When Air India started inducting the Boeing 777 aircraft, which were earlier with Delta, into their fleet, the airline began to offer the Premium Economy section on a trial basis as an upsell from Economy. Now that the airline is inducting more of these 777 aircraft, they will make the Premium Economy offering “official.”
Air India’s Premium Economy
Air India’s Premium Economy is currently operated on three ex-Delta 777-200LRs, all outfitted with 28 Delta One closed-door Business Class Suites, 48 Premium Economy seats and 220 Economy Class seats. Another two aircraft are slated to join the fleet shortly after, rounding up these aircraft leases.
Air India’s premium economy is slated to include a seat with more legroom, better-padded seats, hot towels and welcome drinks, noise-cancelling headsets and a Tumi Amenity Kit. It has widely been viewed positively by those who have travelled on it so far.
#AirIndia’s amazing new premium economy on BOM-SFO VT-AEF @airindiain #vtaef pic.twitter.com/LiwGfOmZ1X
— Atharva A Naik (@atharvanotveda) January 13, 2023
I was able to fly VT-AEF today (AI687). I got a seat in the premium economy section (though economy tkt). Great hard product! Overall feeling and vibe was super positive! Crew also seemed excited to be flying it and getting ready for the BOM-SFO debut.@airindiain @Vinamralongani pic.twitter.com/dQDyEqiroK
— Deep Choudhuri (@deep_choudhuri) December 13, 2022
— Siddhartha ✈️ (@Sidd_MCFC) March 10, 2023
Effective March 27, 2023, the airline has opened bookings for the Premium Economy cabin on the following routes:
- Between Bengaluru and San Francisco (AI175/AI176)
- Between Mumbai and San Francisco (AI179/AI180)
- Between Mumbai and New York JFK (AI119/AI116)
- Between Mumbai and Newark (AI191/AI144)
Some of these flights already operate with the 77L. However, the Premium Economy offering is already being sold as an upgrade and will continue in this manner for now.
Over time, Air India intends to introduce Premium Economy across its international fleet as a part of the retrofit project of its aircraft.
The Premium Economy section on the aircraft is currently going for cheaper than the Economy section (perhaps because PEY is emptier compared to loads in Economy).
Bottomline
Air India has launched its new Premium Economy bookings on the website. For now, it will offer this on the flights between Mumbai/Bengaluru to San Francisco and Mumbai to New York JFK/Newark. As more aircraft return with PEY fitted, they will also receive the PEY cabin. Air India’s PEY will include noise-cancelling headsets, more meal options, amenity kits from Tumi and so on. The airline will also offer 120-135% of base points for Flying Returns members on these flights.
What do you think of Air India’s new Premium Economy offering?
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It all sounds very bad, maybe with the Tata’s it will look better soon…
I hope Tatas take a look at Delhi-Chicago flight AI 126 and AI127. Their inflight entertainment does not work at all. Please stop serving wine and cold beverages in paper cups. The veg meal was very good though.
Last year (April 2022)me and my wife traveled to US by Airindia by business class. We were upgraded to 1st class from Delhi. The linen provided were dirty seats broken and entertainment electronics damaged and non functional. While I agree that’s how Tata’s had Inherited from the government just then, but for a good lunch no food was served for dinner time or breakfast. Being a diabetic I had to go to pantry and request for food.
When AI gonna start a direct flight from Southern Gate way of india, Chennai to JFK SFO or ORD ?
This is a great move by AI, prem-econ is needed on all flights above 6 hours of flying time. Corporates have moved to paying for prem-econ instead of business.
Do you know if the 787s are getting prem-econ as well?
When we are going to have a recliner seat for long distance as standard.
Is there any direct flight to kochi from JfK
It’s going to take more than an ad article for me to be in Air India flight..
Delhi is worst immigrant services. Previously air 126 & 127 immigration & custom services were provided for passengers starting Ahmedabad. Do you consider to solve problems for these passengers ?
I care more about clean toilets and qualified pilots flying indian airlines than a Premium Economy.
No matter what Air India does it will never get me back on one of its flights last year I went to india paid $2000.00 to seema travel in Saint Louis mo USA with confirmation tickets in local first class and economy front extra leg room Class. Well the food I asked for veg was not available no substitutions were offered no apologies so I went hungry yes I ate chips from the snack bag upon arrival the wheel chair took forever to come thus hindering me getting a place in one of the lounges which I already had paid for so finally after waiting for one and half hour got in by then I was so tired that leave aside foodi was dying to use the restroom my local flight to Lucknow was at 6.30 pm reaching 7.30 my wheelchair person even after taking 50.00$ didn’t show up 20 minutes before the gate closes they wheeled me in and the worst part the gate clerk gave my first class seat to someone else telling me how does it matters. To me it does matters its the matter of principle not how does it matters.AIR INDIA IS A CORRUPT COMPANY AND NO ONE CAN RUN IT .OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS WITH AIRPORT TAX I WAS LEAVING LUCKNOW AND I WAS CHARGED 23,000RUPEES IN AIRPORT TAXES WHEN I QUESTIONED THAT I WAS TOLD THAT SOME PERSON NAME ADANI HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN THE AIRPORT NOW SO TAXES HAVE INCREASED TO ME THE AIRPORT LOOKS THE SAME IF NOT DIRTIER THERE ARE FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE SITTING AND ONLY ONE IS DOING THE JOB SO WHAT ARE THE OTHER 5 DOING THEY NEED TO CLOCKOUT AND GO HOME THEY EITHER HINDER THE ONE WHOSE WORKINK OR LOOK AT THE LADIES PASSENGERS AND PASS THEIR COMMENTS IN THE WHOLE AIRPORT IF YOU GO AROUND YOU CAN FIND THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS.BUT THEIR HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF PROPER MANAGEMENT WHERE ONE HAS TO BE ANSWERABLE OF THEIR DEEDS.
AIRPORT TAX USE TO BE 600 RUPEES. NOW 23000.00 RIDICULOUS.