Seat 8/10
The seat reclines fully flat and has a very welcome massage function. The windows are tinted midnight blue and automatically turn clear on takeoff and landing. The tint kicks in during the flight to replicate the dark of night. A button underneath the window has five shades in the spectrum of dark to light to choose from.
Service 8/10
The service is friendly, practical and unpretentious. The service manager regularly asks all passengers if they are comfortable and is pre-emptive in anticipating my needs – which include generous champagne top-ups.
Extras 8/10
The toiletries are from New Zealand brand Caire, and the sizes are more than ample for a fourteen hour flight. The pyjamas are stock standard grey but are 100% cotton and comfortable. Duvets and pillows are also offered.
Food 7/10
With Air India, vegetarian is the rule rather than the exception. Canapes and champagne kick off the meal service, and lunch is a vegetarian Indian curry or snapper with carrots, broccoli and almond slivers. My snapper is a touch bland, so I’d opt for the Indian meal if it’s available. The cheesecake desert redeems the main – it’s French patisserie quality.
Entertainment 6/10
If you want to prepare for India, the choice of Bollywood films is exhaustive enough to help you acclimatise. The English movie selection is not as comprehensive, with few recent films. I was amused to find that the comedy TV section held only old Charlie Chaplin clips.
Overall 74%
Air India’s new Dreamliner is a sleek aircraft with service to match and the morning departure and evening arrival meant jetlag was minimal. The seat is a high point and with time the food and entertainment options will expand to rival class leading carriers.
