Delhi to Calcutta

kml

Hey everybody,
What is the quickest, easiest way to get from Delhi to Calcutta?
I plan on traveling to India this June, and I have a close friend who is staying in Thailand for the summer. After checking out flights, it seems that flying to Delhi from the US is the cheapest, and then from Calcutta to Bangkok is the cheapest. Would it make sense to take a train, or should I be able to find a really cheap flight? 24 hours on a train is a long time.

Thanks!

namaste_cat

Rajdhani Express is around 18 hrs, which is still too long for me. If you're fond of trains or like my non-Indian hubby have never been on a train, then it's a good trip. These days though, I'd much rather fly. You can get airfare that's not a whole lot more than 1st AC. To me, the time savings, convenience etc. of air travel are worth it.

LilBoy BigTown

If you book ahead, you could find cheap flights, specially if you fly the no frills airline.

Try Spice Jet, Go & Indigo. They wouldn't be too much more expensive than A/C train rides as suggested by Namaste Cat, and only about 2 hrs long instead of the usual 18 - 24 on trains.

SitaParityaga

Go does not go to Kolkata.

Hal

I may have to make that trip soon.

Check www.ixigo.com. There are flights for around Rs 2400- 2800 on Indigo and Spicejet, depending on how early in the month you are traveling

hitanshu

You should book well in advance to get it cheap. Else a train ain't THAT bad really. Plus it saves a day's hotel costs

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LilBoy BigTown

Don't they? Perhaps they don't like Preity Zinta in those parts too much.

sks551

Hi,
Which airlines is the most and least reliable between Delhi – Kolkata?
Indian Airlines did have a poor reputation for reliability.
Jet Air seems to be quite expansive.
We will also have over 25Kgs of luggage per person.

When I book a domestic flight will I get confirmed ticket? Or do I have to re-confirm again 24hrs before the flight?

capt_mahajan

Any airline is reliable enough. Check their baggage allowance, though. Many low cost carriers will have lower than 25kg per head allowance.

Yes, you will get a eticket which you can print out. Wiser to reconfirm the schedule a day before, sometimes flights get clubbed or timings changed.

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sks551

Thanks,
I am trying to book a flight that doesn’t have poor reputation for cancellation or longer delays. Which airline will have better chance of flying on schedule?

We are flying in from London to Delhi and after a long trek in the Himalayas we will be flying from Delhi to Kolkata. If the flight is cancelled at Delhi then it will cost us with extra hotel accommodation at Delhi as well as a lost day for nothing.

capt_mahajan

Indian airlines may be a little better than other low cost airlines. This is because, in the event of a change, they are better equipped to roll out alternate aircraft.

If you can, try and book a day flight on whichever airline, the earlier the better. Late night changes have fewer options.

Hal

I have flown on Spicejet several times and they've always been punctual.

sks551

I was checking the Indian airlines website for online booking but the site would not offer any dates beyond August. I need to book for October. would you know what the free checked-in baggage allowence is?

namaste_cat

Must have recently stopped b/c I flew Indigo Del-Kol & back in January. Pity.
Both Indigo and Spicejet are great, on time, very professional, and inexpensive too. Highly recommend both.

nayan

Indigo and Go are different airline companies.