Delta Non-Stop, JFK to Mumbai..

Hi People.

I heard about Continental Airlines non-stop from Newark to Delhi but this is the first time I heard about Delta Airlines new non-stop New York to Mumbai.

Anybody took the new Delta flight? How many hours does it shave off by not stopping in Europe? I checked airfares for off season they are more expensive than Air India but comparative to Continental. Sounds like a great option to India doesnt it?

Bye!

I haven't heard of it, but it sounds like too much time to be stuck in a plane without a break.I would think it would only shave off 1 maybe 2 hours max. I personally like a stop midway. So I can stretch my legs and get my head together for the next long haul. I hate long flights. Why can't India be closer.

One of my Indian journalist friends, formerly based in DC, has taken a job in Delhi. Here's her blog post about the Newark - Delhi nonstop on Continental:

http://homelandinsecurities.blogspot...1/arrival.html

I actually really like that Continental flight between Delhi and Newark and have taken it a bunch of times. The plane is big enough that the flight is really smooth and I find it really convenient to step on the plane in Delhi and off in the U.S. For those who are fully conscious during these long flights they might feel claustrophobic and bored, but for anyone who takes flight (motion sickness) meds while flying, it's comforting to just board-sleep-disembark instead of wandering around a transit lounge on dramamine or scopolamine for hours. The only problem seems to be that now there's a lot of interest in these direct flights and they have jacked up the prices quite a bit.

Does anyone know the price of this flight return?

thought the Newark- New Delhi flight would be too much.. Much to my surprise it passed relatively quickly... Flight was smooth, and enough room on the plane to get up and prowl the aisles for a while.. Thankfully I had the foresight to book an aisle seat..

The food was passable, for airline food.. Planned my potty stops for when everyone else was asleep... A good trip, if you can find anything good about spending 15 hours on your ass... other than the destination..

Today I read a newspaper report about a passenger who died just after arrival from the Delta flight into Mumbai. Would recommend passengers with even the slightest bit of a health problem to avoid long haul flights. This particular flight was delayed in the beginning as well as at the end due to air traffic at the airport for a total of about 90 minutes so I guess it became a pretty long flight. Even their inaugural flight was delayed by a similar period.

Aadil.

Aadil, do you have a link or any suggestion of why that person died? This isn't telling us much.

Was a heart attack, I believe but the airlines spokeswoman did not give more information about the passenger as it was against company regulations. Surprisingly even she was supposed to be on the same flight and she did not notice anything wrong with the guy who died since he was also travelling in Business Class. It may not be really related to the long haul flight but it could aggravate a sickness or health problem that you have like heart problems, varicose veins, etc.

Aadil.

Yes, so these are all assumptions (no, I'm not picking a fight )

I don't know, advising against long-haul flights won't get us very far on an India-related forum will it Seriously, I'm not sure if I'd prefer a flight with more stopovers; I've had plenty and it's generally a pain in the bum with getting in and out and long waits in uninspiring passenger halls and overpriced food that isn't available etc. (not to mention stops where you don't get out at all with the airco off for security reasons.) I'd rather have the business over with already. (Speaking as a chain smoker there's always that maddening craving these days for a fag of course that makes you wish you could suffer something like a little plane crash just to get a tug.)

I must admit flying further east (18-hour'ish) was getting a bit much for me. Then again flying with some cheap Eastern European company with plenty an unpredictable stopover didn't really help.

Oh and of course planes are notorious for being about the most unhealthy environments on the planet, but what can you do right. Take some exercise, walk up and down a bit. Sleep. (Wear a clean pair of socks & take off those shoes!)

I found at Yahoo Travel that the Delta flight direct from JFK to Mumbai is Flight # 16. It takes 14 hours and 50 minutes. The return price leaving the middle of January and returning 1 month later was $1,262 US, taxes included. Not to bad for nonstop and a reliable airline.

I am not assuming things when I say that it is bad for one's health as it is what doctors say about long haul flights for passengers who are known to have health problems like heart problems and varicose veins as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is one of the main factors that affect the human body in flight so it is something pretty serious and even for a normal person could be dangerous sometimes. It is always advisable to walk around the aisles as much as you can, drink lots of water, avoid any alcohol, do the recommended exercises even if you are seated according to some of the videos they show on some airlines like "Exercise with Stan" on Air India. It helps to avoid some of the symptoms and keeps you in better shape than if you do all the things most people tend to do on any flight like drink a lot of alcohol, go to sleep (especially after a meal) and almost don't move from their seat at all during the whole flight. Every aircraft has a lot of pollution in the cabin due to recirculation of stale air due to the pressurised cabin and as oxygen levels are lesser than normal it is always a problem for sick passengers or even for some of the healthy ones too.

I know a few people who take a short break inbetween flights so as to avoid jetlag as well as fatigue due to the long haul flights by a short stopover in Europe (where they check in to a hotel for a few hours) before continuing with the next flight after half a day or so. You also arrive here a bit more fresh and don't get too jetlagged either.

Aadil.

Im planning to use the EWR-Delhi flight in March. Dont consider a 2 or 3 hour layover in Europe(with the chance of losing luggage in a plane switch) to be any sort of a benefit, health or otherwise. Stopping and taking a couple day break enroute, maybe to help with jet lag, but otherwise its just a longer flight, and a less direct route to make the intermediate stop. Whether the flight is broken in the middle or not, we need to be up and around and exercising in our seets on intercontinental flights to avoid deep vein thrombosis.

As for the heart attack case I cant see why the longer flight is necessarily riskier - I mean, travel between Asia and US/Europe is a LONG flight no matter how many pieces its done in. If a passenger is gravely ill, my understanding is that pilots will land when they can to obtain assistance. People with serious health conditions are more at risk when they fly long distances, over oceans etc. where care is not readily available and need to take that into consideration in planning to fly.

I actually took the Thai Airways JFK-Bangkok route..17 hours non-stop and I made a point to move and stretch every hour or so. I found the flight convenient and relaxing, also these long haul non-stop flights tend to be in A330-500 and even coach is quite roomy. The longest flight on earth is the Newark-Singapore flight at 18 hours, and the seat pitch is 36 inches very roomy compared to the standard 32 on other international routes.

My husband and I got a special deal on Thai Airways to Bangkok upgraded to Premium economy (best seat pitch in the world for this class at 48 inches!!) and we paid only 199 dollars for each of us to upgrade from coach class. It is roomier than Business class on domestic US routes.

I hate stopping in transit, there is always a risk something will go wrong (missed connection, tiredness blahhh) and I have spent many times sitting in Heathrow Airport waiting and missing my connection to New York after a late arrival from Chennai...not fun my friends.

We are young and in relatively good health so I am a fan of long haul non-stops..but I would definetly be more cautious if I was older and have a history of thrombosis or DVT. I wouldnt recommend it for my 80 year old grandma who loves the Emirates Hyderabad-Dubai-New York Route so she can stretch her legs and walk around beautiful Dubai Airport.

My father is taking the Delta JFK-Mumbai this friday so I will ask him how it goes..of course he goes in Business class. I am not so lucky

(Speaking as a chain smoker there's always that maddening craving these days for a fag of course that makes you wish you could suffer something like a little plane crash just to get a tug.)

A nicotine patch helps keep you from twitching... I used to always carry them for those long flights.