A week has opened in my schedule and I’m taking advantage of it with a good old fashioned review trip, this time to India with a chance to review two of my favorite Gulf carriers and give Air India a try in its most premium cabin.
I’m Flying To India On Qatar Airways, Air India, Emirates!
I booked an Emirates first class ticket using my Skywards miles before Emirates added the restriction prohibiting those without elite status from booking first class award tickets. That trip had been planned for March, which was postponed when hostilities between the Iran and US/Israel broke out. I re-booked to July knowing the kids woudl be off and busy with various summer camps, making in an ideal time to travel, even if it would not be ideal time weather wise to visit India.
Why India? I wanted to fly on an Emirates A380 and “game-changing” 777-300 in first class and had about 100,000 miles in my account. While not enough for a journey to the United States, I was able to book the A380 from Mumbai to Dubai and then the new 777-300ER from Dubai to Brussels for 102,000 points and about $700 in taxes/fees.
Thus, the whole trip was planned around this.
From the U.S. to India my goal was to fly Air India’s new A350-900 in business class…in particular, I wanted to fly from Newark (EWR) to Delhi (DEL) nonstop, which would have given me a nearly 15-hour flight flight on Air India. That space never opened so I thought I could fly the SWISS or Lufthansa A350 to Europe, backtrack to London, then fly the A350-900 from London to Delhi.
That didn’t work out either…carriers have been quite stingy this summer.
Ultimately, I used Avios to book Qatar Airways from Los Angeles to Delhi via Doha, a steal at only 96,000 points.
That was to Delhi and my return was from Mumbai, so I booked Air India 777-300ER first class from Delhi to Mumbai via Air Canada Aeroplan, which should be a fun opportunity to try out
My Delhi itinerary includes three nights…I’m thinking about returning to the Taj Mahal, but may wait until I can take my wife and kids along and therefore just remain in Delhi…I’ve booked no hotels in advance. In Mumbai, I’m going to try to the Four Seasons. It is monsoon season there and it may be very wet.
From Brussels, I was hoping to book Lufthansa First Class back to the USA, but it looks like that won’t be happening…I’m going to target British Airways First Class instead, but have a back-up booked on KLM.
I’ll bring live style blogging along the way and look forward to brining a fresh trip report outside the USA…it has been several months and I’ve been itching for a journey like this.
Stay tuned!
Oof. Middle East, now? Yikes.
Also, pray that QR doesn’t do a last-minute aircraft swap from a350 Q-Suite to 777 with ancient 2-2-2 business class. (Ask me how I know… *facepalm*)
Safe travels! Looking forward to your reviews!
Fun but remember extra sun protection and hats. Monsoon season still means your lovely skin can fry like bacon.
Then, he’d look like a cooked lobster/crab! Yum! (I added ‘crab’ because Maryland, get it?)
Why not the new Polaris seat LHR-SFO? BA F will be nice (if it opens up). OR you could do the new La Premiere 🙂
I certainly will at some point. Both products.
If you have the time, you should check out Subko. Probably the most legit third wave roaster/cafe I’ve come across in the subcontinent.
Go to NepalDo Everest scenic flight
Brilliant! I’m jealous. Enjoy.
I stayed at the imperial New Delhi which was really nice with a great restaurant inhouse. Got up early and did a nice walk to the big boulevard in 10-15 mins. And then a tuk tuk tour around parts of the city. Lovely room and a beautiful hotel.
I swear Ben and me are like brothers from another mother, though. I had no idea he was going to post his big trip report tease at the same time and it seems like he’s going to wildly outdo me with his all his flights! 😉
I actually wondered if you released yours right after his tease to jump the shark
I flew vistara from Delhi to Frankfurt and the views out the right side of the plane of the Himalayas) were some of the best I’ve ever seen.
Just be prepared for your domestic 777 to be swapped to an A320 (or worse, an all-economy Air India Express 737 Max) at the last moment. Happens more often than you think!
Four Seasons Mumbai – fantastic service – interesting soft product…look forward to your thoughts