AI to offer seamless travel to San Francisco from Bengaluru

Air India today said it would offer seamless travel to its customers flying to San Francisco from Bengaluru via its Delhi flight despite change in the aircraft as passengers would be allowed to complete all custom and immigration formalities at the originating airport itself for their onward journey.
The airline is scheduled to commence a direct flight service to the Silicon Valley from the national capital from December 2.
Air India has already announced that the new flight will be operated by the wide-body Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
Air India would offer seamless travel between Silicon Valley of East (Bengaluru) to San Francisco (Silicon Valley of West) via Delhi and passengers travelling to San Francisco will undergo all custom and immigration formalities at Bengaluru airport itself for their onward journey, the airline said in a release.

According to the airline, the flight AI-173 from Bengaluru to Delhi will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Bengaluru at 2115 hours with a A321 aircraft.
The flight will arrive in Delhi at 2345 hours. Flight AI-173 to San Francisco will leave Delhi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 0235 hours and will be operated with B777-200LR aircraft, it said.

This flight will arrive into San Francisco at 0700 hours (local time) on the same day, Air India said adding the return flight will depart at 1030 hours and arrive at Delhi next day (Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays) and at 1620 hours it will depart for Bengaluru with A321 plane to arrive at 1745 hours.

Passengers will have huge benefits travelling to San Francisco as they will undergo immigration and customs at their boarding point itself and can have comfortable journey further, according to the release.
Passengers can enjoy non-stop entertainment, specially chosen food and best of the comfort on this one of the world's longest flights, it added.
(Reopens BOM18)
"We are indeed aware of the reports that some students were denied entry on the flights to the US. At this time, we don't have any further information to share with you on this particular issue, but we are seeking clarity on the situation.

"As soon as we have new information, we will get back to you immediately," an email reply from the US Consulate said.