Indian fares v foreigner fares - confused

Booradley · Oct 2nd, 2008, 02:26

Im trying to book a one way trip Goa Mumbai in December.
On Kingfishers site they ask if I am indian.
Tick yes and get one fare, tick no and get a different fare. Fair enough I understand that. BUT if I try to go through makemytrip they don't ask me the question and just quote the lower fare. Can I book it and travel even though I;m not Indian.

I also tried thri iXiGO who redirected me to Kingfisher but Kingfisher wouldn't take my card.
I'm confused. Can you help
Whats a decent price anyway Goa - Mumbai oneway, midweek, early December.

Boo

Hal · Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:23

Your credit card company may have declined the transaction because it was over the web, from India. I had this problem and had to call them to let them know I was going to India.

The prices on Ixigo should be the best you can find. I've always flown Spicejet and never seen a differential Indian/other fare. Are they quoting different fares or just different currencies?

Sama · Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:35

that's interesting. I flew Kingfisher over the others because there was no price differential between foreign and Indian flyers.

the only problem I had with using my credit card was with my credit card company. you have to tell them that you will be using your card in another country/currency, otherwise the charge will be rejected because they think it is fraudulent.

mayajaya · Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:37

BOORADLEY,

There ARE different fares for Indians and foreigners for flights.
However, if you get a quote from MAKE MY TRIP, the fare should stand. We have used MMT for tickets from the U.S. and they do have blocks of seats that they buy for resale at (sometimes) much lower rates so it should work.....nothing guaranteed when it comes to India, tho...

Booradley · Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:49

HAL - Although different currencies they were definately diferent amounts.

Sama - Will check with CC company but I travel a lot and make purchases in different currencies online and in person so they shouldnt be surprised, plus they use that security thingy were you are registered and you need a password.

Mayajaya - can you recommend make my trip and will they take my CC

Thanks all

Boo

Hal · Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:21

I have used my credit card in Africa, Europe and other Asian countries and never had a problem with it being refused.

Until I tried to use it in India.

bostonindian · Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sama

that's interesting. I flew Kingfisher over the others because there was no price differential between foreign and Indian flyers.

the only problem I had with using my credit card was with my credit card company. you have to tell them that you will be using your card in another country/currency, otherwise the charge will be rejected because they think it is fraudulent.

Same here... I did not see a substantial price difference between the USD and the INR (after conversion rate). But I did find a LOWER Rate on Kayak so I went with that.
However, I did run into problems booking at Residency (Fort, Mumbai).
I updated my Credit Card company telling them to expect international transactions.
I am an Indian national attempting to book using a US Credit Card.
I selected "Indian Resident" on their site and tried to book the hotel in Rupees. It gave me vague errors (something one the line of - your transaction is in limbo, you will get an email to tell you if you got lucky

). I never got an email!
I tried TWICE - at different times of the day (morning and evening, India time)
After calling them up and ensuring that no transaction went through, I tried booking in USD (about $6 more per day based on exchange rates!). This time it went through.

I could not understand if it was my Credit Card that was at fault, or the Hotel's internet application was messing it up... my trip does cost me about $20 more now

!

Haylo · Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:58

I wonder whether what's happening is that the companies assume that anyone genuinely living in India will have an Indian credit card, and so for "Indian Resident" bookings, these sites block payment from overseas cards?

Booradley · Oct 2nd, 2008, 05:43

Hi Boston indian
Fares for same flight with kingfisher
Indian IR3125
Foreigner usd92
30% difference?

mayajaya · Oct 2nd, 2008, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booradley

HAL - Although different currencies they were definately diferent amounts.

Sama - Will check with CC company but I travel a lot and make purchases in different currencies online and in person so they shouldnt be surprised, plus they use that security thingy were you are registered and you need a password.

Mayajaya - can you recommend make my trip and will they take my CC

Thanks all

Boo

I would recommend MMT...I found (at the last moment) an even more reasonable fare from another dealer and MMT matched it, so we ended up going with MMT...this was 2 years ago however, and it was for travel from the U.S. (although it did involve a domestic leg of the flight once landed in Mumbai)...and they should take a credit card.
Once they've booked your flight at the fares they have quoted it SHOULD be a done deal...whether you're foreign or Indian, I'd think...I was speaking to them over the phone from U.S. (via their U.S. office) tho, so that could make a difference....can you phone them?

mayajaya · Oct 2nd, 2008, 06:44

Oh, and Haylo, you could be right...some fares could be blocked....

bostonindian · Oct 2nd, 2008, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booradley

Hi Boston indian
Fares for same flight with kingfisher
Indian IR3125
Foreigner usd92
30% difference?

I don't question what you got BooRadley. I just mentioned what I got.
I booked mine about 6 weeks ago... when the rupee was worth a bit more!
I checked my JAI - GOI trip and it's $615 for non-residents, and Rs 24600 for residents... a 15% difference, assuming Rs 47 to a dollar!
I guess it's not just simple math... It involves the airports involved and the exchange rate among other unknowns!

Nick-H · Oct 2nd, 2008, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

I wonder whether what's happening is that the companies assume that anyone genuinely living in India will have an Indian credit card, and so for "Indian Resident" bookings, these sites block payment from overseas cards?

Several Indian airlines just don't accept foreign credit cards.

Last time I looked at ixigo, I noticed that they list the ones that do.

I don't see why ixigo should necessarily be the best price: they just pass on the airline price. They are not agents, so I guess somebody else might discount.

Booradley · Oct 2nd, 2008, 20:38

I booked the Kingfisher flight with makemytrip. They gave me the Indian price plus IR102.
If ou are paying with a non Indian CC hen don't click the BIG Visa logo. Look further alng and tick "non-indian cards"

Boo

skagator · Oct 3rd, 2008, 01:31

After reading some previous posts about Make My Trip I just booked return flights for me,my girlfriend and 1 year old child with Kingfisher, Jaipur- Goa return for Rs. 24,522 (370 euros)
no problems with french credit card and I have the e-tickets in my e-mail box already, i'm well pleased.

Oct 2nd, 2008, 02:26	#1
Booradley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: north east england Posts: 140	Indian fares v foreigner fares - confused Im trying to book a one way trip Goa Mumbai in December. On Kingfishers site they ask if I am indian. Tick yes and get one fare, tick no and get a different fare. Fair enough I understand that. BUT if I try to go through makemytrip they don't ask me the question and just quote the lower fare. Can I book it and travel even though I;m not Indian. I also tried thri iXiGO who redirected me to Kingfisher but Kingfisher wouldn't take my card. I'm confused. Can you help Whats a decent price anyway Goa - Mumbai oneway, midweek, early December. Boo Last edited by karuna : Oct 2nd, 2008 at 05:03.

Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:35	#3
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,432	that's interesting. I flew Kingfisher over the others because there was no price differential between foreign and Indian flyers. the only problem I had with using my credit card was with my credit card company. you have to tell them that you will be using your card in another country/currency, otherwise the charge will be rejected because they think it is fraudulent. __________________ *MY INDIA, 2005-2008* "Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:49	#5
Booradley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: north east england Posts: 140	HAL - Although different currencies they were definately diferent amounts. Sama - Will check with CC company but I travel a lot and make purchases in different currencies online and in person so they shouldnt be surprised, plus they use that security thingy were you are registered and you need a password. Mayajaya - can you recommend make my trip and will they take my CC Thanks all Boo Last edited by karuna : Oct 2nd, 2008 at 04:06. Reason: removing text-speak. Please use plain English, we have many nationalities here poss. confused by "u" and "r". Thanks! :)

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Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:23	#2
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	Your credit card company may have declined the transaction because it was over the web, from India. I had this problem and had to call them to let them know I was going to India. The prices on Ixigo should be the best you can find. I've always flown Spicejet and never seen a differential Indian/other fare. Are they quoting different fares or just different currencies?

Oct 2nd, 2008, 03:37	#4
mayajaya Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: US Posts: 39	BOORADLEY, There ARE different fares for Indians and foreigners for flights. However, if you get a quote from MAKE MY TRIP, the fare should stand. We have used MMT for tickets from the U.S. and they do have blocks of seats that they buy for resale at (sometimes) much lower rates so it should work.....nothing guaranteed when it comes to India, tho...

Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:21	#6
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	I have used my credit card in Africa, Europe and other Asian countries and never had a problem with it being refused. Until I tried to use it in India.

Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:58	#8
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	I wonder whether what's happening is that the companies assume that anyone genuinely living in India will have an Indian credit card, and so for "Indian Resident" bookings, these sites block payment from overseas cards?

Oct 2nd, 2008, 05:43	#9
Booradley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: north east england Posts: 140	Hi Boston indian Fares for same flight with kingfisher Indian IR3125 Foreigner usd92 30% difference?

Oct 2nd, 2008, 06:44	#11
mayajaya Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: US Posts: 39	Oh, and Haylo, you could be right...some fares could be blocked....

Oct 2nd, 2008, 20:38	#14
Booradley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: north east england Posts: 140	I booked the Kingfisher flight with makemytrip. They gave me the Indian price plus IR102. If ou are paying with a non Indian CC hen don't click the BIG Visa logo. Look further alng and tick "non-indian cards" Boo

Oct 3rd, 2008, 01:31	#15
skagator Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: France Posts: 1	After reading some previous posts about Make My Trip I just booked return flights for me,my girlfriend and 1 year old child with Kingfisher, Jaipur- Goa return for Rs. 24,522 (370 euros) no problems with french credit card and I have the e-tickets in my e-mail box already, i'm well pleased.