Air India Economy Flight Experience from Mumbai to Singapore as a Maharaja Gold

 I recently flew from Mumbai to Singapore with Air India in economy class on the Airbus A321. What made the journey special was my Maharaja Gold status, which added several premium perks that made the experience smoother and more comfortable than a standard economy flight. Here’s my detailed experience.

Early Airport Experience – Priority Check-in & Lounge Access

My flight was scheduled on a Saturday morning, and I arrived at Mumbai Airport (T2) almost four hours before departure. Surprisingly, I was asked to wait an hour before being issued my boarding pass.

As a Maharaja Gold member, I had access to priority check-in counters. Since it was still early morning, all the counters were practically empty, and I checked in my baggage without any wait. My bags were tagged with priority labels, one of the handy benefits of the status.

Along with my boarding pass, I was handed an invitation to the Adani West Wing Lounge—a business class lounge at Mumbai Airport. Access to this lounge was complimentary, thanks to my Maharaja Gold membership.

Relaxing in the Adani West Wing Lounge

I decided to make the most of my time before the flight by visiting the lounge. This time, I opted for a refreshing shower before boarding. The facilities were well maintained and spotless, though I noticed they didn’t provide shower caps.

After freshening up, I enjoyed a light breakfast from the wide variety of hot and cold dishes available at the buffet. With some time left, I indulged in a bit of plane spotting, which is always a favorite pastime of mine when waiting for a flight.

10X Membership Rewards Points with Amex Platinum on Air India Booking

One of the smartest decisions I made while booking this flight was using my American Express Platinum Charge Card. Thanks to the exclusive partnership between American Express and Air India, I earned a whopping 10X Membership Rewards® points on this booking.

This benefit is part of the Amex Travel Partners program, where select airline bookings—including Air India—qualify for accelerated rewards when made directly with the airline or through Amex Travel. Since this was a direct Air India economy ticket booked via the airline's app, I was able to maximize the reward potential.

What it meant for me:

💰 Earned 10 times the regular points on the base fare and taxes

🎁 These bonus points can be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, upgrades, or even transferred to airline miles

⚡ It added even more value to my Flying Returns miles from the same flight

For frequent flyers who also use the Amex Platinum Card, this combination of elite status perks and accelerated point earnings can really amplify your travel benefits.

I also earned Air India bonus points :

Boarding & Comfort Onboard

Boarding was organized and sequential. Business class passengers and Maharaja Gold members were invited to board first, which saved me from standing in long queues.

The Airbus A321 on this route came with a personal in-flight entertainment system, offering a solid collection of movies, songs, games, and a live flight tracker. At each seat, a pillow, blanket, and headphones were already placed, adding a nice touch of comfort even in economy.

Take-off was smooth, and soon after, the cabin crew began the meal service. Breakfast was served hot and was quite tasty, exceeding my expectations for economy catering. What surprised me, however, was that lunch was not served, even though it was a six-hour flight.

Arrival in Singapore – Smooth Immigration, Slow Baggage

We touched down at Singapore Changi Airport on time with no delays. Immigration at Changi is truly world-class—efficient and seamless. It barely took a minute to clear immigration, thanks to their automated system.

However, the baggage experience was the opposite. Even with priority tags, my luggage arrived almost 15 minutes later, which was a bit disappointing given the perks promised.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience flying Air India economy class as a Maharaja Gold was smooth and enjoyable. The priority check-in, complimentary lounge access, early boarding, and in-flight entertainment made the trip far more comfortable than a standard economy journey.

Yes, the slow baggage delivery and the absence of a second meal were minor letdowns, but the on-time landing and hassle-free immigration at Singapore balanced things out.

For frequent travelers, especially those flying internationally, the Maharaja Gold status is worth it. It truly elevates the experience of flying economy, making it feel closer to a premium cabin.

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