I recently flew Vistara business class from Bangalore to Delhi. Having flown this cabin before, I found the experience comparable to past trips, with a few notable differences because this was my first journey during the Covid period. Below I’ve highlighted the practical details that may help if you plan to travel now.
This review doesn’t repeat everything from my earlier Vistara Business Class write-ups, so if you want a full history of previous flights, you may want to check those. Here I focus on the booking process, the airport experience, Covid protocols and the in-flight service on a Bangalore–Delhi run.
Table of Contents
- Booking
- Ground Experience
- Check-in
- Airport Lounge
- No Fast Track Security
- Flight Experience
- Covid Protocol
- Food
- Bottomline
Booking
For this trip I used Premium Economy vouchers from the Axis Vistara Signature Credit Card and upgraded using vouchers on my account. The journey was actually to Guwahati via Delhi, so the Bangalore–Delhi sector was a separate booking because the vouchers don’t permit a stopover.
| Flight | Air Vistara UK 808 |
| Route | Bangalore (BLR) – Delhi (DEL) |
| Seat | 1F (Business Class) |
| Revenue Ticket | ~20,000 INR |
| I Paid | ~550 INR (Voucher Redemption) |
Ground Experience
Check-in
Check-in took longer than expected — almost an hour to get boarding passes. One reason was that the domestic transfer facility at Delhi T3 was not operational during Covid, so processing a through check-in took extra time. Initially staff said it wasn’t possible, but they managed it after some effort.
There was also an upgrade complication for my onward flight booked in Premium Economy. I discovered you can’t always upgrade from Premium Economy to Business using points if the original booking was made with points. It’s a limitation that can catch frequent flyers off guard.
Airport Lounge
We received access to the business class area of the BLR Domestic Lounge. It’s compact and comfortable with a relatively quiet seating area, good privacy and low crowd levels — exactly what you want before a short domestic flight. It serves the purpose well, though it’s not particularly large or luxurious.
No Fast Track Security
One persistent oddity at Bangalore airport is the absence of a dedicated fast-track security lane for business class passengers. On this trip the wait was short, so it wasn’t a major issue, but it would be a welcome improvement to have a separate business-class security line like Delhi’s.
Flight Experience
Covid Protocol
Vistara provided a face shield, a mask and a small hand sanitizer to each passenger as part of their Covid safety measures. The face shield is well-designed and adjustable, and more comfortable than some I’ve seen from other carriers. In practice many passengers did not wear the face shield throughout the flight, but the airline’s supply and intent to protect passengers were clear.
Food
Service during Covid is streamlined: there’s no printed menu or multi-course selection, just a choice between Veg or Non-Veg. I chose the vegetarian option while my friend took the non-vegetarian meal. Both meals were served hot and fresh.
The presentation may not be flashy, but the food tasted very good — particularly the chana masala, which was one of the better on-board meals I’ve had. My friend’s non-veg dish was also satisfactory. One small aside: the croissant served on board didn’t appeal to me, so I skipped it.
Bottomline
This was my first flight since the Covid outbreak and overall it felt safe and well-managed. With the added safety kit, attentive service and a comfortable lounge, flying Vistara Business Class remains a pleasant experience. If you’ve flown Vistara during Covid, feel free to share your impressions in the comments.