Background
This full-service domestic airline is a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines and is the only Indian airline to offer a premium economy class on all its Airbus 320 fleet, in addition to business and economy cabins. As of April 2019, Vistara flies to 24 Indian destinations, with over 800 flights a week. I flew on the first flight of the day between Delhi and Mumbai, departing at 0600 hours.
Lounge
Vistara has its own lounge for business class (and eligible) passengers at Delhi, and the lounge was situated right next to the boarding gate. A compact, well-equipped lounge with a buffet spread, good coffee and lots of seating areas with charging points.
Boarding
Smooth and uneventful, boarding for my flight began exactly 50 minutes before pushback, with dedicated fast-lane queues for business class and premium economy passengers.
The seat
The business class cabin of this A320 features two rows in a 2-2 configuration. The seat is a competitive product for a domestic carrier, with a generous recline and foot rest, as well as a little cubby stowage for personal items. A charging point/USB port would have been a nice touch if it was present.
Which seat to choose
With a cabin of only 8 passengers, which seat you choose doesn’t make too much of a difference. However, I did choose 1A for the wall to lean against, for a quick nap.
The flight
Reflecting Singapore Airlines’ impeccable service standards, Vistara’s flight attendants are warm and efficient, without being too formal. I couldn’t fault them on service. Breakfast came in a tray set-up — a choice of south Indian and a Western egg preparation — accompanied by warm bread and preserves. The highlight, though, is that Tata has roped in sister-company Starbucks India to serve the fresh brew on board. Absolutely amazing! The crew even offered to give me my coffee in a take-away cup, which was a nice touch.
Verdict
Vistara is a clear leader in the full-service domestic segment, and will surely appeal to the premium business traveller.
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