I would rate the wheelchair service 5/5. The general homeliness of the crew for senior citizens is unparalleled.
BHPian MileCruncher recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Travelled recently with 3 senior citizens (75+) to Thailand and back on Air India.
Reasons to choose Air India
- Presence of Premium Economy
- Easier availability of wheelchairs
- Higher baggage
- Connection to Phuket from Delhi
- Points
Our onward journey was BOM-DEL 2055/ DEL-HKT 0155.
We were 4 of us (Me, Wifey, FIL and MIL) from Mumbai. Luggage was checked in straight to Phuket. Buggy service post security to the gate and thereafter wheelchair to the aircraft door was a seamless affair.
Mumbai – Delhi was a regulation Vistara/ AI premium economy service and was good. However, on landing at Delhi, because it was one of the last flights of the day, the aircraft was parked at an overnight bay and not docked to an aerobridge. That meant challenging alighting from the aircraft and getting into the bus for the seniors. However, when we reached the terminal gate, wheelchairs were already ready to take them on board. The wheel service was prompt, took us through the connector to the international side, managed immigration, and dropped us at Gate no.4.
In Delhi, we were joined by my mom (another wheelchair passenger) and my sister. The 0155 DEL-HKT seems to be a popular route and it was a full flight. 20 minutes before boarding, I received a call from AI asking if I wanted to avail 1 upgrade to business, which I did. One of the “supers” was moved to the front of the cabin. Since there were 2 more wheelchair passengers apart from the 3 with me, an ambulift was called and which lifted the passengers right to the other door of the aircraft.
On landing at Phuket, the booked wheelchairs were at the aircraft door and they dropped us right till the car pick up point. Also, because of the wheelchair, we could access the fast-track immigration lane at Phuket.
Overall, I would rate the wheelchair service of AI 5/5 and the general homeliness of the crew for senior citizens is unparalleled.
On the return leg, wifey and I came back earlier on BKK-BOM AI2353. We were booked on premium economy and the flight was not very full. We had been contemplating whether to upgrade to Biz using points but then decided against it as we have too many domestic personal travels over the next few months and the points will come in handy then. At the check-in counter, I enquired and was told a paid upgrade to biz was for THB 35XX, which was not unreasonable for a 4.5 hr flight. Only downside, the biz class on a narrowbody is not the true biz class and more like a premium economy of long haul routes. Anyways, wifey gave the eye and I backtracked.
However, Lady Luck decided to smile that day. On reaching the gate, we were pleasantly surprised to have been upgraded to Biz. It was an uneventful flight with a very nice lunch service. The food, as usual, was of the highest order.
Seared bass
Rajasthani Lal Maas
Cheese plate for dessert.
Overall, barring the DEL-HKT sector, our trip was a 4/5.
All sectors were serviced by A320 NEO, but the BKK BOM was quite a new plane.
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