm prive or xenia while at DEL?
Seemingly there are those who think that they are contributing to this website by asking questions like “Did the plane smell”? Little do they realise that their own stench, cheap scent, body odour and tobacco infused halitosis, etc, is equally repulsive to citizens of other nations.
Travelling to a foreign country, then not allowing all of one’s senses to be aroused and immersed in all which is unfamiliar, is a common failure amongst westerners. Go visit India and the like, leave the sanctuary of your western style hotel and actually step out of your comfort zone. Live life to the full as they say and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of real foreign travel.
The naysayers never fail to announce their ignorance of foreign lands, culture, customs and modes of transportation, etc. Not to be content with displaying their shortcomings in worldly knowledge, they even proceed to articulate their lack of understanding of the English and our language too.
You people who login under such pathetic names like “Found You”, “Mr Patel”, etc, display no evidence of a noteworthy education, upbringing or culture. However, I am sure that Ben, will have appreciated your clicks and conformation of your inadequacy as human beings, yes?
Seems I've struck the LARPing beast at its core. Giving you internet access was a mistake.
The only thing woefully inadequate is Air India and their Internet Defense Force you seem to be part of, working for free. As well as your understanding of English culture, you fraud.
Then don’t go. They already have 1.4B people there, they won’t miss you or your business et al.
So AeroB13a, you've been outed...playing dress up as a Brit while slagging off British culture. What's pathetic is lecturing others about authenticity while faking your own identity. Is it because you're ashamed?
To those of you here commenting about the smell, smell is subjective - you might think the smell of seafood or steak or pork is the most delicious thing in the world, but to someone else, it could be revolting. That's the point of choice - you can choose to consume whatever food you want, and you can very well choose to not fly Air India.
To those of you alluding to AI171, again - Air India is by far safer than a lot of other airlines. Mechanical faults or pilot suicide or any other plausible causes are by no means the prerogative of any specific country or society or culture or workplace.
I have been on western airlines where they have run out of water on trans-oceanic flights - for drinking as well as in the restrooms - it never occurred to me to entirely give up on the airline or condemn the whole damn country or continent or culture from which the airlines were based. Just saying those of you with a prejudice against India or it's airline need to cut it some slack.
That all being said, Air India's biggest problem is not it's crew, it's pilots or it's aircraft - it's it's passengers. As an Indian, I can attest to the fact that a lot of us lack civic sense and respect for the equipment we are travelling on or the fellow passengers we are travelling with. You can chalk some points down to "cultural nuances", but the fact is we need to be more considerate travelers. I have been on Air India flights where the crew kept their composure and professionalism despite some of the passengers behaving in a very entitled and dare I say, uncouth manner.
This turn around is a comprehensive effort and will take time; what is going to be harder and longer to change is the passengers' mindset.
A350s are deployed on all DEL - JFK/EWR - DEL frequencies and about half of the DEL - LHR - DEL frequencies (the other half are flown by ex-Vistara 787s).
Dude, aroma and smell are very very subjective. I absolutely am revulsed by the smell of steak and pork. But I don't go about strutting about how disgusting food it is, when I know my friends love both of them. If the smell becomes unbearable, I just politely step out or don't join them there (I am talking about US btw, which is where I live).
If you don't understand and respect this basic fact, don't travel to India and don't travel on Air India. We really don't care about people like you who spit out personal prejudice as gospel.
Actually no lol.
Genetically and culturally, there's quite a few groups that are odorless
Why do Indians dont use deodorants? It really puzzles me. I cant come anywhere closer to them. That smell ughh
Why are the comments so unnecessary under this post? Why are you all so gross?
Looks amazing. I did have the best ever meal on United after 30+ years last week Frankfurt-Newark, but this food looks pretty amazing. Cabin seems awesome. US Airlines do have a lot to learn from several foreign carriers, but they are focused solely on the bottom line.....
I agree with comments about bashing airlines like this for people that have not tried it. As someone who has flown AI in the recent 12 months, I think there is a big difference between the Vistara trained crew and planes than then AI and the integration is needed.
To those “Old chaps” who assume that one is something other than what he is, I say this to you: “Assumption is the mother of all of your mistakes”.
In the past when I have defended Tim Dunn, against the trolls, they assumed that I was he. When I defended SQ against the trolls, they assumed that I was Asian. Now that I defend AI, India and the indigenous population against the bigotry of the proletariat, I am assumed to be ashamed of my true identity.
Seemingly I am “Faking my own identity” yet again. You pathetic creatures think that you can assume anything from the posts of others, however, you are only displaying your own lack of intelligence. I am neither faking my English heritage nor am I ashamed of it.
I take pleasure from articulating my disgust for those who choose to slag off others relentlessly. The ignoramus types who add only clicks to Ben’s website, are not immune either. Do try to stick to what you know, for your assumptions will only attract scorn and rebuttal.
“Have a nice day” numpties …. 🙂
Ashwin, sadly one must make allowances for some of the ignorant bigots who post herein. The Karen’s and Julia types are two very ignorant trolls. It is unlikely that they have ever traveled outside their home environs, for they post with such bigotry typical of unworldly creatures.
These trolls are best ignored unless one is prepared to verbally put them back in their boxes. I, for one, take pleasure in responding to their uneducated posts as it provides exercise for my brain cell …. something which they lack, a brain cell, I mean …. 🙂
One is fully aware that there is nothing quite so pitiful as a FOUNDling, YOU assume that one is defending AI, when in reality all one is doing is baiting the ignorant naysayers. Some who post herein are thicker than a plank of wood.
Thank you ‘Found You’ for demonstrating, without any shadow of a doubt, just how pathetic you and your kind actually are. Oh dear, dear, however do survive in this cosmopolitan world?
@AeroB13a
You really have too much time on your hands, and you're not convincing anyone.
I hate the timings of so many long haul flights in India & the Middle East. 4am just wrong, especially if it’s a departure. It’s neither evening, late night nor morning. Unless you’re an avid clubber or an extreme morning person it screws up your sleep rhythm. It also makes it easy to book flights for the wrong date (2-3 am is even more risky), as most think they’re leaving Wednesday night, but in actual fact it’s Thursday morning. I was extremely careful to double and triple check when I lived there, as turning up 24 hours early could be an expensive affair.
In general not a fan of short red eyes, but at least Europe is far enough away to give the possibility of some meaningful sleep. Bangkok, Singapore an Hong Kong not so much, and the next day is dreadful. Often, there is no other alternative which doesn’t impact work schedules.