By Virginia Franco
How to Compare Cheap Flights to India
Thanks to today's technology, it is possible to research and compare airline fares to India. Depending on their ultimate destination within India, U.S. travelers have several airports from which to choose. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airporot in Mumbai is by far the busiest with the most number of flights. This airport is the base for Air India, a hub for Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Go Air, Spice Jet, Indigo and Kingfisher Airlines. The Internet, coupled with travel search engine software, gives travelers access to fare information that details to the weekly and daily flights provided by many of these carriers to destinations within India. Comparing fares to India couldn't be easier--all you need is a telephone, a computer and an Internet connection.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need:
- Telephone
Computer with Internet access
- Telephone
- Computer with Internet access
Step 1
Conduct an online search using various travel search engines. Travel search engines have the capability to compare the fares of several different airlines. They also allow you the flexibility to change your dates and destination and arrival cities. Cheapflights.com and Travelsupermarket.com are great sites to begin your search and even provide information about peak flying seasons.
Step 2
Check with specific airlines to compare fares. Sometimes fares are available that differ from those that appear on travel search engines. Search for fares using airline-specific Web sites as well as contacting them personally to inquire about fares. In addition to the Indian and other international carriers listed in the introduction that service routes to India, American carriers that fly to India include Northwest, Delta, United and Continental. US Airways uses its partnership with Lufthansa to connect passengers through Frankfurt en route to Mumbai.
Step 3
Contact an Indian travel specialist. Both Yatra.com and MakeMyTrip.com are pioneers of online travel services to India. Both offer promotions whereby if you find a better deal than something offered on their site they will not only match it but pay you the difference. Yatra offers a multi-language customer service center that is open 24/7.
Step 4
Call an airline consolidator to see if it is able to offer cheap fares to India. Airline consolidators have been known to offer from 50 to 70 percent lower fares than traditional travel agencies or airline reservation sites. Bargaintravel.com and Cheapoair.com are well known.
Step 5
Compare less direct routes that may offer you less expensive fares. Aside from Mumbai, check out flights into Hyderabad or Goa and take a train or bus (or a local flight) to your ultimate destination. Stops that connect in popular destination Bangkok, or perhaps a major gateway city in Europe (London, Frankfurt, Paris) may also cost less than flying non-stop or direct flights.
Resources
About the Author:
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Virginia Franco has more than 15 years experience freelance writing. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including the education magazine "My School Rocks" and Work.com. Franco has a master's degree in social work with an emphasis in health care from the University of Maryland and a journalism degree from the University of Richmond.
Photo Credits:
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