Mother-In-Law’s First Trip to India: United Business Class Back to the US

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Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Emily:  Daraius had booked us on a United business class flight home for 60,000 United miles per person.  It only took us about 25 minutes to get to the airport from the Hyatt Regency hotel.
United Business Class Review
On Our Way Back to the US
  • Introduction & Planning
  • Kansas City to Chicago
  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge
  • American Airlines Flagship Service From Chicago To London
  • British Airways First Class from London to Mumbai
  • Shopping in Bombay
  • Eating in Bombay
  • Sights in Bombay
  • Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa
  • Park Hyatt Goa, Park Suite
  • Park Hyatt Goa, Park King
  • Park Hyatt Goa, Park Hyatt Goa Activities
  • Eating In & Around the Park Hyatt Goa
  • Radisson Blu, Agra
  • A Day in Agra
  • Hyatt Regency Delhi
  • 2 Days in Delhi
  • Eating in Delhi
  • United Business Class Back to the US
  • Conclusion and Blog Giveaway

The Delhi airport is very nice. It is very modern and clean & reinforces the cliche that India is a land of stark contrasts.

United Business Class Review
Outside Delhi Airport

There is lots of space to move around, and there are free carts to wheel your luggage.  In contrast, we had to pay for a cart at Newark airport!

United Business Class Review
Delhi Airport

It took us a few minutes to figure out where we needed to go, but eventually we found the way.

United Business Class Review
Pushing Our Stuff

The airport had a few shops before check-in which include an ATM.

United Business Class Review
Delhi Airport

There were two large browse elephant statues, and the little fellow looked so cute!

United Business Class Review
Elephants

Daraius stopped at the Citi ATM to get some rupees before we left.  He knew he’d probably need them the next time we went to India!

After that, we ventured to the lounge.  My mom and Aunt Judi preferred some last minute shopping.  See, not everyone is enthralled by airline lounges!

United Business Class Review
Outside the Lounge

We took the elevator up to the lounge.  Since we were traveling on a United Business class ticket we could enter the lounge for free and help ourselves to the complimentary food and drinks.

United Business Class Review
Airport Lounge

The inside was like a regular US lounge.

United Business Class Review
Emily in the Lounge

There was a small office with laptop computers to use.

United Business Class Review
Computers

It also had an open bar.

United Business Class Review
Open Bar

The lounge had an okay selection of food (hot and cold).

United Business Class Review
Salad

There were sandwiches.

United Business Class Review
Sandwiches

And there was a coffee and tea bar.

United Business Class Review
Coffee & Tea

There was even a massage room, but you had to pay for the massages.

United Business Class Review
Massage Room

But I did not see any attendants, and there was only a massage chair in a darkly lit room.

United Business Class Review
No Thanks!

So we quickly left the lounge and went back outside.  The airport had lots of shops and the seating looked pretty comfortable, too.

United Business Class Review
Delhi Airport Seating

We stocked up on some souvenirs.

United Business Class Review
Souvenirs

I loved the little auto rickshaws, the three wheelers that are popular in India.

United Business Class Review
Little Auto Rickshaws

There was also a duty free shop.

United Business Class Review
Duty Free Shop

After shopping, we made our way to the gate, and went through another round of security.  Since this was a flight to the US, we had to go through a secondary screening.

United Business Class Review
Secondary Screening

We were happy to finally get on the flight!  We took a non-stop United flight from Delhi to Newark.  This was my first time on a non-stop flight from India to the US.  I was so excited!

United Business Class Review
Getting Ready to Leave

The United cabin was comfortable, and the seats looked new.  But the seats weren’t as big as a First Class seat.  But they did fully recline which was a big plus!

United Business Class Review
United Business First

It was a 14.5 hour flight, and I liked how we did not have a layover anywhere.

United Business Class Review
United BusinessFirst Seat

There was an outlet to charge your laptop, so Daraius could do work.

United Business Class Review
Power Outlet

And storage space to put your things.

United Business Class Review
Storage Space

There was a small fold out tray.

United Business Class Review
Fold Out Tray

And the seat converted to a lie flat bed.

United Business Class Review
Lie Flat Bed

The chair reclined into a bed and I enjoyed relaxing in it.

United Business Class Review
Emily Getting Ready to Relax

However, we did not get pajamas or slippers like we did in First Class or in business class on other airlines.  So we made sure to bring our own beforehand.

United Business Class Review
Emily Getting Ready for Bed

Daraius wore his new American Airlines pajamas.  He had a big grin at the thought of wearing American Airlines pajama on a United flight.  He’s such a boy sometimes!

United Business Class Review
American Airlines Pajamas on a United Flight

The amenity kits contained socks, an eyemask, earplugs, lotion, a comb, a pen, a toothbrush, toothpaste, flossers, and a mint.

United Business Class Review
United Business Class Amenity Kit
United Business Class Review
United Amenity Kit

In the kit were nice Philosophy brand cosmetics.

United Business Class Review
United Business Class Review

Soon enough, it was time for dinner.  For the main course, I got chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, red peppers, and squash.  The chicken was pretty good.  I liked the garlic mashed potatoes the best.

United Business Class Review
Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Daraius got Indian food for dinner.

United Business Class Review
Indian Dinner

They served only three types of bread: bland stale white rolls, naan, and another type of bread.

After finishing our dinner, we had cheese and dessert.

United Business Class Review
Cheese & Fruit

The dessert was really good.

United Business Class Review
Sundae

After dinner, I laid down to get some sleep.  Because it was 14 hour flight, I had plenty of time to sleep without feeling rushed through dinner.

I also managed to watch a movie, The Social Network, during my flight.  My mom and Aunt Judi watched Brave, about a redheaded Irish girl.  There were lots of movies to choose from!

Before we arrived, we had a snack that consisted of fruit and yogurt.

United Business Class Review
Fruit & Yogurt

Daraius got some Indian breakfast and a croissant.

United Business Class Review
Indian Breakfast

I enjoyed being able to sleep for a long time, but the service on the flight was poor.  Many times we asked what was being served, and the service staff kept saying “I don’t know” and “I have no idea” when we asked for descriptions of the food.  In contrast, the crew on all other flights have been able to tell us the the ingredients of the meals.

After informing them about my fish allergy, I was still served with a salad that had unknown fried pieces of food.  We didn’t know if it was fried bread, or fish, or something else, and neither did the server.  I played it safe and did not eat any of the salad.

There was also “self-service” cleanup.  The flight attendant came around with a tray and we had to load our dishes onto the tray.  They also had a hard time remembering who ordered what, and walked around with wine glasses and asked people if they ordered wine.  They did the same thing for the main course—they walked around and offered the dishes instead of remembering what the cabin had ordered!

But I was very thankful to be able to sleep – Business Class, no less! – on the flight and to visit India.  Soon we arrived in Newark, cleared immigration, and went to the United Lounge.

United Business Class Review
United Club in Newark

We grabbed some coffee and had our breakfast.

United Business Class Review
In the United Lounge

We then waited a few hours for our next flight, which was a non-stop flight to Kansas City (yay!)  It was a wonderful trip, and India is a great place to visit because of the mix of history, culture, and outdoor activities.  I can’t wait to go back!

United Business Class Review
United Planes

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