When it became clear that I could not use the new Air India first class lounge on my Delhi – Mumbai flight, I noticed an interesting alternate flight and made the switch…did I get the better end of the deal with a downgrade from first class to business class?

I Voluntary Downgraded From 777 First Class To A350 Business Class on Air India

When it became clear that accessing the new first class lounge was a futile effort, I thought I’d just sit for a few hours in the Air India domestic lounge and get some work done. But then I noticed that there was a 3:00 pm flight to Mumbai operated by an Airbus A350-900.

I figured this would be a more relevant review than a 777 in first class, especially considering Air India has ordered 50 Airbus A350s (a mix of A350-900s and A350-1000s).

Business class was 12,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles instead of 25,000 miles, another added advantage (minus the C$100 change fee). My thought was that this would get me into Mumbai two hours earlier, the service in domestic first class and business class is identical, and a domestic review of Air India, even on the ex-Etihad 777-300ER seat, was not as valuable as an A350-900 review (you can read a review of the Etihad 777 first class seat here).

I certainly hope to fly Air India First Class sooner rather than later, but on an international flight so I can properly experience the new first class lounge.

I’ll offer initial impressions on the A350-900 flight shortly…it was a fabulous flight…and without knowing what I missed on the 777, I was very glad to make the change, experience the A350, and get into Mumbai a little earlier (only to be greeted by torrential monsoon rains).

Is this a change you would have made? Did I make the right call when it became clear I could not enter the new first class lounge?

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