Should we book cheap J ticket HK-AMS via Delhi on Air India?

[MickyS]

I've been trying to find J class Qantas reward seats from Melbourne to Amsterdam for July, for me and my husband (one way only), checking at least 4 times per week since December. When I found 2 available seats to Hong Kong back in March, I booked those (for 6 July), but so far I have been unsuccessful in finding any seats for the rest of the trip a few days later - except for quite convoluted itineraries with 2 extra stops, which we're not interested in.

So I am now also looking at buying tickets for the HK-AMS leg, which generally costs around $5K+ for nonstop and from about $3,500 with 1 stop. However, there are J seats on Air India for just $2,300 on Mondays, flying via Delhi. I can't decide whether I should just book those or hold out for any possible reward options opening up in the remaining 6 weeks. Any advice? I don't know Air India at all, but it sounds like a good deal considering we mostly just want to be able to lie flat flying to Europe and have a smooth check-in experience etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Rory Ding flew their 787 recently… not a bad review!

 

[Mr H]

No way I’m flying on AI …

You would have to pay me to fly on AI for long haul.

I know some people have a natural aversion to airlines from developing countries but there is nothing wrong with AI. The seats on their 787s are the same as on TK and although they are 2-2-2, they actually have proper legroom for sleeping. Incidentally, most QR flights I have been on have also been 2-2-2 or 2-2 and they get rave reviews...

 

[Mr H]

The last time I flew AI was a 3 hour domestic trip in Y which felt like 6 hours... Of note was that they had de-commissioned the IFE system on their A320's and instead of removing the screens, they rather shoddily put seat covers on top of them.

Would take a QF 737 any day over that.

Not sure what the problem is. How did the seat covers affect your flight experience? Why would an airline go to great expense to replace the seats just because the IFE was inactive? And would you want them to put the original seats back if they reactivate IFE?

 

[kpro]

Not sure what the problem is. How did the seat covers affect your flight experience? Why would an airline go to great expense to replace the seats just because the IFE was inactive? And would you want them to put the original seats back if they reactivate IFE?

It's a cost cutting measure on top of a cost cutting measure. Most airlines would replace the seats (EG AA, MH, D7), or de-activate the screen and leave them visible. However, AI have put a cover on top of the screen signifying they don't want to advertise that the aircraft used to have IFE. And not even properly might I add. The seat fabric is not supposed to hang loose like that as shown in the picture below.

The lack of IFE does impact the flight experience, even if the seat covers do not. It doesn't impact safety, but putting an effort into the presentation of cabins makes a good impression on customers.

FWIW, AI never re-activated the IFE on their A320's.


Source

 

[jase05]

I know some people have a natural aversion to airlines from developing countries but there is nothing wrong with AI. The seats on their 787s are the same as on TK and although they are 2-2-2, they actually have proper legroom for sleeping. Incidentally, most QR flights I have been on have also been 2-2-2 or 2-2 and they get rave reviews...

I have no aversion to airlines from developing countries but I have a big aversion to filthy seats and cabins to go with real poor staff. I’ve only done the one long haul return flight with them and perhaps I was just unlucky both ways but it put me off flying with again for now.
As I mentioned up thread I’m happy to wait until the new owners have ran a broom through the place and invested in hopefully a better product in which I’ll happily give them another crack

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

It's a cost cutting measure on top of a cost cutting measure. Most airlines would replace the seats (EG AA, MH, D7), or de-activate the screen and leave them visible. However, AI have put a cover on top of the screen signifying they don't want to advertise that the aircraft used to have IFE.

OP posted that the Air India flight cost $2300, less than half the price of the $5000 flight (non-stop), or about two thirds of the $3500 flight (one stop), they were looking at with other airlines. So they're looking at saving over two grand a ticket, but have to look at a covered up in-flight entertainment unit instead of a replacement seat that doesn't t even have an IFE unit, or a seat where it looks like every IFE doesn't even work? I'd call that a no-brainer.

 

[kpro]

In post #20, the covered up IFE is mentioned as a visual example of why the flight wasn't particularly enjoyable. And I go on to clarify in post #24 under the part which you quoted that the screen cover doesn't impact safety or experience, just the impression of the airline.

People have their own value systems, and I personally would not call Air India vs Finnair a no-brainer for $2.3k vs $3.7k for one stop. Many people would even consider the non-stop option for $5k to be the best value.

I just added my experience as a data point for the OP to decide for themselves.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Fair enough.