Comparing Air India with Other Airlines: Which Offers Better Comfort and Price?

Snigdha Rout
May 26, 2025

Precisely, the travel time between the USA and India is a long-haul journey that takes around 15-16 hours of flight time. These hours of travel are, of course, hectic, and travelers do prioritize comfort and price. 

If you are looking for the best carrier among many that fly seamlessly between two countries, it is Air India. It is an affordable Indian carrier that competes with global airlines, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, United Airlines, and Etihad.

Let’s dive into the detailed comparison that shares a verdict on how Air India Flights to India is best in comfort, ticket pricing, in-flight services and overall travel experience to India. This read will help you to grab the best airline tickets from FlyDealFare.

The Overview of Air India to India from the USA;

Air India operates non-stop and also one-stop flights to various Indian cities within multiple USA hubs. The major departure points are;

  • ✔ New York; JKF and Newark.
  • ✔ Chicago; ORD.
  • ✔ San Francisco SFO.
  • ✔ Washington, D.C.; IAD.

The destination cities in India commonly include-

  • ✔ Delhi
  • ✔ Mumbai
  • ✔ Bengaluru
  • ✔ Hyderabad.

Notable is non-stop flights within major advantage; passengers seeking short travel durations. Thus, it avoids the hassles of transiting within third countries.

Air India Ticket Price USA to India: Is It Competitive?

Typical Price Range

  • ✔ Economy Class: $700 – $1,300 roundtrip
  • ✔ Premium Economy: $1,200 – $1,800 roundtrip (limited availability)
  • ✔ Business Class: $2,500 – $4,000 roundtrip

Comfort and In-Flight Experience

Talking about comfort, there are certain variations between Air India and other premium airlines. Qatar Airways and Emirates have become quite notable. 

Air India Economy 

Air India offers spacious legroom that is under budget with free meals and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The efficiency of two checked bags is included on most overseas routes. 

Air India Business

The carrier offers flat-bed seats on most wide-body aircraft with lounges and priority check-in & boarding.

Other Airlines Economy

Other carriers share sleek interiors, superior entertainment systems and better service, even in economy class.

Other Airlines Business

Qatar Airways shares the Qsuite & Emirates onboard lounge experience, which is leagues ahead in luxury.

Lufthansa and United ensure modern seats & superior in-flight connectivity.

On-Time Performance and Reliability

In the past few years, Air India has improved punctuality but lags behind top-tier international airlines.

  • ✔ On-Time Rate (2024): ~75%
  • ✔ Complaints: Delays, baggage handling issues, and occasional last-minute aircraft changes

In contrast:

  • ✔ Qatar Airways and Emirates-reporting over
  • ✔ Qatar Airways and Emirates report over 85% punctuality.
  • ✔ United also performs better in terms of US airport ground operations and rebooking options in case of delays.

Baggage Allowance

Air Indian’s generous baggage policy includes-

  • ✔ Economy- 2 X 23 kg checked bags.
  • ✔ Business-2 X 8kg+ personal item.
  • ✔ It’s particularly best for Indian families or students travelling with heavy luggage. it may include-
  • ✔ 1 bag standard with a second bag for a fee-especially-economy class.

In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity

Air India Flights to India from the USA come with good amenities, making travel comfortable for travellers. The newer aircraft, such as Boeing 787 Dreamliners with touchscreens and AVOD—many planes in the fleet still have limited or outdated systems.

  • ✔ Wi-Fi: Not available on most Air India flights
  • ✔ Movies/TV: Limited selection compared to Emirates or Lufthansa

By contrast:

  • ✔ Qatar Airways offers Oryx One, a leading in-flight entertainment platform
  • ✔ Emirates offers features ICE – multiple award-winning, with thousands of titles and live TV
  • ✔ United Airlines provides Wi-Fi and streaming to personal devices on most long-haul flights

Customer Service and Reviews

Air India, so far, has mixed reviews. Some felt it was warm and friendly cabin crew, experiences in different services, or poor ground support. Other side, Emirates and Qatar carriers are praised for attentive, multilingual staff & gourmet in-flight dining. The United and Lufthansa offer solid services for passengers—especially for elite customers.

The Final Verdict

Compared to other carriers, Air India ticket prices are quite affordable, especially when booked through FlyDealFare. Apart it Air India delivers great value for travellers to India from USA. The comfort, luxury and service are top priorities-in premium cabins than other airlines-Qatar Airways, Emirates, United etc. Thus makes overall travel experience worth on comfort and budget.

FAQs

1) How does Air India compare to other international airlines in terms of ticket pricing?

Ans: Air India often offers competitive pricing, especially on routes between the USA and India. While some low-cost carriers may offer cheaper base fares, Air India includes meals, checked baggage, and in-flight services in its ticket price, offering better overall value for long-haul flights.

2) Is Air India more comfortable than other airlines on long-haul flights?

Ans: Air India provides decent comfort in both Economy and Business Class, with spacious legroom and Indian meals onboard.

3) What makes Air India a preferred choice for travelers to India?

Ans: Air India offers direct non-stop flights to major Indian cities, saving travelers time and hassle.

4) Does Air India provide better baggage allowance compared to other airlines?

Ans: Yes, Air India generally offers a generous baggage allowance, especially on international routes, which can be higher than some other full-service carriers.