| India is truly a fantastic and magical travel destination, | | | | 5. Avoid dates that coincide with public or religious |
| favored by backpackers and gap year students, | | | | festivals in India: Similar to the last tip but of course |
| honeymooners and holidaymakers. It is also one of | | | | this time the demand for tickets is linked to the |
| the fastest developing destinations for business | | | | increased number of travellers of Indian origin |
| travel. The huge increase in oil prices has had an | | | | expected to return home or to visit family during |
| impact on the cost of air travel to India yet despite | | | | these times. |
| the huge hike in air fares, cheap flights can still be | | | | 6. Choice of departure airports: Restricting your |
| found. This article shows you how, by following my | | | | choice of departure airports will also restrict your |
| Top 10 Tips, you can ensure you get access to the | | | | access to cheap flights. By far the most used airport |
| cheapest possible prices for your India flight. | | | | for departures to India from the UK is London |
| Flying to India? Here are my Top 10 Tips for finding | | | | Heathrow followed by London Gatwick and |
| that cheap flight. | | | | Manchester. The majority of the cheap flights that I |
| The majority of my tips are all about flexibility. Having | | | | personally find are on routes from Heathrow and |
| a large window of opportunity allows you a much | | | | Manchester. You do need to ensure that any saving |
| greater choice. Air fares just like any other | | | | in air fare is not outweighed by extra costs involved |
| commodity are priced on the basis of supply and | | | | in getting to an airport that is not local to you. |
| demand, those routes and flight times that are most | | | | 7. Book early: Good savings can be made by booking |
| in demand will of course command the highest prices. | | | | your tickets well in advance. This is particularly the |
| One of the first principles of finding cheap flights is | | | | case if you are restricted to times and dates when |
| being able to take flights that are least popular and | | | | you can fly. |
| therefore are at a reduced price as an incentive to | | | | 8. Book online: This is often cheaper than booking |
| entice buyers. Do not however think that there are | | | | over the phone, it offers a greater choice, and allows |
| flights out there that nobody wants and will remain | | | | you to browse at your own pace. I always get the |
| unsold if you do not happen along to purchase them, | | | | feeling that at the end of a phone I am not |
| there is little doubt that all flights will be sold, you are | | | | necessarily getting the full picture. Booking online with |
| simply looking to buy at the lowest price. | | | | a reputable company is now considered to be one of |
| 1. Be flexible with your flight times: Being prepared to | | | | the safest ways of paying for your air tickets. |
| fly at unsociable hours such as early mornings or late | | | | 9. Do not tarry: If you have found a bargain flight, |
| at night greatly increases your chance of finding | | | | book it there and then. Leave it and it may well be |
| cheaper flights. | | | | gone by the time you come back. Many of the best |
| 2. Be flexible with dates: Being flexible with the dates | | | | offers do not remain available for long. |
| on which you can travel expands your window of | | | | 10. Shop around: One single supplier will never ever |
| opportunity giving you access to a vastly increased | | | | always have the cheapest price for all flights to all |
| number of flights. | | | | destinations. It is important therefore to check the |
| 3. Fly mid-week: The busiest and most popular time | | | | flights offered by a range of flight companies, airlines, |
| to fly is at weekends, consequently these flights will | | | | consolidators and travel agents. |
| be in great demand. With no shortage of buyers for | | | | So there are my top 10 tips for finding that cheap |
| a limited number of seats, these weekend flights are | | | | flight to India. There are plenty of cheap flights out |
| likely to be the most expensive. | | | | there just waiting to be found, the only downside is |
| 4. Avoid public or school holidays in the country of | | | | that the process of locating them can be very time |
| your departure: Take any holiday brochure and look | | | | consuming. As pointed out in tip number 10 you need |
| at the table of prices. Notice how prices increase | | | | to check the flights offered by a whole range of |
| sharply on the dates coinciding with UK bank holidays | | | | flight companies, airlines, consolidators and travel |
| and school holidays. The chances of finding cheap | | | | agents. |
| flights to India at these times are practically nil. | | | | |