MEL-LHR $4800 Air India May-June and then again from August

[MEL_Traveller]

Just came across the above while searching google flights. $4800 return MEL-LHR. 9 hr layover outbound in DEL, 12 hours on the way home. Both layovers are during the day.

Available selected dates May and June, and then again in August onwards. From August the fare is $100 more at $4900.

Full flat beds, food is good. Service fine. New ownership is apparently seeing some good soft-product improvements.

Supposedly bookable direct on Air India.

 

[jase05]

Hopefully the new owners do spend some money on the airline as I would have to say my couple of experiences with them were truly awful and despite seeing some good sales over the years I’ve always avoided them. Will have to wait and see what they do before chancing it again

 

[SeatBackForward]

Full flat beds, food is good. Service fine. New ownership is apparently seeing some good soft-product improvements

But still Air India. Avoid like the plague.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But still Air India. Avoid like the plague.

I’ve been flying Air India for near on 50 years! A show of its former self itself today, but for the basics I think they do a good job. As mentioned above.. full flat bed with no cubby holes for your feet, tasty food, PJs, and the champagne is chilled! It’s far from the latest hard product, but it gets you there well rested.

For the $3000k plus savings the 9 and 12 hour transits are worth my while.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I’ve been flying Air India for near on 50 years!

That's one heck of a delay!

But jokes aside, hopefully Tata turn them around, but India is fast becoming a very competitive market with some quality operators there also.

 

[MELso]

My gut feel on this one is to get in while you can (I suspect they're like VN was a decade ago).

Campbell Wilson (ex-SQ/Scoot) has been brought in to run the show, and Air India has been placing some huge orders from both Airbus and Boeing (and will refit their cabins on their existing fleet).

Annoyingly though, the fare doesn't seem bookable through their website (although it is on Expedia so that's something).

 

[Mattg]

The long transits in Delhi would put me off. You have to wait in a holding pen until an airline employee lets you through, then once you get to the AI lounge it’s not much better.

Delhi Airport (DEL) Transit Experinces

On another note - I have a 5 hour layover in Delhi with different tickets. Assuming I have to pick up my bags and re-check onto Lufthansa however wondering if this involves entering India and if I need to do anything before arriving there? A bit late for you, but for others in a similar...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The long transits in Delhi would put me off. You have to wait in a holding pen until an airline employee lets you through, then once you get to the AI lounge it’s not much better.

Delhi Airport (DEL) Transit Experinces

On another note - I have a 5 hour layover in Delhi with different tickets. Assuming I have to pick up my bags and re-check onto Lufthansa however wondering if this involves entering India and if I need to do anything before arriving there? A bit late for you, but for others in a similar...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

My transit at Delhi admittedly in 2019 just went straight through transit security and into the departures lounge. Hopefully they will bring that back.


I would think for 9 and 12 hour layover that a visa would probably be worthwhile

 

[jakeseven7]

Nice price.

Whats the catch? Do you have to fly Air India

 

[ANstar]

Do you need a transit visa?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you need a transit visa?

Not to transit within the airport, but I believe you need one to enter india.