Greetings from India, as I find myself amidst a review journey. Following my business class escapades with Turkmenistan Airlines on the 777 and 737, it’s now time to experience Air India’s 777 first class from Delhi (DEL) to Frankfurt (FRA).
I must confess, my main reason for choosing Air India wasn’t purely the flight itself (as I’ve heard… less than favorable opinions), but rather to explore the newly opened Air India Maharaja Lounge Delhi, which features both a first class and business class area.
While a comprehensive review of both lounge sections will be published shortly, I would like to share some initial thoughts from my first class lounge visit (hint: I believe this will influence my updated list of the world’s finest first class lounges).
The Air India first class lounge in Delhi is compact yet impressive
The newly launched Air India first class lounge is a charming little facility. It’s important to note that the airline’s first class network is quite limited, so access to this lounge is rare. Consequently, the lounge is small but exceptionally high quality.
The lounge features a dining area with four tables and an open kitchen situated opposite.
There’s also a lounging area furnished with sofas.
Additionally, there’s a stylish bar section with some banquettes.
And several quaint semi-private corners are available.
The lounge provides individual, private bathrooms that are meticulously maintained, cleaned literally after each use (which means the toilet paper is always perfectly folded, there are always two cloth hand towels available by the sink and none in the trash, etc.).
It also includes rather opulent shower suites.
Oh, there’s a proper bedroom, plus a second lounging room, both equipped with desks (making them suitable spaces for voice or video calls).
The lounge’s soft product truly impressed me the most
In my view, the dining options and service in Air India’s first class lounge are what render this experience exceptional. The food is genuinely delightful, although I must admit I have a fondness for Indian cuisine. I chose “The Maharaja Thali,” featuring small portions of the signature dishes (and I selected the vegetarian version).
I was also pleasantly surprised with a delectable Indian take on cheesecake.
Later during my wait time, I indulged in some chaat.
The food was outstanding, as were the beverages. For instance, I appreciated how creative and locally inspired the drink selection was.
For example, I enjoyed the Pancha Taara cocktail, which translates to “five stars” in Sanskrit, combining ginger, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, with cognac to represent the five traditional tastes. How delightfully exciting!
I also appreciated the tea trolley service, where tea is prepared at the table.
Honestly, while the lounge boasts excellent hard products, it is the soft product, service, and meticulous attention to detail that truly distinguishes it. The staff in the lounge are notably proud and professional, as one might expect, given the larger staff-to-guest ratio.
Moreover, I admire when an airline takes the initiative to weave its brand and culture into the passenger journey, and the Air India lounge accomplishes exactly that, from the food and beverages to the background music and art. For instance, I initially overlooked it, but the wall art includes fuselage components from former Air India aircraft.
It’s wonderful to observe Air India’s evolution and how exceptional the airline can be when it genuinely invests effort. Unfortunately, the ongoing challenge lies in the protracted (and costly) process of acquiring new aircraft and installing new seating, creating a stark contrast between the opulence of this lounge and boarding an Air India 777 in first class…
In conclusion
I can’t recall the last time we witnessed an airline undergo such a significant lounge transformation as Air India has with its new Maharaja Lounge Delhi. Specifically, the first class area is remarkable, featuring delicious à la carte dining, creative cocktails, attractive design, a private bedroom, luxurious shower suites, and exceptionally friendly staff.
The lounge captures a fantastic sense of place, constantly reminding you at every turn that you are in India. Well done, Air India!