When i inquired a travel agent in India for booking a ticket, he suggested reserve tickets for June 16th travel instead of June 15. June 16th falls in next quarter hence cancellation charges will be less (25%). I didn't understand that theory. Anybody can interpret/validate that for me please.

wickedrandi said:We'll be travelling with 1 1/2 year old child. Should I ask for the child seat or opt for Lap? The difference in price seems to be almost $400 with the seat?
Buy a separate seat, the money you spend will be worth it.

By the way, those who are going India in peak season are going to enjoy Mango and I am not sure, will they be able to bring back Mango in their luggage due to custom restriction. If you remember, during president's last visit to India to sign nuclear technology agreement, they also signed agreement to allow Indian Mango in U.S. Markets. When I told this to my American friend, he had replied: “Oh! So now by giving us Mango, you guys are going to get nuclear technology?”

I am sure, that agreement was to import mango by commercial channel, not thru lugguage.

In reply to Wickedrandi question:

Air-India has divided All U.S. airports in zone. Currently there are 4 Gateways (JFK,EWR,ORD,LAX) and 1 to 9 Zone.
This 1 to 9 Zone covers all the airports, they have contract with domestic airlines (called code sharing airlines), to transfer Air-India passenger from local airport to Gateway. In your case you are catching flight from LAX so you will be catching Air-India directly, another benefit of catching Air-India directly is allowed 70Lbs luggage instead of 50 lbs.

For some local airport passenger, it also make difference in the price when you go India by perticular Gateway. For example From SLC to MAA (Chennai) during 26 May to 15 June, when you go India by LAX Gateway, it makes $460 less compare to when you go via ORD, JFK or EWR Gateway. There is no big difference when you go via ORD, EWR or JFK airport. Choosing between ORD or EWR depends only where you are going in India like for Ahmedabad (direct flight from EWR) and for Hyderabad (Direct flight from ORD). This example is for specific city and for specific time only based on Air-India pricing structure. All zone can not connect to LAX.

Please do not apply this $460 less example to all your trip. All this information is not going to make difference for you because this detail is what we deal internally to provide better route and better deal (and also when getting a seat is problem), but I am sharing it here because sharing knowledge is good.

PatelFromIndia said:Wickedrandi,

Dec. 2006 is ten months far. You can wait to see more options.

For Child, I believe he/she will be 1 1/2 year during Dec. 2006 (not right now), Even you choose Lap option for infant, you will have to pay around 10% of full price + full taxes, which will be $300-$400. When Flight is not full, you can use empty seats.

The price you mentioned are regular price. Air-India has lower then that price.

LAX to MAA, Price range for December 2006 is
01 Dec. to 07 Dec = $xxxx.xx
08 Dec. to 23 Dec = $xxxx.xx + $450
24 Dec. to 30 Dec = $xxxx.xx (X'mas belongs here and all $xxxx.xx are same amount)

In above, I have used Air-India's pricelist (which is similar for other airlines), and I have mentioned above range to get idea on, during which week you should travel to save money.

Mr. Patel,
I am planning for vacation from Cedar Rapids(CID) to Delhi(DEL) between Thanksgiving and Christmas for 2 adults and 1 child (who will be 3.5 yrs by that time). Can you give me any details of the price range at this time for any of the airlines? I won't mind flying from ORD to DEL if I get a good deal. I can arrange for a car from CID to ORD. Any help is appreciated.

Once again, tentative date of going to India - November 23,2006
tentative date of coming from India (land at ORD or CID) - December 23 or December 24, 2006.

Thanks.

Hey there,

I was looking for tickets from May 10-21 to July 10-30

from TPA to AMD or ORL to AMD... airlines can be any.

I was looking for a total of 14 tickets. My current travel agent is giving me new BS every day.

VPaT25,
Please check your PM, I am waiting to know more.

Looking for


Leaving EWR to DEL any day between June 15th to June 21st
Arriving EWR any day between Aug 21st to Aug 29th.

Thanks.

Aaskat,
Right now two airlines has promotion which is for May month, so if you use that as a reference then you should start looking in June/July. Now June/July is high peak season but August is not peak season so it's increase chance of getting promotion. and it may be from Air-India because for Amdavad, Air-India has non-stop flight. When more then one airlines involves in your travel, it's increase final price compare to single airlines.

PatelFromIndia

Thanks for your reply. Please check your PM.