Cheap Flights vs Flexibility??

Rangaboy

Which of the following sounds more like you?

Securing a bargain basement fare, several months in advance, and then being tied to making that trip (whether you like it or not!)

Or "winging it" (excuse the pun) and keeping your plans fluid, but risking higher costs and potential delays when you finally make the booking?

candyrox

Securing a bargain basement fare, several months in advance, and then being tied to making that trip (whether you like it or not!

Rangaboy

Thanks for the reply Candyrox - out of interest, why do you prefer the less flexible option?

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Haylo

My policy of planning ahead where possible, and choosing the cheapest reasonable flights has made it possible for me to make five trips to Delhi in the last year, instead of a maximum of three.

Not really much of a choice there, is there?

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zsonia2993

Securing a bargain basement fare !! Save money on that, spend it elsewhere.

Why not have the best of both worlds?? Book in advance to secure a bargain fare... and then lose the flight due to sudden PRIVATE AIRLINE STRIKE to get the 'Winging it' experience !!

rajered

Like the saying goes "A penny saved is a penny earned" and as zsonia said spend it elsewhere (could be on once you come to India)

Once you have decided to visit India, you would not know whether to like it or not unless you don't see it.

Winging could always be done once you come to India whenver there is a need.

namaste_cat

That's the one I go with.

Except I make sure I like it so no harm, no foul!

nycank

Pure-play trips are bargain basement, rest are/were flexible.

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clivington

It must depend on probability of cancellation and how averse you are to risk. I've always gone the cheap, inflexible route in the past but this time I'm concerned that I might not be able to get my visa. I fly back to the UK in October, ideally for 2-3 weeks before returning. I have back-to-back India tourist visas in my passport but this time I want to get an Entry Visa (6 months or more if possible) to allow me to do voluntary work legally. I'll have a letter from the NGO to support my case but still, it's an unknown quantity for me. What does the team think I should do about booking my flights? I'm erring on the side of caution.
Clive

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thirdreel

If I'm going multiple places, then some of both. I like to have a rough plan lined up, and there are some things that I can't just wing--if I want to attend a particular festival in a particular city, for instance, or want to avoid visiting a place on the wrong day (Taj Mahal on Friday, for instance). And planning in advance gives you time to anticipate and learn about the place.

But winging it can be fun too. And routes that can only be done on bus or unreserved trains force you to do a little winging it.

*jyoti*

I would normally book ahead of time for fear of prices going way up. But, having been delayed for 6 weeks & now finally getting my visa, I am booking tickets 3 days from departure. They are about $50.00 more than I would have paid if I'd been able to have a definite date much earlier. Of course, my definite date was June 30th... now I'm leaving August 5th, so good I didn't purchase before. NOT to guarantee you won't pay more, but you may not.

That said, within India I would certainly secure train reservations as soon as you know. They get full quickly sometimes. But those you can cancel within a certain time and get nearly all of it back. And other than really busy routes, I've seldom had problems booking flights last minute.

In fact, one flight I had to cancel they gave me a full refund (Indigo) because I'm a foreigner and it was too complicated to change it to another flight & pay the fee. BUT, that was not normal policy so don't assume it!

Rangaboy

Me too! At the same time I'm wary of limiting my options..... I'm thinking of booking a flight to Cambodia from Trichy to go and spend Christmas with a mate over there.

But will I want to leave Tamil Nadu when I'm there?

What all is said and done, I reckon it makes sense to book now, especially for December flights - I can always get a flight back in January, when there's less demand and (hopefully) much cheaper fares!