Flying First Class In Air India’s A350 Business-Class Suite

The unexpected luxury of Air India’s A350 Business Class belies any previous misperceptions of Air India’s commitment to discerning travelers. The new A350 Business Class premium offering is intentional, positioned squarely to embrace the luxury traveler with more than an upgrade.

Air India has a storied legacy fraught with highs and lows. Four years after India’s national airline was sold to the privately owned Tata Group, it understands that the people who work for and on behalf of the airline will push Air India into the future. The airline has made an essential commitment to investing in a culture that positions Air India as a world-class global carrier.

The A350 flies direct to Delhi from New York (JFK) as well as New Jersey/Newark (EWR). At the airport, there’s a private check-in for first and business class international travelers. The greeting is a renaissance of warmth, including a docent who will escort guests to the gate upon request. The new Manish Malhotra-designed uniforms add energy to the enthusiasm felt from the Air India staff and crew.

“We’ve essentially reconstructed the workforce, we’ve reset the culture, we’ve completely re-platformed it,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in an interview. “I think ultimately we want to be recognized as a world-class, global airline with an Indian heart.”

Inside The Air India A350 Business-Class Suite

Every passenger aboard Air India’s A350 Business Class has a private entrance, which means no hopping over your fellow passenger to access the aisle. The just-above-waist-level door closes and has a “do not disturb” option that alerts the flight attendants to your status.

Rather than relying on novelty labels, Air India’s A350 Business Class menu is built around globally respected producers such as Laurent-Perrier Champagne and Saint-Émilion Bordeaux. It follows that Glenlivet, Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire and Johnnie Walker are also available.

The intentional sophistication of the cabin is also seen through the food. Meals and snacks are served on china with cutlery and glassware. Main courses like Malabari chicken curry, Seoul flamed prawns, makai paneer bhurji and Rajasthan besan chilla reflect Air India’s globally-minded approach. The snacks, also served with china and elegant ramekins, include cheese plates, popcorn, chips, cookies, small cakes, roasted almonds and cashews.

Importantly, the flight attendants make frequent snack stops at your suite; whatever you might want is always top-of-mind. The old-world style of the menu is reflected in little moments, such as the salt shaker shaped like a collectible tiffin box and the tea, coffee or cocoa served in a collectible Maharaja mug.

There’s a wardrobe for your jacket or scarf, a hidden shoe compartment, electric blackout window shade, discreet storage compartment and luxurious fluffy bedding that the crew will make up for you.

With a generous 21 inches of crisp HD, the in-flight screens are a great first impression inside the suite. The Maharaja mascot welcomes every guest in a cheerful, boldly-colored production to help guests settle in before takeoff. Better yet, it’s loaded with 1,500 hours of movies, 600-plus hours of Indian and international TV shows, and hundreds of hours of audio content — all available with noise-cancelling headsets.

Air India First And Business Class Ferragamo and TUMI Amenity Kits

The soft TUMI pajamas and Ferragamo amenity kit in first and business class create additional moments of joy that tickle the senses of any discerning traveler. The Ferragamo amenity kit is a presentation moment: A gorgeous lavender and cream dust bag with an intricate, circular mandala and lotus flower motif, sealed with a collectible gold Maharaja charm. Inside the kit is a Ferragamo skincare routine: lip balm, body lotion, hand cream, socks and an eye mask. First Class has only one additional item, an eau de parfum.

With luxury travel demands on the rise, TUMI is an identifiable brand among premium travelers. The TUMI pajamas are ultra-soft for immediate transformation to relaxation mode. Add the socks and you’re set to jet in comfort. The luxury bedding includes a very plush duvet for the 2-in-1 mattress, a pillow, and a gorgeous day blanket that can also be used as a shawl.

Air India Premium Economy

Air India A350 international flights also feature an updated premium economy class for passengers who want a little extra comfort with some upgraded features beyond economy. The seat is a little wider, has a deeper recline and a leg rest. It also comes with a dedicated cabin check-in area and a smaller cabin area, so every moment feels tailored and special.

“It is a distinct premium economy,” Wilson said in an interview. “Premium Economy, in my view, is a slight upgrade from economy. That’s why we call it Premium Economy.”

Air India offers TUMI amenity kits in premium economy on the new A350, with lip balm by the Swedish brand Verso, socks, and an eye mask. According to the airline’s website, the amenity kit and loungewear are available on routes longer than eight hours and on overnight flights over six hours.

Air India’s Past And Future

Indian Aviation pioneer J.R.D. Tata founded Air India as Tata Airlines. Through the 1950’s and 60’s, the airline was the height of glamour and luxury travel. However, this luxury was primarily reserved for the rich. Once nationalized by the Indian government, the airline went into a swift decline.

Reacquisition by the Tata Group in 2022 put the airline on a trajectory to recover decades of lost service and reputation. Today, it’s clearly moving the dial, and doing so at a time when India’s economy is also turning a corner. According to Wilson, air travel is now seen as a catalyst for economic and social development, as more of India’s population can fly—and does.

“You’ve got private capital airlines, you’ve got investment low-cost businesses coming into the market,” he said in an interview. “You’ve got airport capacity, you’ve got government encouragement, you’ve got states competing with each other to be more and more business-friendly, so that whole virtual cycle is now underway,” he said.

On a path to penetrate the airways as one of the best airlines in the world for international and domestic travel, Air India has made some milestone adjustments to the brand. The new Maharaja Lounge at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi creates yet another benchmark in luxury travel. The layers of luxury include 16,000 ft. of space, a Crystal Bar, Aviator’s Bar, the Globetrotter’s Study for reading, cooking demonstrations, a bespoke Tea Programme, and a serenity space for reclining and relaxation. There are also first-class Sleep Suites and Maharaja-designed postcards, in tune with the Air India culture of offering culture-rich souvenirs before you board.

If Air India holds close everything it has gleaned over the years — good and bad — and continues to give those jewels and little moments the traveler can take with them from every touchpoint, its global ambition to be one of the leading international airlines in the world is well in hand.