Toronto to Chennai/Bangalore or Hyderabad

shelley13

Does anyone have any insider advice on cheap flights from Toronto to either Chennai/Bangalore or Hyderabad in April for approx 3 months?

I use kayak.com and redtag.ca, but are there any more I can be looking at?
The cheapest I found was with Lufthansa for $1700 (all taxes included) round trip - direct from T.O to Chennai. But I get Aeroplan points so it's a bonus.

I flew Air france last time to Mumbai for $1500 (all taxes incl.)rndtrip. in November which is pretty good for high season IMO.

Anyway just wondering if there is someone with a secret weapon

Much appreciated.

PeakXV

I would try Gill International Travel - they specialize in flights to India and will find you the 'best available' rate.

1240 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5R 2A7
(416) 323-9898

__________________
We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

sthakur

Hello,

Good sites to book are flightnetwork.com and galatravels.com

Good rates, and beats call travel agents for prices.

Qatar airways is having a sale right now, to mumbai its $1200 tax in, not bad considering its a 5* airline.

sthakur

shelley13

I'll check out the websites and give the travel agent a call before I book anything.
Thanks for the help. I figure booking a flight in April ought to be cheaper than booking one November since April is low season in India. But maybe not??

I'll keep looking. Will post what I end up buying to help others in the future.

Hop

Hi - might be worth trying Jet Airways - they have a new direct flight from Toronto to Chennai via Brussels. Often some good offers on that which are worth hunting down.

There is often confusion about what Direct flights mean.

Non-stop means the plane doesn't land, or get changed anywhere between your departure and arrival.

Eg New York to Delhi non stop on Air India means the flight is about 17 hours long and does not stop anywhere.

Direct means that you are on the same plane, but you stop to refuel.
Eg - Jet - Direct Toronto -> Chennai, means you stop in Brussels to refuel for 2 hours, but you are essentially on the same plane all the way through and is the same flight number. It means that you usually have a much shorter stop, and don't have to change terminals or go hunting for the new gate in the airport or be subject to further delays etc.

Lufthansa Toronto -> Chennai is not direct. This flight stops in Frankfurt, and then you start a new flight from Frankfurt to Chennai. Different flight numbers, possibly even a different departure terminal in Frankfurt from the one you arrived on and different planes. Your luggage will carry on and you will be checked in for your Frankfurt Chennai flight in Toronto, but it is a different flight. Also worth noting with Lufthansa, is that they don't normally have individual TV's in economy (a few planes are starting to appear with it, but as yet, the majority of them don't - so expect not to have). Jet and some of the others have really good individual choose your own entertainment - thats very important when you're spending 20 or so hours travelling.

Also, check with British Airways, although often expensive, do sometimes have some incredible offers when you book direct with them on their website. Fly Toronto London Chennai.

Other options by checking Ebookers, Travelocity or even the airlines website:-
Air France - Toronto Paris Chennai
Emirates - Toronto Dubai Chennai


Basically at the end of the day, no one flies non stop to Chennai from the Eastern seaboard - you have to stop somewhere.

Hope that helps.

nycank

http://indiaaviation.aero/news/airline/7718/59/Air+Canada+expands+service+to+ India

Absence an approximate date when you plan to take this 3 month trip, its difficult to look up fares easily.

shelley13

Good to know the difference between Direct and Non-Stop. Thanks for that info.

I don't have exact dates and I am flexible. The dates I am using are April 5th and returning July 19th. But really I am trying different combinations to see what is available and cheapest.

I have found some deals with Jet Airways. And when I think I find a good deal with British Airlines, the taxes usually knock me on my butt. It's very deceiving.

I'll keep hunting with all the great info provided.
I tried the websites that Sthakur suggested and they were quite good with some of the best prices I've seen to India. They even seemed to have access to many airlines that I have never seen come up anywhere else. Such as Air Canada from Toronto to UAE then Emirates to Chennai, and for a great price too.

Thanks again all. I'm still hunting

Hop

Hi - no problem at all. Its unusual about BA - there website normally shows prices inclusive of taxes - although maybe in Canada it's different.

Key thing to know about taxes is they depend on the departure country and arrivals - eg if you fly via London, then you pay taxes for departing Canada and the UK. If you go via Dubai, then your taxes are Canada and Dubai charges. Thats why they seem to vary, and why BA taxes always seem high - the uk taxes are amongst the highest - so although BA offer great service, its on worth transiting through the UK if you get a great deal on the actual fare, or you like BA!
Cheers
Hop

shelley13

I haven't actually checked the BA website. I am using flight search engines that give me the actual fare cost. Once I select a flight, it adds up the taxes. So when I think I find a great deal ($1000-$1100) I get excited then click purchase to see the taxes and the flight ends up being $1600-$1750. I mean $600 in taxes. Yowza.

I'll check the website directly though to see of the prices are any lower.

nycank

9W(Jet) is still the cheapest in the published fare category.

The first is the Fare basis, second is booking class; next category and finally the fare (excluding taxes). Comparable BA (British Air) is higher -

plus, the experience of routing through Heathrow is a nightmare. BRU is much better

Hop

I agree - Transiting through Heathrow - pain.

but on March 28th - Terminal 5 at Heathrow opens, which is only BA flights - should make life more bearable.

shelley13

Last time I flew Air France to Mumbai. I found a really great deal. But transiting through CDG was a nightmare. I felt like I was on the Amazing Race weaving and running down all kinds of corridors, hopping on shuttles, then when you thought you were there, you had to hop on another shuttle.

I'd like to avoid that this time around.

9W (Jet Airways) does seem to be the best fare out there. Might be taking that one.

Thanks folks.

synthette

Hi Shelley!
I'm in Halifax but I'll be flying out of Toronto in March 09 - the best deals I can find are via Etihad Airlines (via UAE) or even Air India.
Just got an online quote for Halifax - Chennai (via Toronto or New York), one way, tax inc. for $932.
Just been to Jet Air site - lowest 'one way' is $1300 cdn....no thanks! LOL! Return is $1850 cdn.
Waiting until after Thanksgiving etc. to see if any deals come up.
Try Orbitz for searches too.

mirjamd

I can really recommend Jet Airways. My husband flies a lot from NY to Chennai via Brussels, a flight which is similar to the flight from Toronto. The connection is great with a short wait in Brussels airport, without any connecting hassles, such as having your luggage checked again and changing terminals.

The service on board is also really good.
So if you get a cheap flight with them, I would go for it.