Fly AI to London and get free SIM cards

Initiative part of plan to enhance customer experience post joining Star Alliance

Air India (AI) passengers will soon be able to avail of free SIM cards, with preloaded talk time of £1, on flights to London. The facility is likely to be extended on other European routes.

A senior AI official said, “Passengers flying to London will (then) not have to look for telephones to arrange for travel and accommodation on alighting from the plane. The idea is to enhance customer comfort and experience.”

The mobile service provider would offer the SIM cards free of charge to passengers in lieu of advertising space on AI flights.

This comes within a fortnight of AI becoming the first Indian airline to join Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline grouping, operating 18,500 flights to 1,316 destinations across 192 countries. Passengers flying AI can redeem miles on 26 member-airlines.

“AI is now a part of the Star and we are looking at multiple initiatives to distinguish and enhance our service offerings. While this particular facility will initially be available on our flights to London, talks are on to extend it on other European routes,” added the official.

Star Alliance chief executive Mark Schwab had on his visit to India earlier this month stressed that the alliance offers global access to high-value international travellers.

Rohit Nandan, chairman and managing director, had said in May, “We have initiated a plan to improve our services further and match it with the top airlines in the world. We are also getting an audit done by International Air Transport Association to assess our services and have been registering improvements in the past three audits.”

 

On July 11 this month, Air India became the first Indian airline to join Star Alliance, the world's largest airline grouping operating around 18,500 flights to 1316 destinations across 192 countries. Passengers flying Air India can redeem miles on 26 member airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Singapore Airlines Ltd, Air China Ltd, Air Canada, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Thai Airways.

 

With the entry of Air India into the alliance, travellers with flying miles on Air India can book tickets on any alliance member's network. This will provide customers with more options in earning and redeeming, upgrading and obtaining Star Alliance Gold status.

 

Customers holding Star Alliance Gold status have access to more than 1,000 lounges across the global network, can check-in at specially designated counters, have an increased baggage allowance and receive priority boarding and baggage delivery, added the release.

 

AI is expected to gain three to four per cent on annual revenues of Rs 19,000-20,000 crore from joining the Alliance in the coming months.

 

At present, Air India independently has an international network connecting 33 destinations across the US, Europe, Canada, South-East Asia and the Middle East.