checking airfares to India

akt

For long distance travel, I have come to prefer "two nonstops separated by a night's sleep". There isn't any connection to miss and small delays are easily absorbed. No matter how good an airport, a bed is even better---plus you still have the option of spending sometime in the shops, only not forced to do it.

People often don't do it because they are conditioned to think in terms of major European hubs where this is difficult and expensive.

However, think outside the proverbial box and one can transit via cities that are much cheaper; sometimes airlines even give a hotel room at their own expense.

If I were in YogaGal's shoes, I would be tempted to take the American nonstop to Delhi (arrives 8:30pm), sleep in, and take another nonstop to Chennai near the middle of the next day. Much better than suffering London or Paris airports anyday.

akt

One year I flew Turkish airline from Chicago to Delhi. One nonstop to Istanbul. Then sleep in an airline provided hotel. Then another nonstop to Delhi. It was extremely pleasant.

So, true, Europeans are better located, but Americans can make better choices than they normally do. For some reason many people insist on making "efficient" connections through famous airports, and arriving dead with broken bodies and spirits.

the opoponax

i have to say that so far, none of the complicated multi-stop rock bottom middle eastern airline permutations has been even close to that $950 or so Continental non-stop from NYC to Delhi.

unless i'm not doing the proper obscure middle eastern airline research... i do plan to put in a call to the ethnic travel agents as i get closer to actually paying for my ticket.

Merchant

Note that this is an old thread (fall 2006), recently revived. Check that Continental flight again. Maybe it's the same but maybe not. And when you travel is important. Fares are higher at Christmas, etc.

the opoponax

i have -- upthread someone said $850, but kayak now lists it at around $950, depending on the day and time i search for it. every few weeks i run another search, expecting something else to come down or some obscure aeroflot or Uzbeki Air flight to turn up, but that nonstop continental flight is always the cheapest...

Merchant

Bottom line: jet travel to India (the other side of the world) for under $1,000 is a steal. Book it while you still can (oil price hikes, terrorism scares, global economic meltdown, Indo-Pak saber rattling, American invasion of another Middle Eastern country, wars and rumors of wars . . .).

Sama

please excuse my apparent overwhelming ignorance about international air travel, but this is what I just got from randomly checking both kayak.com and mobissimo.com for my timeframe of Dec/Jan 2008....least expensive "direct" (in YG speak) flight to Delhi, did not check going on to Chennai:

both sites came back with Alitalia -- Chicago-Milan-Delhi -- app. $1270. fine.

so if I add the cost of a next day flight to Chennai (and also knowing that for the most part I will probably pay more for a domestic flight to Chennai, can't remember right now which airline charges Indians and foreigners the same) AND an overnight stay in Delhi, not a fleabag but not high end.....

how will that cost me any less than a $1200-1500 flight from Chicago-(European city)-Chennai?

BTW, arriving in Chennai after two flights from Chicago, with a stop in Germany for about three hours doesn't bother me. I get to the hotel, fall asleep, wake up early the next day feeling great, and go out for a long walk....

__________________
MY INDIA, 2005-2008
"Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

akt

You are absolutely right. Both AA (from Chicago) and Continental (from Newark) provide nonstop flights to India at prices that are often best or near enough. My reference to Turkish airlines was in a different context: This was before these nonstops. At a price similar to what I'd have paid for a 24 hour torure through London or Paris airports, Turkish provided a free hotel room to break the journey. Seeing a new city was interesting in itself. This is not to say that everybody would want it everytime, but using this as an example I was suggesting being open to out of the box possibilities.

I am sorry I don't know the recent situation with Turkish or other Middle east carriers. A few years ago, some very close relatives moved to London and now it is not only possible for us to break journey there but is almost compulsory. If you know Indian families, you'd understand.

Barbara Martyn

On our recent trip to Delhi/India, we flew American nonstop from Chicago (actually first from Seattle). It left on time, arrived on time. And the same going back. There is something to be said for reliability. And we got 18,000 frequent flier miles each in addition.

Merchant

Just another thought, yogagal:

If you use a travel agent, and ask for Chicago-Chennai, you might get a better deal since you would be routed to Delhi or Mumbai, then placed on a domestic carrier with a codeshare agreement with your inbound airline--so that leg might be a little cheaper than if you bought it separately.

the opoponax

merchant, yeah, that's what i'm figuring. right now i'm not planning on actually going anywhere till end of august or maybe the first week in september, though, and the idea of putting down $1000 now against the possibility of any number of things changing between now and then freaks me out. at this point i'm planning on actually booking the flight in may or june, depending on my own personal finances.

edit because i cross-posted with akt: oh, i understand perfectly. i think what you say is quite apt; all my friends who've done the big india haul have done it a couple or 3 years ago, quite possibly before these flights existed. so all their advice, while very good in 2005, might not apply right now.

akt

I have given up on the idea that any method will automatically produce the best or even a good price. You have to keep scanning. As in all shopping, but especially in a volatile area, you have to know what is a good price, grab it when it appears, and not worry about minor fluctuations after that. (I've had good luck asking airlines for credit if the price drops, so no harm asking.)

I don't know Chennai route and cannot tell you the price at which you should jump (for Delhi it is 900-950, and if that doesn't show up, then 1000 as merchant said). But you have to know that. There is no shopping without knowing what you are willing to pay.

I think now may be too early to find any specials for Dec-Jan. What you are seeing is mostly regular published fares. Dec Jan is a tough period, but the sit will probably get better in next few months. Maybe by July/Aug. Keep checking online and also with Indian agents on Devon, just in case.

As for Delhi connection, it is just one idea. There is enough competition on Delhi-Chennai sector, you will definitely be able to buy Rupee fare, probably around INR 3000. If you don't like the idea of staying the night, it is pretty easy to arrive in Delhi at an ungodly hour like 2AM and the first flight to Chennai is probably around 5-6 AM.

BTW, other than the AA nonstop from Chicago, there is nothing special about Delhi and you can also look into connecting in Mumbai too.

These possibilities are worth considering along with more traditional ones, but that's about it. The total price may or may not prove attractive enough to buy, but that's what comparison shopping is all about.

I wish I could be more helpful. It is like soccer. I know how to play the game, but I don't know where the various players and the ball will be 45 minutes from now.

akt

Presently Continental nonstops in late Aug - ealry Sep are available for $956 total incl all taxes. This is not going to get better. You know you sit best, but the sooner you can act, the better.

the opoponax

akt, if i weren't up for a possible promotion at work which might mean canceling my trip entirely, i would have booked that ticket already. that's actually my nightmare at the moment, weirdly enough -- getting a promotion and having to put off this trip Yet Again.

akt

I understand. If we must have problems, it is good to have this kind. If you get the promotion, you will be able to afford the higher ticket price you may have to pay later.