Star Alliance member Air India is currently implementing a premium economy section on most of their long-haul planes. That process is sped-up by re-branding former Visatra planes, as these are now re-assigned to mainline Air India flights.
One of those flights is Air India’s daily service between Paris and Delhi and Mumbai. On the former route in particular, the airline currently sells heavily discounted roundtrip tickets for just €653. The price includes two checked bags of 23kg each.
If you don’t mind a change of planes in Delhi on your way to Mumbai, prices start at €721.
While this deal comes with a great price-tag, there are also some catches. Since Air India has recently introduced a premium economy class, downgrades are more likely than usual, because the number of planes with a premium economy section is growing, but small to begin with. Fighting for compensation may be a bit harder, since the cheapest tickets are sold exclusively by online travel agencies.
While the lack of a minimum stay is usually nice for a quick mileage run, there is another problem: Star Alliance programs don’t credit any miles for discounted Air India premium economy tickets. These tickets are issued in booking class E, which receives no credit except for at Air India’s own program.
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. There, you can check what OTAs have to offer or proceed to Air India’s website, where tickets are €110 more expensive.
As mentioned previously, Air India currently schedules former Visatra Boeing 787-9 for this route. Since equipment changes can happen and the airline is in the process of implementing the new travel class, this deal has a higher chance of downgrades than other premium economy deals. However, you will very likely enjoy extra leg-room in both directions. The seats also offer more width, as they are aligned in a 2-3-2 seating pattern, compared to the 3-3-3 seating in economy.
European citizens require a tourist visa if they want to visit India. You can apply for it online at the official website. If you plan on continuing your journey on a separate ticket, you still need to apply for a tourist or transit visa.
Search & Book
The fare rules for this deal offer very little restrictions. There is no minimum stay, maximum stay or sales period mentioned. The travel period spans from January through May 2025.
Google Flights previews available flight dates accurately. Since tickets on Air India’s website are notably more expensive, you might prefer booking through Skyscanner’s online travel agencies. However, you should be aware of the downsides:
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.
Miles & Points
Air India issues these tickets in booking class E. For now, only five programs have adapted their charts to include Air India’s premium economy. However, all five have booking class E – the lowest premium economy booking class – earning 0% – i.e. no miles at all. We expect the same to be the case with all other programs.
In other words, if you’re looking to earn miles, this deal is not for you, as you most probably will not get a single mile at any Star Alliance program, except for revenue-based miles from Air India’s FlyingReturns.
Destination
Information & Tips for India
India is a large and diverse country with major tourist sights like the Taj Mahal in Agra, the forts and palaces of Rajasthan, the backwaters of Kerala, and spiritual cities like Varanasi and Rishikesh. The currency used is the Indian Rupee (INR). Prices vary widely—budget travel is possible, but mid-range and luxury options are also common, especially in tourist-heavy areas. Weather depends heavily on region and season: winters (Nov–Feb) are generally pleasant, while summers (Mar–June) can be extremely hot, and the monsoon (June–Sept) brings heavy rainfall in many parts.
India’s transport infrastructure is a mix of modern and outdated systems. Within cities, getting around can be chaotic but manageable—options include auto-rickshaws, taxis, metro systems in larger cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and app-based services like Uber and Ola. Between cities, India has an extensive railway network that’s affordable but often crowded and prone to delays; domestic flights are common and relatively inexpensive for longer distances. Roads connect most places, but traffic and conditions can be unpredictable.
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Information & Tips for Mumbai
Mumbai, India’s financial and cultural hub, offers attractions like the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and the Elephanta Caves. The local currency is the Indian rupee (INR), and credit cards are widely accepted, though cash is still commonly used. The price level can vary, with affordable street food and budget accommodations, but higher-end restaurants and hotels can be expensive. Mumbai’s weather is typically hot and humid, with a monsoon season from June to September and a cooler, more pleasant climate from November to February, which is ideal for visiting.
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