Flight crew was lovely. Bathrooms should have been cleaner. The handsets in business class for watching the entertainment are horrible. Very difficult to figure out which buttons are for what. I managed to get the flight maps on my screen but it wasn't easy. Never got anything else up.
Our seat monitor did not Not work either way going to Vietnam. I had a bulkhead seat with plenty of room, but with No monitor, it was a long flight with no movies. Fun was good, staff was Excellent.
Food quality deteriorated after Tata aquired the airline. No alcoholic drinks till last meal on a long haul 15 hour flight. Entertaiment systems needs a complete overhaul.
Communication was terrible. Flight was delayed for 4-5 hours in DC (on the front end, and also after we boarded, we had to get off - some issue with fueling the old plane correctly). There was little to no information on timing or what was happening. Once we reach Delhi airspace, apparently there was weather that caused us not to land - we were actually near the ground, saw the run way, and lifted back up to the sky after being sooo close. Then we circled for about 30 minutes, and they decided to go to Jaipur to land until the weather cleared and to refuel. Again, once we landed in Jaipur (wrong city), there was little to no information on timing or what was happening. Then we heard that the crew was reaching their 24 hours. We sat on the place, on the tarmac for another 3 HOURS, with no food and not enough water for everyone on the flight. Then, they kicked us off the plane with no plan, in the wrong city. We went thru customs, got our bags (thank goodness), and had to ask a bunch of staff what was happening and what to do. Eventually, their soltuion was to bus people back to Delhi (like 6 hours we were told) but not everyone would fit on the bus, and unknown timing on when it would leave. At this point it was 9PM (we were scheduled to arrive in Delhi at 11AM...). My husband and I decided to risk it and take a cab that we had to pay ourselves (about $200 US dollars) to get to Delhi (about 5 hour drive). We both had terrible trips back to the US as well - almost missed connecting flight, forced to pay for carry-on luggage (a small back pack!) and duty-free goods by the Air India staff last minute. Just terrible experience all around. Never again with AI! The ONLY good thing was the air hostesses were kind and patient - example: they made sure people with food allergies got their correct. However, the TV's did not work so I'm glad we brought our own entertainment.
Entertainment system was not working and was told I would get a voucher and have not got one. No toiletries were available not even a toothbrush false sweet talk by ground staff
The crew smile nicely when you board and exit, in between they are sullen and innattentive
Having travelled quite a lot in my life -- Air India flight from Washington to New Delhi on November 19, 2023 - I thought was the worst ever - little did I know at that time that the flight back - from Delhi To Washington on December 6 - would be an actual NIGHTMARE for me and for about a dozen of fellow citizens from the United States who were experiencing it with me! Two of the passengers had kids: a baby and a toddler who was sick at the time, three or more elderly people of about 70 years old or more, I also remember a woman of about thirty years old who looked about 10 years older after the ordeal was closer to the end- on the flight from LONDON !!! (they sent us all to London instead of Washington!!! (The transit flight from Kathmandu - to Delhi - also by Air India- was delayed 3! times from 9,50 p.m. to 11.50 - which lead transit passengers to be late not by their fault but by the same Air India fault!!! - at after midnight at the transit counter at Delhi airport we were told there was no room in a hotel, that all we could do "call the center'' --- managers as well as clerks were at minimum rude and ignorant - finally we had nothing other to do than to leave to London at their suggestion at 7 !!! in the morning (the flight was also late for an hour) to later fly from London to Washington! If only you have the slightest choice NEVER DEAL WITH AIR INDIA even if it is the cheapest route!!!
The flight was very good, it was on time at the take off and before time at landing. Overall it was a great experience !!!
Delhi to IAD light was just the opposite experience what we experienced during Mumbai to Delhi flight
Food was below average. Lights were on working so could not read. Monitor were not working so could not see any entertainment. Overall very poor.
