Ways to Get Cheap Tickets on Dubai to Mumbai Flights

If you are looking for cheap tickets on Dubai to Mumbai flights, then first you should find out their schedule. About 84 weekly flights are operated from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM). Jet Airways and Emirates offer the most number of international services on this route, 35 and 38, respectively. The first flight of the day from DXB to BOM is operated by SpiceJet at 3:40 am that reaches Mumbai at 7:50 am. On the other hand, the last one of the day is operated by FlyDubai at 10:15 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A daily flight at 10:05 pm leaves for BOM from DXB, and it is operated by Jet Airways.

Opting for the First and Last Services of the Day

Now, since you want to get flight tickets at a comparatively lower price, then one of the options for you would be to opt for the first flight of the day or the last. The reason being, the first one leaves DXB at 3:40 am and the last one at 10:15 pm, and chances of people taking these flights are quite less. Hence, the fare is more likely to be less when compared to those that are scheduled to operate between 9:25 am and 6:55 pm.

Booking in Advance

Since 84 weekly services are available between Dubai and Mumbai, there is no dearth of air tickets, but the trick is to find the lowest priced ones. This is why advance booking is considered to be an almost sure shot solution for it. Experts suggest that 3 months prior to the date of departure is the ideal period to make a flight booking. This is the time when the ticket prices are at their lowest, but subsequently increase as the departure date approaches.

Low-Cost Carriers

Another way to get cheap tickets on this route is to opt for the service of low-cost carriers – IndiGo and SpiceJet. Since they only offer Economy class seating and no complimentary meal or entertainment services, their fares are always low when compared to that of full-fledged carriers. The best part is both of them offer their services on this route on a daily basis.

Connecting Flights

If your endurance is good and time is not an issue, then you should opt for connecting flights to spend less on your ticket. The reason is that with non-stop ones, the ticket fare also includes convenience cost, which does not happen in the case of connecting ones. As a result, they are less priced but only the travelling time increases. However, if you are someone who does not mind waiting at the airport or get a transit visa for few hours and explore the stopover destination, then this option is the best bet for you.

   

Festive Deals

It has been observed that most airlines offer discount deals for festive seasons, especially in India. So, you could coincide your travelling date with any of the festival dates and get a good deal on your ticket fare. However, since these are usually flash sales, it is important that you are well aware about them.

These are a few ways, using which you can get cheap Dubai to Mumbai flights.

More Options For Dubai to New Delhi Flights

Dubai is one of the most popular emirates in the United Arab Emirates. Boasting all the top-end and luxury brands to souks, it is a paradise for shopaholics. In addition to this, it is also the commercial centre, featuring zonal and head offices of giant conglomerates. This is the reason that it is visited by a large number of leisure and business travelers from all across the globe throughout the year. Hence, most of the carriers based in this city offer frequent services to major cities of the world. For instance, Emirates – the national carrier – offers four non-stop Dubai to New Delhi flights. Similarly, connecting as well as direct services are offered by this airline to popular cities in the world.

Though the presence of carrier can be seen all over the globe, it receives high passenger traffic from India. As per reports, this Gulf-based airline is looking forward to get bigger pie share of international passenger traffic from India. The report further states that Emirates may carry over 85 million travelers to and from the country, by the end of the year 2020. This airline has contributed over $848 million in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country every year along with offering jobs to around 86000 people.

Network Expansion

Several reports and industry experts claim that Indian aviation industry is in the booming phase. By the end of this decade, this nation may become the third largest market in the world, six ranks higher than the current spot. The vice president (VP) of Emirates said that they plan to capitalize this growth opportunity, and reserve a greater chunk of profits for the carrier. For this, enhancement in services, redefined cost strategies and network expansion are the most vital points. Currently, the carrier operates over 180 flights every week, connecting nine Indian cities that include its hubs at the Delhi and Mumbai airport. Back in February 2014, aeronautical authorities of both the countries negotiated a deal that awarded around 11000 additional seats to this Dubai-based carrier. This led to an increase in the number of options to reach this emirate as well as Dubai to New Delhi flights and other cities as the return option.

A similar growth can be pictured in the scenario as the carrier is aiming at growth of around 67 per cent in the next five years.

Economical Aspect

Apart from pacifying the Indian economy by adding to its GDP, the airlines also makes a significant contribution in foreign exchange earnings. As per reports, it generates over $1.7 billion that can be increased manifolds if the enhancement in the capacity entitlement applied by the carrier is approved by the government. As per projections, if Emirates adds 4500 flights on this route, around 4800 jobs will be created along with increasing foreign exchange earning up to $1.8 billion. Similarly, if the agreement supports expansion of around 13849 seats on flights services between these destinations, such as Dubai to New Delhi flights or Mumbai to Dubai flights, the number of job support will increase to over 100000. The contribution in GDP and foreign exchange earnings may rise to $987 million and $2 billion, respectively.

Experts are of the opinion that these figures suggest rise in the number of non-stop flights on this route, operated by emirates.

Tips to Avoid Bumping on Mumbai to Dubai Flights

Mumbai, the financial and entertainment capital of India, is also a popular tourist spot. Similarly, the Emirate of Dubai is also a business hub, listed among the most frequented destinations on the globe. This is the reason both these destinations are visited by leisure as well as business travelers. The number of tourists between these two destinations itself is also quite high. As per recent reports, Dubai is one of the most preferred travel destinations among Indians. Most of them book Delhi to Mumbai to Dubai flights to explore this Emirate destination.

Owing to high traffic on this route, traveler may face the problem of bumping. Before you read how to avoid bumping, know why it happens. Carriers offer seat-booking option around 90 days in advance. Many a time, they also offer discounts on advance booking that results in bulk booking. However, the number of seats is limited, many travelers have to be denied of the seat in aircraft during check-in. It can be a spoiler if you are done with all the planning and ready to fly. Here is a list of tips that may save you from such situation as well as how to tackle it.

No to Peak Travel Times

Unless it is not an emergency, avoid booking your for peak travel seasons. Usually, under such circumstances, people with higher membership status or miles are given preference. In addition to this, it has been observed that the demand for convenient timings is quite high. For instance, most of the people look for 7:00-10:00 am flights on Monday mornings to attend their business after enjoying vacations. Similarly, flights scheduled between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on weekends are preferred by people looking forward to spend some quality time away from the city.

Non-stop Options

Bumping is a situation that arises after booking; hence, it is important to follow up after making the reservation. You can keep checking information regarding your seat with the airline by calling them. Apart from this, experts advise on booking a direct flight instead of connecting ones, as it increases the number of chances of getting bumped. At times, due to bad weather, many flights are cancelled and, passengers may be given seats in the connecting services of the same carrier or the code-share partners.

Options After Being Bumped

Even if after taking all the precautions you are being bumped, then do not hastily start looking for another ticket. All the carriers apologize and offer compensation in this situation. It can be monetary or in terms of replacement of the flight, and is often of more value than expenses borne by you. In case it is really important for you, choose the latter one or save a free ticket with respective carrier for future. Frequent flyers suggest on making reservations for two-three days before the actual event so that bumping does not affect your business or vacation.

Exploring Southeast Asia With Cheap New Delhi to Bangkok Flights

After watching popular movies like The Hangover, Rambo, Tomorrow Never Dies and The Beach, you might have promised yourself to go to Thailand at least once. It seems, this is the perfect time to fulfill that promise. As per a recent report conducted by industry peers, the overall cost of travelling to Asian cities has dropped by more than 10 per cent. This may be attributed to the fall in the cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in the past few months because flight tickets make a major part of the total cost of the entire trip. Now, travelers can book cheap Mumbai, New York, and New Delhi to Bangkok flights as well as other cities.

Findings of Report

Along with the flight ticket cost, stay in a hotel and travelling expenses at the destination have been taken into consideration during the research. From the United States, the cost of exploring Asia has decreased by a whopping 12 per cent. This figure goes down to around 32 per cent, if travelers decide to go Far East within six months. Around 20 major cities in Asia were subject of observation and 18 out of them proved to be cheaper when compared to the previous year. New Delhi and Beijing were the only two destinations where prices went up by four and five per cent, respectively.

Biggest Savings in Southeast Asia

Popular destinations in the Southeast Asia are among the places, where savings are on a higher side. For instance, a vacation in Singapore now, will be approximately 21 per cent cheaper than what it was in the year 2014. Similarly, on a trip to Kuala Lumpur, you can save up to 26 per cent. Not only flights to Bangkok have become cheaper, the hotel tariff has also dropped to an extent that can positively affect your budget. Despite an increase in the number of travelers in these regions, the fall in trip expenses is a positive sign for its tourism industry.

One interesting figure of the report that should not be missed is that the cost of round trip flights to Jakarta from cities in the United States dropped to $940. However, it is worth mentioning that not all places are this cheap. Hence, before start planning your trip right after seeing these figure, check for flight and hotel booking costs for all the options. It may happen that at some places, the percentage of fall might be lower, but they prove to a cheaper option too.

The pleasant weather of Asian cities, sunny beaches, turquoise waters and verdant valleys make for a perfect spot to relax. You can take break from your routine life and some time amidst scenic surrounding at cheaper price now.

Must-dos while Booking Long-haul Flights

Owing to the convenience and advancement of services, air travel is the most preferred mode of transportation, especially in the case of inter-continental journeys. To make your travel experience even smoother, carriers are adding different options in long-haul journeys, such as Delhi to New York, Mumbai to Amsterdam and Pune to Sydney flights. Even after all these efforts, such flights can prove to be physically and mentally tiring, if not chosen carefully. Here is a list of tips given by experts that can be considered before booking your flight.

In the case of short-haul journeys, decision making is a simpler process as you can go for the cheapest or fastest one. However, while making a reservation for long-haul flights, everything, from the choice of airline, seat configuration to in-flight services matter a lot.

Price is Not the Only Criteria

When you book flights that include more than 10-15 hours of flying time, choosing it only on the basis of price can be a big mistake. After boarding the flight, there is nothing that you can change. For instance, if the carrier does not offer good entertainment facilities, you will get bored. Similarly, if meals served during the journey are not as per your taste, you will end up starving for hours. Hence, frequent flyers suggest on evaluating options on the basis of criteria that are important to you, rather than going directly for the cheapest option.

Stopovers and Layover Period

Most of the carriers prefer operating connecting flights rather than one single lengthy flight. It makes sense from operational as well as business perspective. Though the technological advancement in the recent years is unbelievable, one aircraft in the air for long can be a risky thing. Hence, long-haul flights usually include various stopovers. In the case of Pune to Sydney flights, the layover is usually at Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok airports. Experts suggest you to check these stopovers and the layover period before making the reservation. For instance, make sure that you are given enough time to transfer from one terminal to other to board the connecting flight.

Keeping An Open Mind for New Options

The airline that you often travel with may not be the best option for long-haul journeys also. Hence, frequent travelers suggest you to check all the options available on the respective route. The main criteria to judge an airline are food, entertainment and comfort. You can easily check these details on travel portals. Carriers meeting your preferences on these points can be shortlisted for further evaluation.

Choice of Aircraft

After short-listing your options regarding carriers, the next step is to check the aircraft deployed by them on the respective route. Seating set up and amenities like seat-back screens or overhead screens legroom are important aspects. Prior information regarding these can prove to be quite handy in choosing the best option. For example, aircraft with 3-5-3 configuration are comparatively better than 3-3 ones in case of long-haul journeys.

If you are planning to book intercontinental flights anytime soon, these points can prove to be quite useful.

A Few Important Tips for Travelers on Connecting Kochi to Goa Flights

Goa is among the most thronged holiday destinations in India, and people from Grade II and III cities like Kochi are also coming here. Though connecting flights from Kochi to Goa are readily available nowadays, rushing from one flight to another can at times be hectic. Though airlines provide sufficient time for passengers to transit between flights, they often face difficulty in this process.

             

People do their best to find the shortest layovers in connecting flights as no one likes to spend hours at the airport, waiting to board the flight. While quick airport connections are nothing short of a blessing, flyers have to be a little proactive to ensure that the aircraft does not fly without them. Reading the following things, you will get to know what you can do to guarantee a smooth transfer from one aircraft to another.

Choose the Most Suitable Layover 

You might be surprised to know that there are several domestic routes, where you only get the option of traveling on connecting flights. When you have over 175 choices, for examples on this route, you can opt for the one where you do not have to wait or hurry to the check-in counter.

Sit Close to the Gate

The closer you are to the exit door, the faster you will be heading off to your next flight. When going to board an aircraft, especially as part of connections, every minute is crucial. Sitting in the front, you can easily avoid the rush of people de-boarding the jetliner.

Know the Airport

Sometimes, airlines provide transportation between the terminals, and at times they do not. If you have to travel across the airport or terminal on your own, then it would definitely be better to know the layouts. For instance, many Kochi to Goa flights have layovers at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore and sometimes even at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. If you are travelling on this route, then you would not want to be lost at the airport, resulting in a no-show. Having a map of the airfield will allow you to cruise through the airport and board your connecting flight without problems. 

Try to Carry Luggage in Cabin

At times, airlines require you to check-in again before boarding the connecting flight. Waiting for baggage to be taken down from the first flight and checking-in again can waste your precious moments. If you are only going on a short business or leisure trip, then try to carry the entire luggage with you in the cabin.

Check-in Before Arriving at the Airport

In case you have to recheck-in for your connecting flight, you have the option of using the web check-in service. With this service, you can fulfill most of the pre-flight requirements even before your first flight lands at the airport.  

Schedule your Time

It is often seen that there are long stops between two connecting air services, sometimes even for four to five hours like on Bangalore-Goa or Kochi to Goa flights. Though it is a good opportunity for you to go on a small sightseeing venture, you should carefully schedule your itinerary and retreat to the airport just in time for your next flight.

Doing these things can ensure a smooth transition between flights on your connecting flight ticket booking.

Services that Make Travelling with Indigo Online Booking a Hassle-free Experience

Operating from its primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport and based in Gurgaon, Indigo is a low-cost Carrier (LCC). With a share of more than 35 per cent in the domestic aviation market, it is the largest airline company in the country. Carrying about 21.4 million passengers in the domestic sector alone, it is one of the fastest growing companies in India. The airline is dedicated to providing a hassle-free travelling experience to all its passengers. Owing to the on-time arrival and departure of its flights, it is often regarded as the most punctual carrier in the country. So, while travelling with Indigo online booking, passengers need not worry about reaching late at their destination.

For operations on all domestic and international routes, Indigo uses a fleet of more than 95 aircraft, which belong to the Airbus A320 family. With an average age of 3.26 years, the airline has one of the youngest fleets in the country. The carrier offers loads of services and facilities to flyers, two of which are described below.

Special Assistance

While travelling by air, there are a few things to consider for a hassle-free journey. Frequent flyers are used to the check-in and boarding processes at the airport and the scenario on board. However, some people may need special assistance while at the airport or on the flight. With Indigo online booking, such people can apply for special assistance.

For children travelling alone, the airline provides the flying Solo Service. Upon payment of some additional fee, a child between the age of 5 and 12 years will be provided full assistance by the staff. For this, the parent or guardian must accompany the child to the airport along with a valid photo id of the passenger and guardian. The parent or guardian must remain at the airport until the departure of the flight. Under the flying solo programme, a child is entitled to a meal on board. Upon arrival of the flight, a staff member will assist the child with the post-flight formalities and release them to the nominated guardian only after checking their photo identity proof.

Passengers with reduced mobility shall be provided a wheelchair as per their requirement. There is no additional charge for the wheelchair service, which also includes assistance by an attendant. Help will be provided by the attendant in transportation within the airport and to the aircraft door.

Excess Baggage Allowance

While travelling for holidays, some flyers like to carry with them as much luggage and clothes as possible. However, most of the times there is a limit to the weight of checked baggage they can carry. People travelling with IndiGo can buy excess baggage by paying an extra amount per 5, 10, 15 and 30 kg.

A maximum of 15 kg of checked baggage can be carried on all IndiGo domestic flights free of charge. People, who want to carry luggage exceeding this limit, can book prepaid excess baggage at least 6 hours before take-off. The prices for 5, 10, 15 and 30 kg of prepaid baggage are INR 1000, 1750, 2250 and 3750, respectively.

The above-mentioned services provided with Indigo online booking make the travelling experience more convenient and comfortable.

Checking SpiceJet Flight Status and its Other Fantastic Services

The low-cost carrier (LLC) SpiceJet is based at Gurgaon, with its main hubs at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Chennai International Airport and Indira Gandhi International Airport. This airline was founded in the year 2005; the same year, it commenced its operations. As of September 2015, it caters to 34 destinations across India and 7 international ones. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reports, the airline stands at the fourth position in the country, in terms of market share (12.5 per cent) and passengers carried. Travellers planning to make a booking with this airline can do so with leading travel portals. On the day of the journey, they can check their SpiceJet flight status either on the travel website from where the booking is done or using their mobile app.

How to Check the Departure Status?

The best way to find out the status of a flight is to use the flight number mentioned on the booked ticket. The flight number helps to get information about any delays or cancellations of the flight on the day of departure. All travellers need to do is to find this information on either the travel websites or their mobile-based applications. The results can be known in matter of seconds. This way the time for reaching the airport can be decided for the booked flight.

Priority Check-in

For the convenience of its passengers, the airline offers a priority check-in service. This service can be purchased by the passenger after or while making the flight booking. It is to be noted that it can be booked latest up to two hours before the departure. This pre-paid service can be bought for per sector, per passenger taking the journey by paying a non-refundable fee of INR 200 for flights within and/or originating from India. In case, the flight is schedule to originate from outside India, then the fee becomes INR 300. These fees are not levied for infant passengers. This fee is refundable, in case, the passenger cancels the booking or the airline cancels the flight. It is to be noted that passengers who purchase this service are required to check-in at the airport counter.

Bag Out First Priority Service

Another service that the airline offers for the convenience of its passengers is the bag out first service, which can be used to get the baggage out on priority from the airport. Similar to priority check-in, this service can be purchased after or while making the booking for flight tickets. It can be bought latest up to two hours prior to the departure time. This pre-paid service is only available on domestic flights, at a fixed non-refundable price of INR 100 per baggage. This fee can only be refunded in case the airline cancels the flight or the passengers cancel their reservation.

With such conveniences on offer, passengers will find it pleasant to fly with this LCC. While, when the requirement is to check SpiceJet flight status, all they have to do is to key in the flight number on the mobile applications or website created for the same and get the status in no time.

Unaccompanied Minors Travelling with Thai Airways

Though, letting a child travel alone is a troublesome affair, people often face such situations. Watching a son or daughter walk alone to the boarding area at the airport is bound to worry any parent. If you are allowing your child or a young relative to travel alone, you must be in great stress and wondering if it is worth it.

Flights are now the most used mode of transport and a lot many children fly safely alone every year. This has only been possible because of the pro-activeness of carriers towards providing the most required services.

Thai Airways, the flag carrier of Thailand, is not lagging behind other carriers in terms of child travel. With in-flight and on-ground services, this carrier helps in making minor travelling a hassle-free affair. This jetliner allows unaccompanied minors to fly alone giving all the needed assistance. If your child is travelling alone in Thai Airways flights in near future, then you should be familiar with the related policies of this airline.  

Important Things to Know

While an accompanied minor could travel with a family member or guardian, the unaccompanied minor service can only be applied by the parents of the child. Thai Airways offers this facility to children between the age of 5 and 17 and a parent has to contact the local Thai Airways office to make the reservations. Here, you can get the special assistance and handling form for unaccompanied minors that is required to avail this service.

You are required to fill in the age and date of birth of the child, along with the contact number of an appointed guardian who can be contacted anytime between the take-off and landing of the aircraft.

Besides this, you are required to fill in some more information that helps Thai Airways to make all the necessary arrangements and assist the child in the best possible way.    

Conditions of Carriage for Unaccompanied Minors in Thai Airways

Thai Airways does not accept unaccompanied minors for flights that involve transfers, overnight stops or stopovers longer than six hours. However, if you can arrange or provide assistance for the child at the transfer point, you can avail the service of this carrier. It is also important to know that an unaccompanied minor cannot fly with a pet. You must also consider that, apart from the requisite forms of Thai Airways, additional documentation may be required for certain countries.

It is mandatory for parents to be present at the departure airport and to remain there until the flight departs. Upon arrival of the flight at the destination, the ground staff of Thai Airways will accompany the child and make sure that he/she comfortably completes all the post-flight requirements. You do not have to worry about the safety of your child here, as the airline representative accompanies your child till you, or an appointed person takes responsibility of the kid. 

Conditions Regarding Airfares and Other Charges

For a minor travelling on international routes, a regular fare, that of an adult, is charged. Besides the airfare, a charge of USD 60 is chargeable for this facility.

However, for domestic routes in Thailand, parents only have to pay the 75 per cent of the regular airfare for children between 5 to 12 years of age. However, this carrier does not charge any extra fees for the unaccompanied minor service on domestic routes. 

The best thing about the unaccompanied minor service of this carrier is the age limit of children. While most of the other carriers provide this facility for kids of 5 to 14 years, Thai Airways offers it for children of up to 17 years.

Using this service of Thai Airways will ensure that your child reaches the designated destination safely. 

Holidays at Popular Hill Stations with Amazing Flight Offers and Package Deals

With the winter season just round the corner, holiday plans are being chalked out by many. Some might prefer a lazy holiday on the beach while some might want to explore the enchanting beauty of the hills. However, going by the statistics, hill stations receive more tourists even in the winter season, compared to beach destinations. As a result, it becomes difficult to find suitable hotels and flights to these hill stations, more so at an economical rate if the holiday plan has been made at the last minute. In such a case, it is advisable to look for hotel deals and flight offers from different online travel agencies (OTAs).

Discount Deals on Flight Booking

In the peak holiday season, anywhere in the world, it becomes difficult to find flight tickets. However, if you are lucky enough, you might just get them but chances are that they would be really high priced, which would mean a big hit on your budget. To counter this problem at hand, a good choice would be to look for tickets on offer by OTAs. Generally, these travel agencies, across the year, offer their customers with various discount offers and promotional deals, which come useful in bringing down the flight fare. However, does getting tickets at a lower price solve the problem? What about hotel bookings?

Hotel and Flight Deals

Getting a decent accommodation during a holiday is a must; otherwise, all the fun is lost. Therefore, OTAs offer flight plus hotel deals to cater to those customers who wish to spend less on their accommodation and travelling, but more on exploring their desired destination. These combo deals, usually bring the down the combined price of both flight and hotel bookings, and are quite popular among regular travelers. However, an important to ask here is how much budget is good to actually explore the best attractions of the desired destination? What if it exceeds the budget?

Holiday Packages

To cater this issue of travelers, OTAs offer holiday packages, which include flight, hotel and tour facilities. The reason these packages have more takers is that the entire responsibility of the tour is taken care of by the OTAs; you do not have to worry at any point about the budget. The best part about these vacation packages is that they can be customized as per your choice. These packages include two-way airfares, hotel accommodation and trips to the most popular attractions of the destination chosen by you. The itinerary is shared with you and accordingly, the tour is conducted. Though, there may be times when it becomes necessary to make a few changes to the itinerary because of certain situations, especially weather.

So, if you are still making plans for the upcoming holidays and yet not sure about which hill station to go, then take assistance of OTAs to know the best options available for you. From the northern part of India to the southern, details about all hilly destinations can be known on the websites of these travel agencies. All you need to do is to choose the one that you think will be the best for you and your friends or family.

Jet Airways Flight Booking Likely to Get a Boost with Introduction of 19 Additional Flights

Jet Airways, the second largest carrier in the country in terms of passengers carried and market share, is all set to introduce 19 additional flights on domestic routes for the coming winter schedule. This decision has been taken by the airline by looking at the trend of increase in demand for flights during the winter months, over the past few years. During this period, it will also launch 8 new flight services between four new city pairings. According to the Jet Airways management, the introduction of new and additional flights will strengthen their domestic network and also allow travelers to plan their journeys with greater flexibility. With these 27 new flight services in place, the carrier will operate 11 early morning flights on a daily basis. To make Jet Airways flight booking for these routes, travelers can take assistance of popular online travel portals.

Increasing Flight Services on Important Routes

Starting 15 November, 2015, the airline will run flights to the port city of Vishakhapatnam from its main hubs Delhi and Mumbai. This will provide better connectivity to passengers from/to North America, Middle East and Europe to reach the port city. Also, there will be introduction of daily services between Jammu and Srinagar for better connectivity between these two major cities of Jammu and Kashmir.

There would also be an enhancement on the Bengaluru and Hyderabad route with the launch of a third daily service. Similarly, the frequencies of daily flights between Mangaluru and Bengaluru will be increased to 6. The Mumbai and Jaipur route will also have three daily flights soon. The winter schedule will also see introduction of a second service between Varanasi and Delhi, and a third daily late evening service to Ahmedabad from Delhi.

The Delhi and Hyderabad route will get a fourth daily service, starting 15 November, and starting 30 November, there will be a second frequency of flights between Bengaluru and Goa, on six days of the week. In addition, there will be launch of a new early morning flight from Chennai to Kolkata. The frequency of flights will also be increased between Mumbai and Chennai. Flight tickets for all these routes can be booked in advance with online travel agencies with ease.

Upgrade on Delhi-Mumbai Route

In addition to the launch of new flight routes, the airline has said that the aircraft upgrade on the Delhi-Mumbai route is on the cards. This upgrade would mean that flights 9W 361 and 9W 362 will be replaced with Airbus A330-200, which features 236 domestic class and 18 business class seats. This route will also see an increase in daily flight services to 16 during the winter schedule.

Measures to Increase Market Share

The introduction of these 27 new and additional flight services is most likely to boost Jet Airways flight booking in the coming days. The carrier is keen to gain in terms of market share in the domestic sector and is trying out new things to woo the customers. This was evident in the October offering of Seat Select scheme, which was well received by both domestic and international passengers.

The Seat Select scheme offered passengers a chance to pre-book their seats; window, aisle or middle with an additional payment of INR 500 and INR 800 above the ticket price, on international and domestic flights, respectively. However, business class passengers were not required to pay this extra amount. The pre-book option was available for seats from row 11 to 15 and exit row 24 of the Economy class. However, the scheme was only available on the Boeing 737 aircraft of the airline.

With new schemes like these and launch of 8 new and 19 additional flights on various important domestic routes, Jet Airways has its eye set on making its network robust and increasing its market share in the coming months. It would be interesting to see how it fares in this endeavour since the weather during the winter months has been a real problem for carriers in the past.

SpiceJet Offers Introductory Fare of INR 4999 for Direct Flights to Dubai

SpiceJet, the second low-cost carrier in the country in terms of passengers carried and market share, recently announced the introduction of direct flights from Kozhikode and Amritsar to Dubai. These services will start from 15 November, 2015, and flight booking for these routes began on 5 October, 2015. To know more about these new flights and various SpiceJet offers, travellers can visit the websites of the leading online travel agencies in the country.

Flight Schedule

The airline will operate flights from Amritsar to Dubai on all days, except Saturdays. In case of Kozhikode, the flights will operate on all days of the week. The flight from Amritsar will depart from 11:30 and reach the destination at 13:55 while the flight back to Amritsar will depart from Dubai at 5:00 and reach here at 9:35. In case of Kozhikode flights, the departure time is 1:05 and arrival time is 3:55. Besides this daily flight, there are other flights from this southern Indian city to Dubai at different times, across the week.

Special Introductory Fare

The introductory fare for these new flights has been set at INR 4999 (all inclusive) for one-way. With the launch of these two new services, the airline has increased the count of Indian city connections to Dubai to 8. Cities that are already connected to Dubai by this carrier are Pune, Madurai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi and Delhi. Dubai is among the 6 international destinations catered by this airline. Though services to Kathmandu had been stopped temporarily, it is likely that the flight tickets to the Nepal capital will be made available soon. Additionally, the carrier has plans to expand its network internationally, along with increasing its daily flights in the upcoming winter schedule.

Winter Schedule Announcement

With the winter and festive season round the corner, SpiceJet is all set to make its daily flights count from 250 to 291, by adding 22 connecting flights, 30 new frequencies and 10 new sectors. In another announcement, the company stated that it will add 6 new aircraft to its existing fleet. The plan to induct new aircraft in the fleet is part of the overall strategy to meet the winter schedule flight tickets demand, and also offer travellers the convenience of choosing from a number of flights.

The increase in frequencies of its flights will be on multiples routes, such as Delhi-Kolkata, Mumbai-Kochi, Chennai-Madurai, Mumbai-Chennai, Kolkata-Agartala and Hyderabad-Mumbai, among others. The newly added sectors, which commenced from 25 October, 2015, are Mumbai-Varanasi, Ahmedabad-Goa and Varanasi-Hyderabad. On the other hand, the new connecting routes added include Ahmedabad-Coimbatore, Delhi-Madurai, Pune-Srinagar and Mumbai-Madurai, among others. With network expansion programme, the airline is trying to reach the tier II and III cities to cash in on the tourism potential of these places.

Speaking on these recent developments, a spokesperson from the airline said that they are making quick progress on the growth path by expanding their network, offering increased flight frequencies and better timings. This way they are trying to increase their growth capacity by 16 per cent. All the new additions to the network for the winter schedule will add depth to their existing operations as more and more travellers are likely to plan their journeys for the holidays and festive season in the coming months.

Be it the start of direct flights to Dubai from Amritsar and Kozhikode to winter schedule announcement and induction of new aircraft to the fleet, SpiceJet is making all efforts to make a mark in this current fiscal year. The plans are out and the execution has been done, but only time will tell whether the airline will be able to achieve the success it enjoyed in the previous two quarters. With other domestic carriers trying to woo customers with their cheap air tickets, this airline will face tough challenges from all quarters.

SpiceJet Airlines Announces Diwali Discount Sale with Ticket Fare as Low as INR 749

SpiceJet in a bid to increase its sales during the holiday season has announced a discount sale, offering cheap air tickets with base fare as low as INR 749 for domestic flights and INR 3999 for international ones. An estimated 3 lakh seats are being offered as part of this Diwali sale. The booking period is from 27 October till the midnight of 29 October, 2015, while the travel period covered under it is 1^st February to 29 October, 2016. This discount sale by SpiceJet airlines has been strategically designed for passengers who have travel plans, between February and October, next year. Now, not only they can make their flight booking in advance, but also at a lower price.

Offer in Detail

This offer is available only for one-way tickets on direct flights to across all metro cities and some of the leading tourist destinations in the country. The base fare for flight tickets on routes, such as Ahmedabad to Mumbai, Delhi to Amritsar has been kept at INR 749, with the taxes to be an addition to it. In case of international travel, like Chennai to Colombo, the fare has been set at INR 3999, excluding the taxes.

Conditions on Booking of Tickets under this Discount Sale

Tickets under this scheme can be booked on various travel websites; however, it is to be noted that the fare is non-refundable, except additional fees and taxes. Since it is a first-come-first-served basis scheme, the chances of tickets being booked in a hurry is the only thing that would generally come to mind. However, travellers need to keep certain other things in mind before making reservation under this discount sale. According to the conditions of this offer, it cannot be combined with any other similar scheme. Also, this sales offer will not be applicable for group bookings. Another important point to keep in mind is that the prices may also vary from route to route and also on the travel distance.

Speaking on this Diwali offer, an official spokesperson from SpiceJet airlines said that their attractive pricing coupled with their robust network will reap benefits for the company. He added that it will also benefit a huge chunk of Indian travellers who have plans to fly in the next year. Booking cheap air tickets with SpiceJet in advance is a great chance for them to lower their travelling budget for 2016.

Building on the Success

The Diwali discount sale by SpiceJet is an ideal step forward after its huge success in September that saw it reporting the highest passenger load factor (PLF) during this month ever in the Indian civil aviation market. In a press release it stated that as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it notched up 93 per cent PLF in the month of September, breaking all previous records. This was the fifth consecutive occasion when it had crossed the 90 per cent mark in the current year.

In the same month, this domestic carrier improved with its on-time performance with 85.1 per cent. This was calculated based on the data collected from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. During this month, its market share stood at 12.3 per cent, making it the fourth largest airline in the country.

With this discount sale for the holiday season, SpiceJet Airlines is trying to compete strongly with the leading carriers, IndiGo, Air India and Jet Airways. Going by the statistics of the past few months, it would not be wrong to say that the airline is making quick inroads when it comes to expanding its customer base and the PLF. However, the competition will become tough as other carriers are also likely to follow suit and declare their discounted flight deals for the Diwali as well as the winter vacation season. 

4 Things that make Emirates Airline a leading service provider

A subsidiary of The Emirates Group, Emirates Airline is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The largest airline in the Middle East, it is owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai. It operates thousands of flights every week from its hub at Dubai International Airport. Offering services to more than 140 cities in six continents, it is one of the leading carriers in the global aviation industry.

Emirates Airline flights from Dubai to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston are some of the longest non-stop commercial flights, operating today. Furthermore, the company has announced that it plans to start operating on the Dubai-Panama City route from February 2016. Covering a distance of approximately 13800 km over a course of 17 hours and 35 minutes, this will be the longest non-stop flight ever. Emirates Airline was founded in 1985 and operated its first flight in October, the said year. The carrier is known for its service excellence, consistent profitability and rapid growth. In order to sustain expansion plans, it shifted all its operations to Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport.

Rated a four star airline by Skytrax, an aviation consultancy group, the carrier has witnessed consecutive profits throughout its 25 years of existence. There are a number of factors that make Emirates Airline a leading service provider in the aviation market of the world.

Dubai International Airport Terminal 3

Opened in 2008, Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport is the largest airport air transit site in the world. The terminal is partly underground and was built exclusively for Emirates Airline. It features First Class and Business Class lounges, more than a 100 check-in counters and parking space for approximately 2500 cars.

Classes

The aircraft of Emirates Airline comprise First Class, Economy Class and Business Class seating options. First Class is further divided into three sections that include a flat bed seat area without doors, full suites with doors, and sleeper seats section. The Business Class seating of Emirates Airline features amenities like reading lights, massage function and a private cabin area. Economy Class has wide seats with adjustable headrests, laptop charging points and entertainment system. All passengers are offered complimentary meals, comprising a selection of liquors, non-alcoholic beverages and delectable Arabic dishes.

Lounges

While travelling in Emirates Airline flight is a convenient experience, the time spent at the airport waiting for the flight can sometimes be annoying. With Emirates lounges that are available in numerous international airports, travellers can utilise their time at the airport. Be it for working away from the crowd or to simply relax, the lounges are a good escape. These luxury spaces provide a la carte meals, gourmet buffets and fresh juice bars. Flyers can even enjoy massages, beauty treatments and a soothing spa. At a private wine cellar in Dubai lounges, First Class travellers can sample and buy exclusive vintage wines.

Impressive Fleet

Emirates Airline operates with one of the youngest fleets in the world. As of March 2014, the average age of the fleet was 6.3 years. In order to maintain a young fleet, the carrier renews it frequently. Consisting of Airbus A330s, A340s, A380s and Boeing 777s, the fleet is mainly wide-bodied. The carrier is also the largest operator of the 777 and A380 aircraft. With an extensive fleet, the airline is committed to providing the best on-board experience to its customers. Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s are equipped with the First Class Suites, described above.

The airline has been leading the aviation industry for many years and has showed a consecutive growth. The four above-mentioned features have played a vital role in building the reputation of the carrier.

6 Tips for Finding Cheap International Flights

While air travel used to be one of the most expensive modes of transport a few decades ago, the era of expensive flight tickets is now gone. The development of modern, cheaper technology has given rise to various low-cost carriers (LCCs) that emphasize on providing affordable options to flyers. While most LCCs fly domestically, there are some that offer cheap international flights to travelers. Though most people can now afford to travel by air, flyers are continuously on the lookout to save more money. The following are a few things that travelers can do to ensure that they get the best deals available.

Book Tickets Early

It is no secret that the price of flight tickets rise as the departure date comes close. Especially during peak travel periods, people could be facing situations when they have to pay a price that is significantly higher than the usual amount charged for the same ticket. To avoid such circumstances, flyers should book their ticket at least two to three weeks before the domestic flight, and three to six months in the case of international.

Buy Tickets as Late as Possible

People, who have lost the opportunity to book flights early, could delay booking the flight as sometimes the prices go down near the departure date. This scenario is perfect for travelers who are flexible with their itinerary and can adjust their plans according to the deals in the market. Such offers can easily be found on the web pages of airlines or various portals of online travel agencies (OTAs). Such portals also offer cheap international flights to various destinations of the world.  

Use Frequent Flyer Points

Almost all carriers, whether it is Air India, United Airlines or Emirates, have frequent flyer programmes. People who travel often can register themselves in a frequent flyer programme and start accumulating points from their first flight. These air miles can be used for availing different benefits that are especially tailor-made for members only. While some airlines give extra baggage allowance to their frequent flyers, a few even provide priority check-in and baggage handling as well as lounge access and award tickets.

Know Various Offers

Flyers can also avail cheap airfares while booking flights with OTAs. For instance, Yatra.com is currently offering an eCash of up to 25 per cent on booking international flights. This cashback or credit can be utilised by a flyer while buying another flight tickets with the portal. The website is also offering other discounts like a 100 per cent eCash on bus booking and buying flight tickets with its partner banks.

Check the Hidden Costs

Though various airlines offer cheap international flights, there are many hidden costs that a flyer should be aware of at the time of booking. Fees for carry-on bags, checked bags and advanced seat assignments/selection can sometimes cause the ticket total to go up.  Such situations can be avoided by checking or booking all the required amenities in advance. Along with this, being aware of fuel surcharges, carbon tax and airport fees will always ensure better calculation of expenditure at passenger level.

Buy Packages

Almost all travel agencies or OTAs offer special packages that include flight tickets and hotel stays in their itinerary. By buying such packages, flyers not only get cheaper deals, but they can also ensure the availability of accommodation for a hassle-free journey.

Another way to avail cheap international flights is by being flexible dates and travel destinations. It is often seen that airfares on popular routes are extraordinarily higher than that on lesser-known ones. Travelers can check the ticket prices to the nearby airports of their destination and see if they can save some money. 

Knowing 5 Tips to Cope with Baggage Loss or Delay while Checking Oman Air Flight Schedule

Based at Muscat International Airport in Seeb, Oman Air is the national carrier of Oman. It traces its roots back to the 1970s when it was part of Oman International Services (OIS) before it was formally incorporated in 1993. Now, the carrier operates to over 40 destinations across 27 countries in the world. With a modern vision and timeless traditions, this airline has been able to capture the hearts of its passengers. The carrier has also revamped its services to accommodate the different needs and demands of flyers in terms of online check-in, Oman Air flight schedule and baggage details.

When it comes to baggage, passengers can not only know the allowance, but also follow various tips to cope in case of its loss or delayed arrival.

A Sturdy ID Tag

While there may be numerous reasons for lost or delayed baggage, passengers can help the airline locate it faster by putting a tag of identification on it. The tag may contain a name, address (office or home), phone number and an email ID. Along with this, attaching it to each bag with the help of a durable string or strap can prove to be extremely helpful.

Identifications Details on the Bag

It is considered important to attach a sturdy ID tag to the bag, and including one inside may be even better. If the external tag gets lost during transit, then the other one can ensure that the baggage reaches the passenger at the right time. Just like on the tag outside, passengers can put the aforementioned identification details on the internal one as well. Apart from this, a copy of the travel itinerary can also be kept in one of the inner pockets so that the carrier can track the passenger if the luggage is misplaced or delayed.

Getting Rid of Old Tags

Sometimes people forget to tear old baggage tags, which can create confusion during sorting. A bag, belonging to flyers travelling with Oman Air, may still have a bag claim tag of the carrier they flew with in the past. Now, when the luggage gets delayed or lost, this may create an air of confusion in the minds of the airline personnel. Eventually, this can lead to the baggage getting transferred to the wrong airline, resulting in further delay.

Colour Coding of Luggage

If checking the Oman Air flight status is important before passengers board the aircraft, then colour coding it may also be considered. If there is a sea of similar luggage at the conveyor belt, then locating a particular one can be tricky. However, a different colour scheme, passenger initials on the front in bright, bold letters, or coloured stick-on letters all around may make it easier to be recognized. Passengers can also take a photo of the bag that can come in handy in case of any mishap.

Help from the Airline

Delayed or lost baggage can cause excessive distress in all types of travel, be it business or leisure. But, being upset with the staff of the airline is not known to solve the issue. Passengers often get instant help by contacting the personnel at the check-in desk. For instance, if flyers are travelling with Oman Air, then the carrier always advises them to check-in around 90 minutes before the flight. Hence, getting the bags checked-in early may help eliminate the possibility of it getting misplaced. Along with this, checking if the bag has been tagged with the correct Oman Air flight number and destination before flyers leave the airline counter can also be a good idea.

The ground staff of the carrier is well equipped to handle all queries, related to baggage and Oman Air flight schedule. Therefore, taking their help during crises and bearing in mind the aforementioned tips may guarantee better baggage handling at the airline and passenger level.