Tokyo & Seoul: €1,676 Air India Business Class from Milan (Long Layovers)

Star Alliance member Air India is offering a deal from Milan to Tokyo & Seoul starting at just €1,676. This deal includes 2×32 kg checked luggage and all the business class perks. Departures are available between July to April 2025.

While this is a decent price for business class to Japan, it comes at the cost of two lengthy layovers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport. A fifteen-hour-daytime layover is necessary on the way to East Asia; while an overnight layover is required on the way back to Europe. According to Air India’s transit rules, you need an Indian e-visa to exit the airport and spend the night in a hotel.

Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates under €1,800. From there, you can proceed to Air India or check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €150 cheaper:

First, you will fly with Air India from Milan to Delhi. A Boeing 787 is used for this leg, offering 18 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration in business class. All seats can be fully converted into a flat bed. The seat pitch is 188 centimeters.

Unlike the Bangkok or Singapore deal, you will fly all the segments on the Boeing 787 equipped with flat-bed seats, although with two long layovers. Your outbound flight flight from Milan will arrive at 6 AM in Delhi, your journey will resume in the evening towards Japan or South Korea. On the inbound flight, you will need to spend the night in Delhi before returning to Milan.

Search & Book

This deal doesn’t have an expiration date or a minimum stay requirement of four days; however, a maximum stay of three months applies. Departures are available between July to April 2025

You can find suitable dates using our calendar above or with the help of Google Flights. We recommend booking directly on Air India’s website, but you can find cheaper prices with Skyscanner. However, booking on OTAs has its downsides.

While online travel agencies offer cheaper tickets, we recommend booking directly with Air India. According to the comment section on our German website, Air India even offered free transit visas on its own website in the past.

Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?

More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:

Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.

If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.

This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.

Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.

This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.

Air India currently has numerous other destinations within India available at a low cost, if you wish to fly in business class. We have already presented the potential destinations departing from Copenhagen separately in this deal:

India: €778 Air India Business Class from Copenhagen to 20+ Destinations

Miles & Points

This ticket is issued by Air India in booking class Z. Here are the miles and points you can earn from this deal to Tokyo:

SAS and its loyalty program EuroBonus will exit Star Alliance on August 31, 2024. You have to be back in Milan by that day to earn the EuroBonus points mentioned above.

Destination

Information & Tips for Tokyo

Tokyo is known for its blend of traditional and modern attractions, including the historic Senso-ji Temple, the bustling Shibuya Crossing, and the futuristic Odaiba district. The currency used is the Japanese yen (JPY), and credit cards are widely accepted in many places. Tokyo can be expensive, especially for accommodation and dining in tourist areas, but budget options are available. The weather varies: summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold but generally dry. The best times to visit are in spring (for cherry blossoms) and autumn (for mild temperatures).

We’ve compared various esim providers, such as YohoMobile and Nomad. To see which plan is best for your travel needs and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:

The Best eSIM Plans for Japan 🇯🇵 Compared

→ All Dealz for Tokyo

Information & Tips for Seoul

Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital, offers a mix of modern and traditional attractions, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and shopping districts like Myeongdong. The local currency is the South Korean won (KRW), and credit cards are widely accepted. The cost of living is moderate, with affordable street food and both budget and high-end dining options. Seoul experiences four distinct seasons: hot and humid summers, cold winters with snow, and mild spring and autumn, making spring and fall ideal times to visit.

 

→ All Dealz for Seoul

Cover Picture: Ditmar Lange