inetuser said:hi patelforindia...

can you give me your contact details? I need your urgent help with my parent's travelling to ahmedabad.

Many thanks

Please read the OP for this info.:
Mudra Travels
6814 Gafford Dr
Columbus, OH 43229
Email: MudraTravels@yahoo.com
FatWallet PM: PatelForIndia
Phone 614-818-2783

jainmohit said:I have around 50,000 NW miles, I was wondering what would be the best way to use them. I am moving back to India in next 3-4 months so I would like to use them asap.

Can these miles be used to buy a one way ticket to IndiaOn this Northwest WorldPerks Page, Following line is more important for you,

"Not only you can reserve award tickets for yourself, you can also redeem miles for award tickets that friends and family can enjoy.."

For India ticket, you will still have to still accumlate points and if you do not have any other option then when you go to India, it's better to keep accumlating, who knows tomorrow you may have to comeback or need to go somewhere else. Alternative, you can findout someone in your circle, who is travelling to europe and can get ticket using your points and give cash to you.

Points requirements for Northwest
Redeem from USA
Redeem from India

For one-way, it's only talking about "Upgrade"..so if you buy one way ticket then you can upgrade it using points but, upgrade may not be worth....to talk more 1-800-44PERKS

AIR-INDIA TO START DELHI-WASHINGTON FLIGHT

Seattle, July 08: State-run carrier Air India, which is buying 68 aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing, plans to connect more Indian and American cities, including the two capitals of New Delhi and Washington, as it seeks to expand its international operations.

"Washington, I admit, is an important route and we plan to put a flight there, may not be a non-stop flight. It could be a one-stop flight because of the traffic," Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas said here.

Thulasidas, who is here to take part in Boeing's roll out of the Dreamliner 787 series, said the new air planes would help it increase long-haul flights between the two countries such as from New York to Mumbai and New Delhi.

"So what you are looking at is a 787 (Dreamliner) flying between Delhi and Washington possibly via Paris," he said.

The Indian carrier is buying 68 passenger jets from Boeing, including 27 Dreamliners.

Air India has drawn up plans to include US cities such as Boston, Dallas Fort Worth and Houston, besides the traditional routes of New York, Chicago and San Fransisco. Thulasidas said Air India earlier did not start flights from Chennai or other Indian cities to Europe and the US mainly because of shortage of aircraft.

"We will be flying from Chennai via Europe to the US as part of the business plan we have worked out. We plan to fly from Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad via Europe to the US. We plan to have a hub in New York where several Indian cities will be linked with onward connections to the US. We have plans for about eight cities in India," he said.

Air India has drawn up plans to include US cities such as Boston, Dallas Fort Worth and Houston, besides the traditional routes of New York, Chicago and San Fransisco.

Another good news is: MRO in Nagpur, which will give employment to hundreds of people plus will bring foreign revenue..

Boeing and Air India have also worked out an arrangement for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) as a part of a business venture and as a part of the aircraft purchase deal where Boeing will be pumping some 185 million dollar as a part of its deal. The MRO facility would be set up in Nagpur.

"We are looking at the MRO as a business venture... Boeing and Air India had agreed that we will set up an MRO in India. This is part of the aircraft purchase agreement which we signed... Boeing gave a commitment that they will invest up to 100 million dollars for an MRO, up to 75 million dollars for a training joint venture and another 10 million dollars for general aviation infrastructure," he said.

"Nagpur was chosen as a site for the MRO. It will be for air frames and we will work with Boeing to see how the Mumbai facility could be incorporated into this," he added.

Origianal news story can be read here in The Economic Times

I have 320,000 (yes 320k) Delta Skylmiles for Skyteam. I and my family need to go to india in last week of Nov 2007 and return first week of jan 2008. I haved called Delta sveral times in last 4 months and no award tickets to India available. I doubt now for Delta that even if we call them 8 months ahead of time they never give award tickets..My questions to fW fellows:

1. What is the best way to get award tickets
2. How to check availabilty in partners airlines... and use Delta skymiles
3. How can i exchange my milesage with cash and use that cash to buy ticket
4, Any travel afent can help here...for any commission..

manojmails said:I have 420,000 (yes 320k) Delta Skylmiles for Skyteam. I and my family need to go to india in last week of Nov 2007 and return first week of jan 2008. I haved called Delta sveral times in last 4 months and no award tickets to Indi available. I doubt now for Delta that even if we cal them 8 onths ahed of time they never give award tickets..My questions to fW fellows:

1. What is the best way to get wad tickets
2. How to check availabilty in partners airlines... and use Delta skymiles
3. How can i exchange my milesage with cash and use that cash to buy ticketAward tickets are booked in special class (quota or category, not about economy class or first class) and it needs to be booked with Airlines (not with agent). It's airlines decision on when to release seats in this quota, it may be possible that if the season has high traffic, they would not like to give-out seats for free when they can make money by selling seats. I myself wants to go India with my family in December and I am entitle to get free tickets from airlines, but problem is there is no seat (even that category does not exist) for December month. Your first step is to findout which perticular class of tickets you need for booking. Once you know this class, then anyone can check that seats are available in that class or not, and when it's available. Best way to deal with this issue is, finout if you can get ticket on someone else name using your points, if yes, then findout someone who would like to get ticket on using your point, and cash out your points.

FYI: Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas is not allowed to travel for Free in Bombay to Newyork non-stop flight's first class anymore, because Air-India kept less first class seats in this flight and whatever they kept, they would like to sell it instead of giving first class seat free to staff. "Lalu needs to apply this policy in Indian Railway too"

I previously requested recommendations for a travel agent on the west coast. A friend recommended Sai Travels in Fremont, CA.

The ladies at Sai were friendly, efficient, and got us a great deal -- $1050 for SFO-BOM on Eva (via their base in Taipei), a price lower even than Eva's website itself, and far lower than any of the online booking sites (Expedia, Kayak, Makemytrip, etc.) and also lower than the bucket shop in SF that I tried. One segment was wait-listed initially, but cleared in a couple of days. They were also able to add on a couple of domestic Jet Air flights for very reasonable rates, I think lower than what was available for booking in USD on Jet Air's own site. So for others flying from SFO, I would recommend:

Sai Travels
39737 PASEO PADRE PKWY, SUITE A3
FREMONT CA 94538
PHONE: 1-510-657-1724

They do have limited business hours (9/10-5pm), and my husband had to go there twice, once to have the credit card swiped, and once to pick up the tickets. Perhaps they could have arranged delivery, but not sure what they'd have done about the credit card since they use one of those ancient manual gadgets that takes an imprint of the card.

prashp1 said:Hello PatelFromIndia,

I am trying to send you PM, but it is saying:

Sorry, but that user does not want to receive private messages

Thanks

Surprise surprise, look a few post before you. Hint hint ****

Thanks Patel and other guys on this forum for the great info you have here.

I had talked to Patel on the phone and it was good talking to him.

I had a request, Patelji
Could you update this forum when you see new fare sheets for Emirates, Kuwait or other airways for the Nov-Dec-Jan time frame?
You don't have to post the fare sheets. Just that new ones for xxx timeframe have been received. I could call you to follow up.

As I mentioned on the phone, I am looking for EWR (or PHL) - TRV round trip (2 adult + 2 yr child)(through middle east as the immigration hassle is easier to handle in Trivandrum)

Thanks to all guys who post here

Gerry

any good deals with direct flights from stl to ord to del (aa) or newark to del (continental) departing nov 2 and returning dec 2?

azygous said:I am travelling from ATL..any one fly direct from ATL to mumbai??

and whats the best time to shop for 25dec departure...coming back jan 16th...All December High peak season price comes down after 24/25 December, Price after 24/25 Dec are January month sale price. You should check for price in around October month, also keep departure date little bit flexible like 25th to 28th. Last year, Northwest was the first to release sale price for this time period and they had released it in around October month. Welcome back after long time