What’s Air India’s Long Haul Business Class like, just before the Vistara Merger? Check out this 4K Trip Report & Honest Unsponsored Review on board an Air India 787-8 from Paris CDG to Delhi..
Hi there! My name is Kevin and today we will take a deep dive into the full Air India Long Haul Business Class experience. We will start off in Paris CDG’s Terminal 2C and explore the terminal a bit and relax in the lounge before boarding out 787-8 for the flight to Delhi. On board, we will check out the on board seat with all of it’s amenities, eat some… interesting food, talk a bit about Tata’s acquisition of Air India and what the future merger with Vistara might look like and of course we will wrap it all up with The Flip Flop Score.
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💰 Flight Cost
Fare: 45,000 Avianca LifeMiles + $128 USD
Route & Cabin: Business Class CDG-DEL-BOM
Inclusions: 2x 32kg Baggage, 1+1 Carry On, Lounge Access, On Board Meals, etc
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8:00 (US-EST), 14:00 (UK), 18:30 (India), 20:00 (VN), 23:00 (AEST)
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—Video Chapters—
0:00 Flight Preview
00:10 Intro
00:25 Welcome to Paris
00:35 Setting the Tone
00:50 Walking to Terminal 2C
01:05 Flight Info
01:18 Check in Procedures
01:57 Heading to Security & Immigration
02:35 Paul Maxence Lounge
03:00 Air India’s Turning Point
03:35 Heading to the Gate
04:00 Route Map
04:31 Our Gate, Boarding Begins
04:45 The Scale of Tata
05:15 Walking the Jetbridge
05:40 Flight Stats
05:50 Stepping On Board
06:08 Cabin First Impressions
06:23 Seat Detail Graphic
06:50 Cabin & Seat Tour
07:25 Service Impressions
08:10 Pre Departure Service
08:38 Cabin Condition
09:06 Pushback & Taxi
09:18 Departure Route
09:29 Spool Up, Take off & Airport Stats
10:15 Business Class Amenities & Comfort Items
11:20 In Flight Entertainment
11:50 Meal Service Begins
13:10 Full Flat Seat
13:20 Amenity Kit Details
13:50 Approaching India
14:15 Breakfast Service
14:45 Descending into Delhi
15:10 Final Approach
15:35 Landing & Taxi to Gate
16:29 The Flip Flop Score
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that’s the way I like it!
#airindia #businessclass #tripreport
32 Comments
Another great video & the history/background that you give is always welcome and shows the effort you have put in & makes the video more entertaining to watch than just a pure flight/seat review…the charts/graphics and info is all also great
This is a nice review. I haven't flown with them since almost a decade now. Too many bad experiences.
I remember as a kid in the 90s and early 2000s, flying on their 747s every year to visit our family in india. It used to be so good. But ever since then it just nosedived.
Had a flight where pilot and copilot fell asleep and the plane was descending towards the Arabian Sea. Thankfully, the blaring alarms woke them up in time to take control of the flight again.
Another flight where the seat had a screw missing, was wobbly and unsafe. I was told by the crew to 'adjust' for the flight. The same flight had food with a complementary cockroach in the sambhar. I wasn't even given a replacement meal as they were out of vegetarian options.
Seeing the Tata's recent involvement with the airline however, has me excited as I can't wait for Air India to get better and fly them again.
Still hoping with a pinch of salt as Vistara hasn't been setting the best example since some years now.
Still hoping for the best though!
The best part about video is the background score. नमस्ते 🙏
Just one more thing, when you write the airport stats in Hindi, we dont call it इंडिया, we call भारत. Just for your future reference.
Sou fã desse canal. Gostaria muito de saber qual o nome da música. Alguém sabe dizer?
My first flight out of India was on Air India in 1977, when they served food on China, with silverware, in economy. Also drinks in genuine glassware. Air India was one of the best in those days, and I hope the TATAs can restore it. They just placed a giga order for new jets on Boeing and Airbus.
This was such a treat to watch, the effective story telling coupled with your soothing voice and serene background music was just so refreshing. Thank you so much!
I took the exact same trip from CDG to DEL in Apr'22, used my 30k miles from Turkish Miles&Smiles and GBP 110(gives you an option to book star alliance flights) they did not give lounge access at Paris which was very strange, the one big plus was I had the whole business cabin to myself. Ground staff was not friendly at all compared to the complete 180 degree change with the crew onboard. Clearly they have a lounge now but they need to work on their seat, colours in the cabin, amenities kit, ear phones, cutlery/glassware, linen and food which is nearly everything. Except for the warm friendly crew. Compared to others they must have wifi too onboard given most of their competitors in the middle east do.
Great review. Air India has to come along a long way to change their ways and the perception the rest of the world has. I think Tata takeover will just help do that. Fingers crossed. I am flying Sydney to Delhi on AI J and looking forward to it (going with no expectations, lets see). And you've earned a subscriber!
Vistara isn't horrible, but Business class on Air India is meaningless.
Always enjoy your review
I was looking for Business Class review for AI CDG-DEL and you covered almost everything. I think your format is one of the best and this was the first video I watched. Instant subscribe.
You redeemed them via which airmiles (I guess Star Alliance ones)? (Edit: Nevermind, read your description)
Going through your videos and keep up the good work! Kudos!
PS: Loved the dig at "sponsored YouTubers". I probably inferred the YouTuber you are hinting at.
Also, love that you don't show yourself so airlines have no way of identifying you and serving you better than other people. Adds to honest review part!
Great video again Kevin and the Indian background play setting the mood – Having myself travelled on this service twice continuing to Sydney it never got any better than what you experienced although the amenity kit was more “upmarket” luckily they had a ridiculously inexpensive fare but wouldn’t fly them again
loved background music nice video, welcome to India
The entire Air India fleet has an incredibly tacky looking appearance in the interior. The reason why the planes lack any ambience, is not only because of the hideous colour scheme, it’s actually also due to a major error when the airline choose the technical spec for the lighting. You could fit an Etihad interior in those planes and they’d still have the look and feel of a 3rd world nation’s carrier. Some of the lights have a 5,000k colour temperature (cool white) lamp when they should be the very standard 2,700k (warm white) which you’ll find on any Western carrier’s aircraft.
Although I’m not actually an Indian, I do live in india (for work) and so I see this mistake with choice of lighting made again and again. Some may argue that it’s a matter of one’s taste but it’s actually not. It’s proven that interiors have a softer and more charming feel under warmer light. India’s flagship Vande Bharat Express trains are the same and so are most their non international brand hotels. The younger generation have grasped this though and that’s why you’ll notice that many trendy coffee shops and bars in India’s main cities are improving. So lets just hope that Tata decide to employ competent and most crucially “young” interior designers for the refit of these planes.
Loved your video. The narration, content, everything was just spot on. Coming to AI I still feel they have miles to go. Certainly not business class worthy.
Please repeat the same flight 3 years later
This is honestly one of the best reviews on youtube. A good review based on good research. You mentioned about the TATA group, their history with Air India and also latest news updates such as their announcement to refurbish the interiors on their widebody aircraft, which shows that you have done good reearch and did not just upload a review for the sake of it . I especially liked the music, was very calming. The stats of each airport was also very nice to see.
I'd recommend that Tata take a good hard look at their catering.
Was hoping you'd mention the sleep comfort of the seat.
As usual, I really enjoyed this review & your comprehensive reviewing style.
During my PhD this was my go to flight CDG-DEL then transfer to Mumbai. It was hard to get because there were so few direct flights to India. It is good to know that Air India is buying modern aircraft and we can get direct services to India.
Try vistara airline 🙏
Nicely done!. I am also happy that you didn't use the standard (and annoying) sitar / tabla background music that non-indian folks use for their indian videos 🙂
tata has companies in steel market, car, aviation, service, railway, food services, hotels, industries and many more, despite this 1 big fact is that its not an evil company like it gived free education, healtcare even current ceo of tata: ratan tata had gave away like 60-70% of his networth to charity and is still giving , this is why if u ask a indian does he loves tata or not then you'll get the answer
I think the Tata group is the only such company in the world that is present in all sectors you can think of from Aerospace to Zinc manufacturing literally 😃
Lovey video man. Can't wait for the A350s…
Awesome coverage
Actually Tata is more than what you have described. There is a saying in the business about Tata group, if there is any business or vertical, Tata would be there. They have businesses in Steel, Automobile, Defense, Airlines, insurance, software, chips and firmwire, chemicals, grids, power, solar, mining, hospitality, health, retail, e-commerce and everything and anything in between that comes to my mind from the top of the head.
Starbucks India is in partnership with Tata aswell.
Stop over dramatising the food, you should go on a Qantas business class, it feels like takeaway food.
Too negative, not liking or subscribing. Typical westerner, negative of anything not yours. Look behind your backside!
Thanks for your fair review of Air-India which is still a work in progress. But from what is evident from avid air travelers like you who are also content creators on YouTube l am confident that this airline now in the hands of new owners will be transformed with professionalism, hard work and dedication in the near future to compete with the top rated airlines in the world some of them operating from the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe as their hubs for international flights. As an Indian citizen I wish all the best for Air-India in performance and brand image as this carrier has the name of my beloved country on its livery and name. I appreciate your excellent commentary, inflight food reviews and clear videos which are a delight for me to watch. Keep on doing your good work.
Tata own AI has inherited Government own AI employees which are old, tired. Tata will eventually get rid of them. They are not exactly enthusiastic to do their job.
Thank you So Much Brother for Review 🙏 , What's your View on Air India Future ? Can it Compete With Top Airlines like Qatar , Emirates , Singapore in future ?