Sahara $ixer package...

Mickey1234

Hi There all you lucky travellers .... and here I am fighting off boredom at work and looking forward to a 1 month stint in India.

Sahara offers a 600 USD special which gives 6 coupons ( over 90 days) for doing hops on their network. I mailed them but there has been no responses from them. Does anybody know about this "$ixer" package ?? I contacted a local travel agent out here in South Africa and they were not aware of this option. On average each hop works out to 100 usd which is not bad if most of them are long hops like Mumbhai to Kolkata etc etc ..

How is Sahara rated as an airline in terms of safety and punctuality ??

I have limited time in India and figured that the best way for me would be to do the major hops by air and then do trains and taxis within an area.

Are you aware of any other such competing packages offerred by Jet or IA ?? I had a look at the web sites and could not find anything.

Best Regards to all of you and thanks in advance for any replies.

steven_ber

I'm not too sure on the prices, I remember reading about these deals before (not sure what airline).

I also remember some of the prices were only for traveling around a certain area (can't remember how the areas were defined).

You are best to double check, it seems I can't remember much today.

Good job my computer remembers my password.

-m2-

Jet and IA have passes for 14 and 21 days of travel for US$500 and $750; the terms of the two programs are detailed on their web-sites (you have to click around a bit to find them). I couldn't find anything about Sahara's program, but as you have described it, it does sound more flexible since you have 90 days to use the coupons and 6 flights will certainly cover the long distances conveniently.



Sahara's schedule is not as extensive as the other two airlines, but I've heard nothing negative about safety, punctuality, or service -- probably falls between Jet (excellent) and IA (mediocre, at best). The US$ prices for internal flights is stiff enough that I think averaging $100/per would be good value.

-m2-

earlier, the Sahara website not working but subsequently googled them and found a site with the details and the order form for the sixer program. sounds particularly good as it can be used by a couple for 3 trips each in the 90 day period. Perhaps this is the info that you already have, but here is the link:

http://flyairsahara.indiatimes.com/ss.html

Amit

sahara has a sixer package, and its a good airline, but do check locations and timings, the flights are not as frequent as Jet or IA. Also, if you go to indiatimes.com, you will find that sahara and IA both have auction sites for air tickets, sahara will book only well in advance and is cheap and IA will book only 7 days ahead and is little more expensive... I have used both and they are good. U need a credit card and you can pick up the tickets upto 2 hrs before the flight at any sahara or IA office resp. But do check if there is a nationality issue.

india-welcomes.com

Hi Mickey and Evrybody

Greetings from INDIA !

Yes, m2 is correct. Although SAHARA is a good airline and offering such SUPER SIXER PACKAGE but that is only for INDIAN NATIONALS. But, you can go for IC (Indian Airlines) & 9W (JET AIRWAYS) which offers 15 days and 21 days DISCOVER INDIA PACKAGES which will cost you USD$ 500 + TAXES, USD$ 750 + TAXES respectively.

NOTE: FOR THIS YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL IN A CLOCKWISE (CIRCLE)

and BEFORE THAT YOU HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE AIRLINES, FOR YOUR ITINERARY, ONLY THEN YOU CAN GET THESE ABOVE MENTIONED PACKAGES.

by INDIA TRAVEL SPECIALIST.

Anders

The terms and conditions in the link that m2 provided, states that it is only for NRIs and foreign nationals paying in USD.

-m2-

The airlines really make things more confusing than they need be. It is easy for a resident to be unaware of some of the details with programs as they apply to non-residents as you have to go to the international travellers section and check all the fine print. Here are a few points regarding airline pricing as it applies to non-residents as found in the airline web-sites:

1. Non-residents have their own set of US$ prices -- these are substantially in excess of the fares that residents pay in rupees. None of the conventional seat sales and auctions can be used by non-residents. If you buy the domestic ticket within India, a non-resident will pay in rupees of course, but *not at the resident's rupee price* -- the dollar price is converted to rupees at going rate and you therefore pay a premium of at least 30% last I checked.

2. on all three airlines there is a 25% discount off the $US price for youths and seniors (under 30, 65+) Currently on the Sahara site they are showing a special 50% off seniors fare (US$) good only until the end of September.

3. the 15 and 21 day passes on Jet and IA are for non-residents and have a few restrictions (e.g. do not include Port Blair as a destination) and the $500/750 prices do not include a $10 per coupon charge for tax/security fees.

4. Sahara has several similar sounding plans for residents only, but the one described in the earlier link *definitely* states that it is for non-residents. It may have some fine print not on the site but the last page of the link is a form which can be used for more information.


hope this helps