It’s a comprehensive and very lengthy. I am sorry for thisbut I am tempted to write all to help other readers here.
After reading many reviews here I was reluctant in selectingAir Indiaso we bought ticket from Singapore Airline. However just a week beforedeparture we had to reschedule our trip to attain east cost too.(In US, Californiaregion which is also having majority high-tech business is known as West Coast, where as NY, Washington, NJ are considered as East Coast)
Initially we had a plan to visit AMD-LAX-SFO-LAX-AMD. Howeverwe then have to add east coast too in our plan and we asked our agent to cancelprevious SQ tickets and rebook with SQ for AMD-LAX-SFO-LAX-IAD (dullsinternational Washington)-NY-MUM-AMD. A big change in trip covering three airline sectors. I was told no airlineoffers this kind of three way ticket and I would have to purchase Two sector asbefore plus VISIT USA (VUSA) ticket costing me additional USD 399.
At that stage I was not have any choice but to say yes. HoweverI was informed later in a day NO confirm tickets available in SQ, United-Jetconnection, KLM nor any other airlines. So at that stage I was on a verge todrop the entire trip. But I finally decided to ask our Air India agent to lookfor option, and surprisingly with in 10 min I was informed I will get as per myrequest i.e. covering three sector tickets with Air Indiaand that too less than Singaporeairlines one way ticket. So all went well and we booked the ticket via Mumbai returnAhmedabad direct. I was issued AirIndia and United Airline tickets (LAX-IAD-NY).
The Boeing 747 looked an old aircraft but was verycomfortable inside. We departed on time to reach first destination Frankfurt. Where we were allowed to move within Airportwith transit visa during which time they cleaned the aircraft. We all wereseated again after 2 hrs but we were informed due to technical reasons we arenot allowed to fly from Frankfurt airport. It waslater discovered that a ground staff at airport discovered a fuel licking(DANGER !) from one of the wing. It took about 2 and half hours more forairport team to fix and declare all safe. We departed about 3 hours 30 min latefrom Frankfurt and reached LAX (Los Angeles) 2 hours 30 min late covering onehour in Air by the captain. The ground staff at LAX was not visible at all i.e.I discovered an old lady at baggage claim area after her immigration check, notknowing Hindi or English (only Tamil) seeking help but there was no Airindiastaff there. Finally I managed to help her by asking a airport ground staff tohelp her collect her baggage. The meal served during flight was very goodcompare to other airlines I have experience with. The plus point was withinflight you wont feel alien as the crew on board was speaking Hindi for thosewho were feeling uncomfortable in English. Although the staff was not young butvery cooperative (even united airline, frontier airline and few others in USwhere I flew with were not having young on board staff – so what’s is in that, as long as you get the cooperation you need). There was a common big projectionTV between few rows and we were provided with earplug in which at channel onewe can listen to TV or surf to other channel to hear Indian music.
Now for my return trip from NY(NJ-EWR) – we reached atairport 7 hrs prior by catching connecting flight of united airline provided byair India.It was very good for us as there was security alert all around due to London problem (they cached some terrorist in London with explosive onboard 5 days before our flight) so all air ports in US were on RED ALERT i.e.highest level of security check. No liquid allowed on baggage, no exception securitychecks i.e. all crew members and all has to go in a common queue with passengers.Since our baggages were already checked in we moved to the city and move aroundfew attractions before reaching again at 4 hours prior to departure. We weretold that the flight is coming from Mumbai in which we have to return isalready 3 hrs late so we may leave 3.30 hrs late.
Finally after all hiccups we departed from EWR in Boeing 747about 3.30 hrs late. Again an old aircraft but much better than the previous. Theaircraft was jam packed (all 467 occupied). In-flight experience was veryidentical we reviewed above no change. This time we came via Paris and not allowed to move outside ofaircraft. The aircraft was cleaned at Parishaving all passengers on board. We reached Mumbai at 2.0 AM about 3.30 hrslate. Since we were late all passengers to Ahmedabad (i.e. the flight wasdirect Ahmedabad via Mumbai) told to leave aircraft to check in anotheraircraft so that the Boeing can depart again from Mumbai to NY covering somelate time. We were boarded to Boeing 757-300 and provided with refreshmentwhile back to AMD.
So over all I recommend Air India over other airlines for valuefor money and remaining and maintaining Indian touch.
Few tip for first time travelers via air India and ifthey are not a residence of US
1) Makesure to reconfirm your tickets for return as air India requires it. (i.e. 72 hrsprior to return date). I was aware so I was not having any problem but it maycause you hurdles and prompt for negative review here like many others whonever understood about this mandatory thing by Air India.
2) Keephandy your entire travel document while landing first time at US soil.
3) Foryour convenience Air India provides US Immigration form within flight which youhave to fill up properly i.e. you need to feel the exact address in US whereyou would stay, declare any gifts or items you might have etc.