SpiceJet is currently in the process of cannibalising Jet Airways. SpiceJet will take over 22 Jet Airways 737 aircraft and is looking to take, on even more, to the tune of 40 aircraft. Their flight schedules are impacted due to the groundings of 13 737 MAX. The addition of 22 737s will help them cover for the groundings as well as expand.

SpiceJet has temporarily taken over many Jet Airways slots at significant airport as well. Initially, they added a handful of flights out of Mumbai. Later, they expanded significantly out of Mumbai and Delhi’s Terminal 2.

Since SpiceJet is taking the 737s on short notice, they have no intentions to reconfigure the aircraft. Jet Airways 737s feature a proper business class, such as the one below, and a better economy hard product than SpiceJet.

SpiceJet has now started selling flights that will be operated by Jet Airways 737s. SpiceJet is selling the Business Class seats as SpiceMax seats. So you can grab a proper business class seat for up to INR 1000 extra on domestic routes.

Booking a SpiceMax seat, one gets a complimentary meal. But don’t expect pre-departure beverages or meals to be served on chinaware. SpiceJet will continue to serve hot meals in foil/plastic containers packed in cardboard boxes.

The easiest way is to look if the equipment is 737168 (800AE) which looks like the code for ex 9W aircraft. Jet Airways 737-800 features 168 seats spread across 12 business class seats and 156 economy class seats. Hence the code 737168.

Alternatively, you can check at the seat selection page. The seat map should reflect 2-2 seating instead of the regular SpiceMax 3-3 seating. You will have better luck finding Jet Airways 737s on newer flights introduced by SpiceJet. SpiceJet intends to sell the business class seats at a premium but from May 7 onwards. So you have until May 6 to book your future travel if you want to take advantage of this unique circumstance.

An interesting thing to note is, if and when SpiceJet begins to sell the business class seats at a premium, SpiceJet will have three different seating arrangements on erstwhile Jet Airways 737s: Business class (rows 1-3), SpiceMax (rows 7, 15 and 16) and regular economy class (rows 8-14 and 17-32).

The premium seat share on SpiceJet’s fleet has increased. This sure is a deviation from SpiceJet’s business plan as an LCC, but they took a business decision to take advantage of an opportunity that arose.

So, go ahead and book up that SpiceJet Business Class just for INR 1000 more. Do share your experiences with us on how it went for you.