Air India’s First, Business Class Overhaul A Waste Unless Free Upgrades Are Checked

In order to be at par with the members of Star Alliance, the world's largest alliance of airlines, like Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, Air India is upgrading its business and first class facilities at a considerable expense from July 11.

But it needs to stop free upgrades that politicians, bureaucrats and other influential people and their kin have been enjoying for years by buying the economy class tickets and getting upgraded to the business or first class. Unless this practice of free upgrades is stopped, all the expenses incurred on the overhaul would be wasted.

Introducing the uber luxury in premium classes includes a complete revamp of meal service with Oberoi, one of the country's finest in-flight caterers, being asked to serve three-course meals on all international flights. The first and business class travellers will also be given a red carpet treatment at India’s five major airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

“Catering for first and business class will be done by Oberoi from July 11 on our international flights. Both meal content and presentation will get an upgrade. Business class will now have a three-course meal instead of the current practice of serving everything — starter, meal and dessert — in one go,” said Air India chief Rohit Nandan.

The Aviation Ministry gets dozens of letters every day for upgradation. “All aviation ministers have routinely obliged fellow politicos and the ministry's bureaucrats have similarly helped fellow babus and their families. Our own staff feels belittled if not accommodated in the premium classes — a section of pilots went on strike on this issue! This needs to be checked now," said an official.

Air India can no more afford to have a casual approach on in-flight service standards, aircraft cleanliness and on-time performance. The Star Alliance membership is as much a challenge for Air India as an opportunity to revive itself.