I had flown with Air India before back in 1999 and was looking forward to an exotic experience. How wrong I was, the flight was dirty uncomfortable and the cabin crew were rude and unhelpful! I vowed never to fly them again. Imagine then my horror when my mate who I had asked to book a trip to New York rang me and said the flights were with Air India!! I could have cried, in fact I probably did!! Give a boy a man's job and all that malarkey!! My horror I am happy to say was misplaced. This time although the plane was a bit elderly and shabby it was clean and tidy despite having just arrived from India. The cabin crew were an absolute pleasure, very courteous and friendly and loads to eat and more importantly when one is a nervous flyer to drink!! The entertainment value from the in flight entertainment came from trying to make it work!! It was so bad it was funny!! Coming back was OK as well the only problem which was no bodies fault came from the party of elderly American ladies that we were plonked next to on the return flight who were off to 'do India' not realising that the plane they were on stopped off in London first. I explained that the plane had to land as us Britt's were not the sort to be parachuted out over friendly territory so to speak. This made them laugh for some reason. Any way the old dears soon got quieter the more the lovely Air India people plied them with drink so everyone was happy. I am not sure if I would 'choose to fly Air India' as we were thanked for doing over the intercom as we departed, but if I end up flying with them again I don't think I will suffer the same abject terror!! They offer great value and its true about getting what you pay for!!