Luxury and comfort, which were once the hallmarks of Air India until the turn of the century, are back as brand attributes of the Tata airline in its transformation journey towards delivering the best-in-class travel experience. After having upgraded its inflight service on select international flights and having launched a single integrated web system for seamless customer support, Air India has turned its attention to expanding its lounge network and modernizing its signature Maharaja lounges, both domestically as well as internationally.
Air India’s lounge network has total 26 airports in India
Since the airline’s takeover by the Tata Group, known for its world-class hospitality business, Air India’s lounge access has expanded from 16 to 26 airports in India. Now the domestic lounge network covers 26 airports including Mangalore, Lucknow, Madurai, Vadodara, Indore, Nagpur, Srinagar, and Patna in partnership with the existing lounges at those airports. Moreover, Air India has inked a deal with the best food courts in a bid to extend its hospitality and improve passenger experience at 11 other domestic airports without lounges.
Air India’s lounge services for business class flyers and other premium passengers are available at major international airports in India through the airline’s strategic partnership with various lounge service providers. While traveling with business class flight tickets of Air India, you can retreat into the luxuries of the Oberoi Lounge at Bengaluru Airport, Meridian & Oberoi Lounges at Chennai Airport, Port Lounge at Kolkata Airport, and other top-class lounges at Hyderabad RGI, Mumbai CSMI, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram airports.
Air India’s lounge service at 41 international destinations including USA
The international destinations where Air India’s lounge services for business class travelers are available include five major US airports having nonstop flights to India. The lounges which Air India’s premium passengers can access to spend their waiting time and unwind before departure from or after arrival in the US are:
- United Lounge at San Francisco International Airport
- Turkish Airline Lounge at Washington Dulles Int. Airport
- Virgin Clubhouse Lounge at Newark Liberty Int. Airport
- Air France-KLM Lounge at Chicago O’Hare Int. Airport
- Air India Maharaja Lounge at New York JFK Airport
In line with its 5-year transformation plan titled Vihaan.AI, Air India has recently collaborated with Swissport Lounge at Chicago ORD International Airport and SAS Lounge at Newark EWR International Airport, among some of the top-notch airport lounges in its global network. The Tata Group is all set to provide a world-class lounging experience to premium customers who meet the eligibility criteria for Air India’s lounge access in the USA and other countries.
Air India Maharaja Lounges in USA and India
Air India provides its signature hospitality to premium passengers at its flagship Maharaja Lounge at Indira Gandhi International Airport T3 in New Delhi and JFK International Airport T4 in New York City. The iconic Maharaja, the airline’s mascot which has got a makeover as part of rebranding, will greet customers with folded hands at the entrance of the Maharaja Lounge. Reportedly, plans to modernize these lounges as per the international taste are embedded in Air India’s ongoing transformation into a world-class airline.
What are Air India’s Maharaja Lounge services at Delhi IGI Airport and NYC JFK Airport? Located next to the new Encalm Lounge on the Mezzanine Floor of T3 at IGI Airport, the AI lounge has two sections: Business Class and First Class. The spacious lounge offers good seating arrangement comprising recliners, couches, and cozy sofas. There are work stations, complimentary Wi-Fi, showers, segregated nap rooms with recliners, self-serve beverages, a fully-stocked mini bar, newspapers, magazines and other basic comforts in the lounge. The round-the-clock buffet serving Indian and international cuisines is the mainstay of hospitality offered at the Air India lounge at New Delhi International Airport.
“Located post the TSA security check on Level 4 in T4, the AI Maharaja Lounge at JFK Airport NYC has floor-to-ceiling windows which let ample natural light in and function as plane spotters. With seating arrangements on either side of the central walkway, the lounge has facilities similar to the above. The buffet including both Oriental and Continental food woos Indian travelers with such traditional staples as sambar rice, chicken tikka masala, conned dosa, etc. 7AM to 12 AM is the operational hour of the Air India lounge at JFK Airport, according to our customers,” said the chief travel advisor of IndianEagle.com.
More contemporary facilities and luxurious comforts will be introduced at the Maharaja Lounges in the coming days.
Who can access Air India’s Maharaja Lounge services?
At New Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport, the Maharaja Lounge can be accessed by first and business class passengers of Air India flights to/from USA and other countries. Additionally, the lounge is available for the airline’s frequent flier program members, Maharaja Club members, travelers with Star Alliance Gold status, premium passengers of other Star Alliance member airlines, and special guests including VIPs.
Other than the abovementioned traveler groups, those with Priority Pass membership offered by premium credit cards can visit JFK Airport’s AI Maharaja Lounge for up to 3 hours. Entry to this Priority Pass lounge may be restricted to Priority Pass members during peak hours. Precisely, the Air India lounge facilities are accessible to you depending on your travel class, fare type, frequent flier status, Priority Pass membership, Star Alliance membership, or special guest status.
Is Air India’s Maharaja Lounge present at Mumbai International Airport?
Air India’s signature lounge folded up at Mumbai CSMI Airport before the pandemic. The way the Tata airline is expanding its network and improving its service, no wonder travelers flying into and out of Mumbai are likely to get an Air India lounge in the near future.
I got my economy flight upgraded to business class using the newly introduced Upgrade+ feature of Air India. Am I now eligible for Air India’s free lounge service in USA/India?
In our knowledge, the perks of a travel class upgrade on Air India flights do not include complimentary lounge access. If you are a member of Air India’s frequent flyer program or have Star Alliance Gold status, it is recommended that you contact the airline and check whether you can get the lounge access for free.
Is there a sleeping facility or similar at Air India Lounge at Mumbai International Airport? We are arriving from Goa to Mumbai at 23.30 and departing in the morning at 07.00 for London, we both are senior citizens (70 & 69).
Thank you, please reply.
Do you have shower and sleeping or stretch leg lying facility at Air India Lounge at Mumbai International Airport?