Diwali is one of the busiest periods for domestic air travel, and getting home to celebrate with family can be expensive if you book this late. With fares rising on popular air routes and demand concentrated around a few peak dates, flyers may pay considerably more than they would during an ordinary week.
However, expensive tickets don’t necessar ily mean your options are exhausted. From adjusting travel dates to using credit card rewards smartly, there are several ways to save on your festive trip costs. The key is to look beyond the headline airfare and consider the total cost of getting to your destination.
If work and family commitments permit, leave 2-3 days earlier, or return after the festive rush. You can fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of a Friday or Saturday, depending on the route and available seats. Use a flight search engine’s flexible-date calendar to compare fares across several days instead of searching for only one departure date.
Calculate the cost of the full journey before booking. An inexpensive flight followed by a costly taxi ride, an overnight hotel stay or a long road transfer may eliminate the savings. Separate tickets carry a risk too: if the first flight is delayed, the airline operating the second one may not protect the onward journey.
Google Flights is useful for comparing fares across dates and tracking price movements. Skyscanner allows travellers to explore alternative dates and destinations, while KAYAK offers fare comparison and price alerts. Compare airfares for a few days around your intended departure. Moving your journey for the Diwali rush by just a day could mean big savings. Setting up price alerts can help track fare movements before finalising a date.
However, metasearch engines don’t always show every available fare, and the cheapest option may lead to an online travel agency rather than the airline itself. Before paying, compare the final price, including convenience fees, baggage charges and payment surcharges. If the difference is small, booking directly with the airline can make managing cancellations, schedule changes and refunds simpler.
If you are carrying gifts and clothes, baggage allowances deserve particular attention. Booking additional baggage online in advance can also be cheaper than paying at the airport.
If you have saved up miles, see if award seats are available for your desired dates. Compare the miles needed with the cash fare and account for taxes and other charges payable on an award ticket. For bank reward points, check whether transfers to airline loyalty programmes offer better value than redeeming points directly against travel bookings. Some cards have accelerated rewards or discounts through designated travel booking platforms.
Don’t transfer points just because a festive flight looks expensive. Transfers to airline programmes can be irreversible, and award availability may be limited when demand is high. Compare the cash price, redemption cost and taxes. A smart hack: look at business class if you don’t get economy redemptions. Better than paying cash on out-of-pocket tickets.
Read the terms carefully. A Rs.1,500 discount on a Rs.12,000 ticket looks attractive, but it may require a minimum transaction value or apply to specific routes. A competing website may offer a lower base fare without any promotional code. Compare the final amount across the airline’s website and major booking platforms. Also consider cancellation charges, convenience fees and the possibility that a third-party platform may complicate changes or refunds.
No rule guarantees the lowest price based on the booking day or time. Fares depend on demand, route competition, remaining inventory and how close the departure date is.
If driving to the airport is cheaper than taking a taxi, or public transport is practical, those savings can help offset higher fares. A little flexibility, careful comparison, strategic use of accumulated rewards and attention to the final payable amount can help keep Diwali travel spending under control.
The Author is Founder And Editor, Livefromalounge.com
However, expensive tickets don’t necessar ily mean your options are exhausted. From adjusting travel dates to using credit card rewards smartly, there are several ways to save on your festive trip costs. The key is to look beyond the headline airfare and consider the total cost of getting to your destination.
Be flexible with your travel dates
Avoid travelling when everybody else wants to. Flights for the days leading to Diwali, especially on popular office-to-hometown routes, often attract a premium due to concentrated demand. With the entire / population living in metropolises, it is no surprise that fares ex Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru rise.If work and family commitments permit, leave 2-3 days earlier, or return after the festive rush. You can fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of a Friday or Saturday, depending on the route and available seats. Use a flight search engine’s flexible-date calendar to compare fares across several days instead of searching for only one departure date.
See alternative airports, routes
Travellers often search only for a direct flight between their departure city and destination. For the festive period, nearby airports or connecting itineraries can be useful; for instance, Navi Mumbai for residents of Mumbai and Pune, and Noida for those of Delhi-NCR. If you’re flying to smaller cities, check fares to a nearby major airport, then take a train, bus or taxi for the final leg. Similarly, a connecting flight may cost less than a non-stop service.Calculate the cost of the full journey before booking. An inexpensive flight followed by a costly taxi ride, an overnight hotel stay or a long road transfer may eliminate the savings. Separate tickets carry a risk too: if the first flight is delayed, the airline operating the second one may not protect the onward journey.
Check fares on metasearch engines
Instead of checking airline websites one by one, use flight metasearch engines such as Google Flights, Skyscanner and KAYAK to compare fares across airlines and booking platforms. These tools can help you find cheaper departure dates, alternative airports, and connecting flights that may not be obvious when searching for a specific journey.Google Flights is useful for comparing fares across dates and tracking price movements. Skyscanner allows travellers to explore alternative dates and destinations, while KAYAK offers fare comparison and price alerts. Compare airfares for a few days around your intended departure. Moving your journey for the Diwali rush by just a day could mean big savings. Setting up price alerts can help track fare movements before finalising a date.
However, metasearch engines don’t always show every available fare, and the cheapest option may lead to an online travel agency rather than the airline itself. Before paying, compare the final price, including convenience fees, baggage charges and payment surcharges. If the difference is small, booking directly with the airline can make managing cancellations, schedule changes and refunds simpler.
Final fare, not advertised price
A low headline fare doesn’t always mean the cheapest ticket. Airlines may charge separately for baggage, seat selection, meals, etc. Before booking, check the final price after adding the services you need. An expensive ticket that includes checked baggage may be cheaper than a basic fare once baggage charges are added. If you are travelling light, book a basic fare.If you are carrying gifts and clothes, baggage allowances deserve particular attention. Booking additional baggage online in advance can also be cheaper than paying at the airport.
Use credit card rewards strategically
Credit card reward points and airline miles can help offset the cost of festive travel, but their value depends on how you redeem them.If you have saved up miles, see if award seats are available for your desired dates. Compare the miles needed with the cash fare and account for taxes and other charges payable on an award ticket. For bank reward points, check whether transfers to airline loyalty programmes offer better value than redeeming points directly against travel bookings. Some cards have accelerated rewards or discounts through designated travel booking platforms.
Don’t transfer points just because a festive flight looks expensive. Transfers to airline programmes can be irreversible, and award availability may be limited when demand is high. Compare the cash price, redemption cost and taxes. A smart hack: look at business class if you don’t get economy redemptions. Better than paying cash on out-of-pocket tickets.
Check bank offers, but do the math
Airlines, travel portals and banks frequently offer promotional discounts on selected credit cards, debit cards or payment methods. These can reduce the upfront booking cost.Read the terms carefully. A Rs.1,500 discount on a Rs.12,000 ticket looks attractive, but it may require a minimum transaction value or apply to specific routes. A competing website may offer a lower base fare without any promotional code. Compare the final amount across the airline’s website and major booking platforms. Also consider cancellation charges, convenience fees and the possibility that a third-party platform may complicate changes or refunds.
Avoid unnecessary add-ons
Seat selection, priority services, airport transfers and prepaid meals can raise the airfare. Decide which services are worth paying. For example, solo travellers who are comfortable with their assigned seats may not need to pay for advance selection.There is no magic booking day
For a festival as predictable as Diwali, waiting until the last minute in the hope of a sale can be costly. Airlines use dynamic pricing, and cheaper fares may disappear as more seats sell. If your dates are fixed, compare fares as early as possible and book when the price is reasonable for your budget. Set fare alerts to track changes, but don’t delay your booking expecting for a drop in prices.No rule guarantees the lowest price based on the booking day or time. Fares depend on demand, route competition, remaining inventory and how close the departure date is.
Look beyond the airfare
Finally, remember that airfare is only one component of festive travel. Airport parking, cabs, baggage, meals and transfers can all add up, especially for a family.If driving to the airport is cheaper than taking a taxi, or public transport is practical, those savings can help offset higher fares. A little flexibility, careful comparison, strategic use of accumulated rewards and attention to the final payable amount can help keep Diwali travel spending under control.
The Author is Founder And Editor, Livefromalounge.com
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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