Air India Cloud Chasers kit review: what is inside, which flights get it, and how it compares to Emirates and Singapore Airlines in 2026
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 9 min read
Air India's Cloud Chasers activity kit for children aged 3–9 is included on long-haul international flights — but whether your child will find it genuinely engaging for a 9-hour London flight depends a lot on their age and how much they care about sticker sheets versus screen time. Here is an honest look at what is in the pack, how the Vista IFE kids content holds up, and where Emirates and Singapore Airlines still have the edge.
TL;DR — does the Cloud Chasers kit work for a 9-hour flight?
Air India's Cloud Chasers kit is a decent amenity for children aged 3–7, probably less captivating for an 8 or 9-year-old who is already past colouring books and stickers. The real entertainment proposition on Air India long-haul is the Vista IFE system, which has a dedicated kids zone with animated content, interactive games, and some educational programming. For a family flying Delhi or Mumbai to London, New York, or Melbourne, the combination of the kit plus Vista Kids Zone is serviceable — but honest comparison with Emirates' ICE system and Singapore Airlines' KrisWorld for children shows Air India is still catching up. The good news: the gap is closing, and Air India's inflight service has genuinely improved since the Tata takeover versus what it was a few years ago.
What is actually inside the Cloud Chasers kit?
Air India introduced the Cloud Chasers kit as part of the cabin refresh that accompanied the broader brand and service overhaul post-Tata acquisition. The kit is typically handed out to children shortly after takeoff on long-haul international economy and business flights.
Contents as of mid-2026 (these can vary by route and season — Air India occasionally refreshes the pack):
- A colouring booklet with aviation and travel themes — illustrations of planes, airports, destinations
- A small set of colouring pencils or crayons (typically 4–6 colours)
- A sticker sheet with aircraft and character stickers
- A short activity book with simple puzzles, mazes, and games scaled for roughly ages 3–8
- An Air India branded plush toy or soft keychain (not on every flight — this varies)
The kit is designed to keep younger children occupied during the boarding and climb-out phase when screens are off, and as a fallback during the meal service when tablets and headphones are juggling act. It is not a substitute for the IFE system or for your own downloaded content — it is a supplement.
Note: the exact contents are subject to change. Air India has been iterating on the kit — confirm the current version at booking by checking Air India's family travel page or by calling reservations.
Vista IFE kids zone: what entertainment is available?
The Vista IFE system (rolled out across Air India's widebody fleet — B777, B787, and retrofitted A320-family aircraft on key routes) has a dedicated children's section that is worth understanding before your flight:
- Animated content: A mix of Indian animated series and licensed international children's content. Recent long-haul flights have included episodes from popular animated franchises. The library is decent but not as deep as Emirates' ICE, which has licensed a much larger catalogue.
- Interactive games: Simple touch-screen games suited for ages 4–10. Nothing that will hold a 12-year-old's attention, but functional for younger children. The touch screen responsiveness on Air India's older aircraft (the ones still mid-retrofit) can be frustratingly laggy — on the newer B787 deliveries, it is substantially better.
- Educational content: Some programming in the kids zone covers geography, science basics, and Indian history in animated format — this is actually one of the things Air India's kids content does a bit differently from purely entertainment-focused libraries.
- Language options: Content in Hindi and English at minimum; some regional language options on flights routed through Indian metros.
One practical note: bring noise-cancelling headphones or good kids earbuds from home. The in-seat headphones on Air India (especially in economy) are mediocre, and small children often find them uncomfortable. A set of well-fitted children's headphones makes the Vista IFE meaningfully better.
How does Air India compare to Emirates on long-haul with children?
Emirates is the benchmark for children's inflight experience from India — ICE (their IFE system) has thousands of hours of content in the kids zone, better seat-back screen hardware on recent aircraft, and an established kids meal programme with more options. Emirates also has a well-known kids welcome amenity on long-haul. On the Emirates A380 between Dubai and various Indian metros, the widebody experience for families is genuinely premium even in economy.
Where Air India has advantages over Emirates for an India-origin long-haul family:
- Nonstop routing: Air India flies nonstop Delhi–London Heathrow, Mumbai–London Heathrow, Delhi–New York, Delhi–Chicago, Delhi–Melbourne. Emirates routes via Dubai, adding 2–3 hours total travel time. With small children, a nonstop 9-hour flight beats a connecting 13-hour itinerary almost every time.
- Indian meal options: Air India's kids meals include Indian options (khichdi, dal-rice, etc.) that children familiar with Indian food actually eat. Emirates' kids meals are predominantly Western.
- Fare positioning: Air India's fares on routes it flies nonstop are often in the same range as Emirates' connecting fares — and sometimes cheaper once you factor in the connection time and transit hotel costs.
The honest assessment: if you are flying a route where Air India and Emirates both offer nonstop service (which is rare — Air India nonstop routes are from Delhi and Mumbai mainly), Air India is a reasonable choice. If the comparison is Air India nonstop versus Emirates nonstop from the same airport, Emirates still has the better IFE experience for children. But nonstop wins on quality of life for the children overall.
Air India vs Singapore Airlines with children: the longer haul comparison
Singapore Airlines (SIA) connects India to Southeast Asia, Australia, and beyond via Singapore. Their KrisWorld IFE system has long been one of the best in the industry for children — large libraries, robust hardware, and the Kris the Lion kids content brand. SIA also has a more established children's meal programme and dedicated activity kits that are a step above Air India's current offering in terms of polish and content depth.
However, Singapore is a transit hub — you are adding a stop. For a Delhi–Sydney or Mumbai–Melbourne routing, Air India's nonstop B787 service (where available) is genuinely better for families with young children than any connecting routing via Singapore, even accounting for SIA's superior IFE. A 9-year-old who has to navigate Changi Airport at 2 AM and re-board for a 7-hour second sector is a tired and difficult child. A 9-year-old on a single 14-hour Air India flight with mediocre IFE is merely bored.
The verdict: Air India's Cloud Chasers kit and Vista IFE are functional, not exceptional. They are improving. For routes where Air India offers nonstop service, the nonstop advantage outweighs the IFE gap with both Emirates and Singapore Airlines. For routes where all options connect, Emirates and SIA have a meaningful service edge in the air. Search fares across all three on FlightGPT and weigh the total travel time alongside the fare — for families, total door-to-door time usually matters more than inflight entertainment quality.
Practical tips for flying Air India long-haul with children under 10
Based on the actual experience of navigating a long Air India sector with small children:
- Download content before boarding. Air India's onboard Wi-Fi is available on some widebody flights but is not guaranteed. Download 4–6 hours of kids content to a tablet before you arrive at the airport.
- Request a bassinet seat at booking. Air India's bulk-head bassinet seats need to be requested in advance (through Air India's website or call centre) — they are not automatically assigned. Do this at the time of booking, not 48 hours before departure.
- Kids meals must be pre-ordered. Air India's children's meal option (CHML) needs to be added to your booking — it is not served by default. Pre-order at booking or via Manage Booking. The kids meal service is generally prompt and the portions are sized appropriately for children.
- Aisle seats for toddlers. On a 9-hour flight, you will be getting up many times. Middle or window seats with a toddler mean climbing over other passengers every hour. Book aisle seats for the adult travelling with the youngest child.
- Check the aircraft type before booking. Air India's B787 Dreamliners (on Delhi–Melbourne, Delhi–London and some Delhi–New York sectors) have the best seat-back screens and cabin hardware. A319/A320 aircraft sometimes used on regional international routes (Mumbai–Colombo, Delhi–Kathmandu) have smaller screens and an older IFE system.
Also worth reading: Ahmedabad to Dubai family flight guide and NRI family reunion Kochi-Gulf flight guide for related international family travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which Air India flights get the Cloud Chasers kit?
The Cloud Chasers kit is provided on Air India long-haul international flights — routes to the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and other long-haul destinations — in both economy and business class. It is not available on short domestic sectors or on Air India Express flights. Confirm availability for your specific route when booking via Air India's website or reservations line, as the kit distribution policy has been updated periodically.
Does Air India have bassinets for infants on long-haul flights?
Yes. Air India provides bassinet seats (bulkhead rows) on widebody aircraft used for long-haul routes. Bassinets are for infants under approximately 11 kg and 70 cm in length — check Air India's current weight and size limits as they vary slightly by aircraft. Bassinet seats must be requested in advance through Air India's website or call centre; they are not automatically assigned. Request at booking and confirm again 48 hours before departure.
Is Air India's Vista IFE kids zone comparable to Emirates ICE?
Honest answer: not quite yet. Emirates' ICE system has a larger children's content library, better hardware on recent aircraft, and more polished kids-specific features. Air India's Vista IFE kids zone is decent and improving, with animated content, interactive games, and some educational programming — but if IFE quality is the deciding factor, Emirates currently has the edge. For most India-origin families, the more important variable is whether Air India's nonstop routing saves 2–4 hours of total travel time versus Emirates' Dubai connection.
Can I pre-order a children's meal on Air India long-haul?
Yes. Air India offers a CHML (children's meal) that must be pre-ordered at booking or via the Manage Booking section on the Air India website — at least 24 hours before departure. The children's meal includes child-appropriate portions with both Indian and international options on most long-haul routes. It is served at the same time as the main cabin service. This is not done automatically — you must actively request it.
Which is better for a Delhi–London flight with a 5-year-old: Air India or British Airways?
Air India and British Airways both fly nonstop Delhi–London Heathrow. Air India generally offers more competitive fares on this route and the food quality (particularly for Indian meals) is better. British Airways has a more established premium cabin but in economy the experience is comparable. For a family with a 5-year-old focused on fare and Indian food options, Air India often makes more sense. Check current fares on both via FlightGPT (flightgpt.in) — the price gap fluctuates significantly by season and booking window.