“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
I don’t exactly know who said it first, but these profound words have stayed with me since my childhood.
You know, some journeys begin at the airports. Whereas, some begin much earlier in memories, hesitations and in quiet courage. Yes, after what happened with the AI 171 flight last June, choosing to fly with the same airline does take a bit of courage. But I did fly with Air India Dreamliner economy class this time.
And now, I have my experience to share with all of you. First, let me be clear…this is not any Air India flight AI 133 review. Neither AI nor any other airline has asked me to write this. I am writing the blog to share my experience honestly, openly, as a fellow traveller… so that you don’t question your decision regarding the flight choice arriving at the airport . Because a journey doesn’t begin only when a plane takes off, it begins with how it makes you feel.
Therefore, I decided… why not share my journey to London with you all. This is the story of my first non-stop Air India flight to London, flight AI 133, flown in economy class, at a time when the airline itself is being closely watched by the whole world and judged by its recent past.
In this blog, I promise to share with you all those the minute details that caught my attention…but more than that, I want to offer something deeper, more meaningful… a genuine, heartfelt, unfiltered conversation. A lived Air India economy class experience Bangalore to London with every truth laid bare.
So, If you’re planning to fly with AI flights anytime soon, especially from Bangalore to London, this blog is for you. And if you’re here simply because you love travel stories… Welcome. Sit by the window.
Why I Chose Air India After the 2025 Crash
I won’t lie to you…I asked myself several times “Should I fly Air India after the 2025 accident?” Actually, I was deeply sceptical about flying Air India to London after the crash in June 2025, where only one soul survived out of 242. Yes, it’s true…stepping onto an AI aircraft again did not come easily to me. And this was my first time flying the airline after that tragedy, and the fear was very real for me.
I knew the airline’s legacy well…how J.R.D. Tata founded it in 1932 with a dream of connecting India to the world, and how it grew into a symbol of Indian aviation. Yet while scrolling through the flight booking page, only one memory kept resurfacing… the Ahmedabad crash of 12 June 2025. How the Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London Gatwick, went down seconds after take-off and how in less than a minute, a total of 260 lives were just gone.
How does anyone forget something like that?
Fear after such a tragedy is very normal, and Air India seemed to understand this too. They put significant priority to Air India safety after 2025 crash. In the months that followed, the airline, alongside regulators, took visible steps to rebuild trust- a voluntary safety pause, intensive Dreamliner inspections under DGCA oversight, and independent audits aligned with ICAO and IATA standards. These steps didn’t erase the loss of course…but they mattered.
And you know, technically, modern aviation remains one of the safest ways to travel. Emotionally, though, safety is about trust…and trust takes time. Still, people fly Air India every day, because it offers affordable, non-stop routes that many genuinely need. Not everyone can choose premium carriers often…but sometimes, travel is a necessity, not a luxury.
So when I booked AI 133, I carried more than a suitcase. I carried doubt, fear, and endless questions…right up until the boarding. But my journey to London couldn’t wait. And somewhere beneath the fear, there was something else too… hope, and the quiet joy of finally reaching the city I was bound for.
Bangalore Airport Check-In & Boarding Experience
This is where my personal Air India London flight experience truly begins.
As it was AI 133 Bangalore to Heathrow, we had to come to the airport around 3 hours earlier than the departure time of the flight, which was around 2:10 PM. This was my First time flying Air India international economy. My Friends and family had warned me that Air India check-in queues could be unpredictable, so arriving at Terminal 2 by 10 AM felt like the safest choice.
And guess what? They weren’t wrong …just like the ones who wrote Air India economy class long haul reviews online.
Despite several AI counters being assigned, only 2 or 3 were operational, and the queue stretched longer than expected. If I remember correctly, I had to stand on that queue with my almost zipped suitcase and 60% charged phone for nearly 30 minutes.
Seeing the facial expression of the people in the queue, it was quite obvious to come to mind… Did I choose the right airline? Will it be on time? Will it be safe?
No one was panicking, of course, but the thoughts were more or less similar.
But after this long line, when I finally reached the counter, things changed a bit. Check-in was really smooth. At that time, there were 2 airline staff assisting the passengers with luggage and tagging. The staff were professional and genuinely attentive. One thing I liked was how patiently they handled each passenger. Even the conversations with them were more humane this time, I felt.
When I got my Boarding pass in hand, I rushed to the further process…the Security and Immigration. And once the Immigration was done, without wasting much of our time, we headed straight towards our gate.
Air India’s role faded briefly into the background as we waited, but not for long. Luckily, our flight was visible to us from the waiting area…through those wide glasses. We could see our white and red AI flight waiting near the gate for inspection and safety procedures. We weren’t allowed to board immediately as soon as the flight arrived. In maintenance and inspection, it really took a long time…and we had to keep ourselves content just seeing the flight from the distant window of the waiting area. In that moment, the delay didn’t feel frustrating. It felt necessary.
But yeah, finally our time came. The airline staff actually opened the gate and asked us to form 3 queues based on the seat number ranges. This time, the queue moved really fast. At the gate counter, they just scanned our boarding pass and greet us for a safe flight ahead. We started walking down the jet bridge, but we barely saw any queue again. Everyone was moving so fast, and before we knew it, we were at the doors of the flight, which was supposed to take us to London.
Inside Air India Economy Class Cabin (AI 133)
Stepping onto AI 133 felt very ordinary…the inside was just like any regular economy class aircraft. But, I must say, the cabin had that distinct Air India orange-red and beige warmth.
In the economy, the space wasn’t anything ground-breaking, but it was comfortable. The legroom wasn’t generous, though at just over 5 ft tall, I managed fine. One thing that stood out immediately was the cleanliness. We were among the first to board the flight, and the aircraft looked really well-kept, with clean seats, tidy aisles…there was no signs of neglect or chaos. So, we went in and found our seats…mine was by the window, my partner’s was in the middle, and a young man in his mid-twenties was on the aisle, travelling to London for work. As we stowed our luggage, one issue caught our attention quickly, the overhead bin above us wouldn’t close properly.…that was a risk, of course. Because during turbulence, we were afraid that luggage could fall on anyone’s head. It was really risky…therefore, we had to call the flight attendants who helped secure it properly.
As boarding continued, the cabin slowly filled, window shades were lifted, and the aircraft began to feel warm and lived-in. Before long, my partner and I settled ourselves in our seats. The inside of the flight was in a perfect temperature, comfortable enough to shed our puffer jackets, and Air India provided soft blankets, which made things easier. Hence, we tucked our winter wear away. I kept a book with me and my partner brought along his iPad.
As soon as I sat on my window seat, I figured that my seat wasn’t reclining reasonably…that worried me a bit. The crew tried of course genuinely, but the seat refused to cooperate. I had no choice but to accept an 11-hour flight mostly upright. I swallowed my disappointment and decided I’d swap seats with my partner midway when possible.
This was my first international flight with Air India, and my seat sat right over the wing… which means, half my window view was blocked. But that one was entirely on me. A rookie mistake. Next time, I am definitely going to take a seat away from the wings.
What Air India Provides in Economy Class
Well, just like any other long-haul flight…here in AI also, passengers are provided with a few items. As soon as we reached our seat in the cabin, there was a comfortable grey colored pillow and a blanket. The blanket was red and grey, but it made me feel really comfortable and warm during the flight.
The airline made the effort to put in-flight entertainment screens for every passenger, but for anyone, those systems were rarely working. FYI, mine was one of the non-functional screens…But yeah, they gave us headphones and a facility to connect our phones to the Wifi as soon as the flight took off. So, yeah, the headphones really came in use.
Apart from these basic items, they gave the passengers complimentary beverages along with 1 snack and 2 proper meals. About meal, I will definitely talk later in my blog.
Now, one thing, everyone wants to know…how clean is the lavatories? Well, I hardly saw any cockroaches in the flight toilets. No, seriously, those toilets were neatly cleaned…it is obvious that AI puts additional effort to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the cabin. So, yeah, don’t worry at all about the flight toilets…they are really far better than train toilets. At least 100 times better.
But, yeah, let me be very frank with you…in economy class, you won’t get to see any excessive flairs at all…just the basic essentials only, and they try to deliver those basics consistently at least. But, personally, I consider a working entertainment system a basic essential too. Come on, on a long-haul flight like this, how much can anyone really sleep? I don’t know why Air India thought it was optional.
And yeah, before I move on to some other part, let me tell you something very important…something very few people know. Even the air hostesses don’t tell you it’s there. Guessed it? I’m talking about the charging points. Yes.
In my case, I spent the whole 11-hour long flight using my phone’s charge and was worried about the charge left when I arrived. But, just 30 minutes before we landed in London, I discovered the charging point was right under my own seat this whole time, and it was working perfectly fine. “Shit”…that was the only reaction that came naturally to me at that moment.”
Air India Crew & Hospitality Review- What to expect on Air India long haul economy?
If you ask me, AI still wins hearts…at least the hospitality is there.
From the moment we boarded, the cabin crew greeted us with calm dignity, a gentle professionalism that didn’t feel forced. Apart from the robotic seatbelt and safety announcements, the crew members were trying to be as real as possible in every interaction with the flyers while maintaining their professional attitudes.
Other than their politeness, one thing I have noticed, they were acknowledging the issues faced by the passengers and gave their best try to fix those entertainment systems for each and every passenger for whom screens were not working. When they got the chance, they even asked some of the passengers to shift to empty seats where the screens were working.
Well, whether the crew members could solve the problems or not, they were available on each call. At least they tried to solve the issues and ensure a great flight for the flyers.
One thing, I must say, in a world of hyper-trained service personas, this felt genuine…and it mattered. So, yeah, what India is known for…the hospitality, at least that hospitality you will get to see above 30000 feet on any Air India flight.
Meals on AI 133- Air India food review economy class
Flight food is always an adventure…and my luck with it hasn’t always been great in the past. So I boarded AI 133 with very low expectations. Thankfully, this time, the airline didn’t disappoint. At least, it was flight standard comfort food, I can say.
Shortly after takeoff, the cabin crew began with beverages and a snack. I was served a blue pack of roasted crunchy corn…salty, light, and surprisingly refreshing at altitude. I paired it with a glass of orange juice. Alcohol was an option, but if you’ve read my blog on beating jet lag, you’ll know why I skipped it.
The first main meal followed soon after. The tray came neatly arranged with the main dish in a foil container, a large British-style bun, a small cake-like dessert, cold pasta, curd, and bottled water…along with wooden cutlery and napkins. You can watch how they served the meal in my YouTube video Air India flight Bangalore to London.
Well, before I tell you how the food was, let me tell you that for the main meal I had a Muslim Non-Veg one…which combined butter chicken and fried rice. It was the perfect taste of this main dish that kept me from complaining about the lack of salt in the pasta they served, and honestly, I found the dessert quite confusing…more like caught somewhere between Indian and British flavours. But, yeah, it tasted really good.
You can actually book your choice of meal while booking the flight ticket for Air India…just like any other airline. If you find yourself safe with vegetarian choices, go for it…or simply choose the Hindu Non-Veg meal or Muslim Non-Veg meal. I have never tried the veg options on Air India, but I can tell you for sure, the non-veg meals are reliably Indian in taste and satisfying.
Next, they served the passengers with a round of tea or coffee and then the final meal.
The meal arrived about an hour before landing in London. This one was simpler…just a main dish and dessert. I had ordered a Hindu Non-Veg meal but was served a Chinese-style Non-Veg option instead…noodles with chicken gravy. It tasted good, though, and I finished the whole meal in just a few minutes. And this time, the dessert looked more like a sponge cake…but tasted like an Indian dessert called “Rabdi”.
One thing I appreciated was how thoughtfully the meals were chosen…nothing too messy, nothing that could spill easily.
So, was it perfect? No.
Was it comforting? Yes.
In a world where airlines cut corners, Air India didn’t pretend to be extravagant… just something simple and genuine they decided to serve. Sometimes, that’s enough.
And next comes Entertainment.
In-Flight Entertainment & Wi-Fi Review
Yes, now comes the Air India in-flight entertainment review.
As I mentioned earlier, my entertainment screen was completely dead. For 11 long hours, it showed me the same smiling Indian man endlessly welcoming me to the Air India cabin. That was it.
No movies. No maps. Just a very committed welcome.
My partner’s screen worked marginally better…it mostly displayed the flight route. At least it moved. But, as for the poor stranger in the aisle seat, his situation was truly tragic. In a final act of hope, he tried to operate the buttons of the entertainment system, only for it to come out with a tiny electric spark. That was the end of that. Next, for most of the flight, he watched the route map on my partner’s entertainment screen with a quiet resignation. This is what happens when you board the flight with almost no charge on the phone.
But thankfully, once we were airborne, AI’s onboard Wi-Fi came to the rescue. Through my phone, I could access their entire entertainment library…the movies, TV shows, and series spanning Indian cinema to Hollywood. All I needed to do was choose one and put on the headphones for the next 2 hours.
I decided to watch one from the Hollywood drama section…It Ends With Us. Have you read the book?
And later, I noticed there were popular sitcoms like Friends and The Big Bang Theory, though only a handful of episodes were available. If you’re offering classics, at least give us a full season, Air India.
I slept for a while between being entertained and having the meal the airline provided, and then I went on to watch another film…Barbie. FYI, I didn’t like Barbie.
The truth is, this long-haul Air India Bangalore to London economy class travel wasn’t about indulgence. It’s about endurance. And once you accept that, everything becomes a little easier.
Flight Route to London- What You Cross
I feel a special urge to talk about the flight route…mostly because, for nearly 11 hours, I stared at it far more than I ever planned to. So, yeah, with my own screen dead, and my partner’s route map displayed on that entertainment screen for 11 long hours, it slowly turned me into an unwilling expert on where exactly AI 133 was crawling across the globe.
Flight AI 133 usually flies non-stop from Bengaluru and sometimes from Delhi…straight to London Heathrow (LHR). On the way, it quietly cuts across a surprising number of countries and airspaces such as India, Pakistan or parts of Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, sections of Europe, and finally the United Kingdom. Six or more regions from departure to arrival. I can’t believe I have seen all these 6 countries right through my tiny oval window. And speaking of windows … from 30,000 feet, the world looks absolutely unreal. And I think I even spotted a bit of the Alps.
Now, if you’re happy to miss all of this, the aisle or middle seat is just fine. But for such a long journey, I’ll always choose the window seat. I believe some views are worth staying awake for. What do you say?
Air India vs Emirates, Qatar & British Airways
You know, when flying in or out of India, airline comparisons are almost inevitable. Emirates, British Airways, Qatar Airways…they all come into the picture, and so here’s my honest 2026 take on where Air India stands among them.
If we’re comparing for comfort in economy, AI sadly sits at the bottom. Emirates clearly leads here, with Qatar Airways close behind. And the same goes for entertainment too…Air India’s in-flight systems simply don’t match the reliability, or variety offered by the other airlines. Seriously, how fair is the Air India vs Emirates economy class comparison?
But, regarding service warmth, surprisingly, Emirates doesn’t top this category for me. AI’s cabin crew, in economy at least, feels just as attentive and humane as British Airways and Qatar Airways.
Now, what about food? Well, that’s where Air India really struggles, I would say. While its meals are decent and filling, they don’t come anywhere close to the consistently impressive standards of Emirates, Qatar, or even British Airways.
After weighing it all, one thing becomes very clear that… Air India still flies largely on emotional legacy.
Should You Fly Air India Economy Class in Future?
Actually, the main question is….Is Air India safe to fly in 2026?
Honestly, after a tragedy like the one the world saw last year in 2025, no one…absolutely no one is really qualified to decide for another human being whether they should fly a particular airline or not. Because safety is deeply personal. I would ask you to go through the Air India flight AI 133 review available online before booking tickets.
But if you ask me…would I fly Air India again? Yes, I would definitely.
For me, AI still offers strong value for money compared to other airlines. I would suggest, if your priorities are simple like reaching your destination on time, flying non-stop, and doing so at a price that doesn’t burn a hole in your savings…then Air India does deliver. It gets you where you need to go.
However, if you’re looking for plush interiors, elevated dining, seamless entertainment systems, and a sense of indulgence, it would be more satisfying to fly with premium international carriers. That’s just the honest truth.
If you ask me, “Is Air India worth it for long haul flights?”
Well, I would like to say that no airline is perfect. Every ticket you book is a balance between cost, comfort, emotion, and trust. I chose Air India because it fit my circumstances. That doesn’t mean it has to fit yours. You always have a choice…and you should take the one that lets you breathe easy. I hope the Honest Air India economy class experience in this blog would help you take the right decision.
And with that, this isn’t a goodbye. It’s just “see you at the gate”.
Written by a long-haul traveller and founder of Walk Round The World, sharing first-hand flight experiences, travel safety insights, and honest airline reviews based on real journeys.
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