Star Alliance member Lufthansa is offering flights from London and Manchester to Chennai for only £347 (~€404). These Economy Light tickets only include 8 kg of carry-on luggage. Should you wish to travel with luggage, you could pay £80 (~€93) for 23 kg of luggage, but at that point, it probably makes more sense to fly in premium economy, as those tickets only cost £530 (~€618) right now, letting you fly in more comfortable seats and with 2x 23 kg of luggage. The downside of this great deal: There are only 1 or 2 available dates.
It’s also possible to combine travel classes, e.g. flying to Chennai in economy class and flying back in premium economy. More on this, in our article on how to book flights in different travel classes.
Our calendars display available dates for both routes – there are a few more available dates than what we display, but for technical reasons we couldn’t find them all. We will redirect you to Lufthansa’s booking site:
Economy Class
Premium Economy
The flights include one layover in Frankfurt, where you’ll board the A340 that Lufthansa uses for its 9-hour flights to Chennai.
By the way, if you’re just eager to try out Lufthansa’s premium economy at a cheap price from London, you could also fly to Bahrain for £564 (~€657) – with far higher availability:
Search & Book
The fare rules merely state that you need to stay at least 8 days in India to get this price. As you can see on our calendar above, the availability of the cheapest price is limited to 2 dates in September and October 2023. Our calendars display all available dates for trips of up to 28 days from London and Manchester. For longer trips, or for (a bit more expensive) flights from other British cities, check out Google Flights. It’s best to book the flights directly on Lufthansa’s website.
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.
Mileage
If you’re aiming to earn a lot of miles, then you should book the premium economy tickets, as economy class (booking class K) gives you close to nothing, while the premium economy tickets (booking class Y on short-haul, N on long-haul) will get you quite a lot:
- 15,380 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 11,938 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 11,938 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 11,438 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 10,660 Award Miles + 1,744 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 10,660 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 10,660 Award Miles + 10,252 Tier Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 10,660 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 10,438 Miles on Asiana Club
- 10,438 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 10,334 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 10,252 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 10,252 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 10,252 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 10,252 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 9,846 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 7,420 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 1,164 Award Miles + 200 Points on Miles&More
Feel free to use our mileage calculator to see how many miles your itinerary would get you:
Destination
Hotel prices in Chennai usually start at roughly €15-20, depending on the hotel category and the specific dates. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
Information & Tips for Chennai
Chennai, often referred to as the “Gateway to South India,” is a bustling metropolis located on the southeastern coast of India. Known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and coastal charm, Chennai offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Chennai is during the winter months, from November to February when the weather is relatively cooler and more comfortable for exploring the city’s attractions. During this time, you can enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches, historical sites, and cultural events without the intense heat of the summer.
From the airport to the city
Arriving at Chennai International Airport (MAA), you have several transportation options to reach the city centre. Taxis, ride-sharing services, and airport shuttles are readily available, providing convenient access to your destination. Chennai also has an extensive public transportation system, including buses and a suburban train network, which allow you to travel around the city and its suburbs.
→ All Dealz for Chennai
Information & Tips for India
India is billed as a “subcontinent” not only for geographical reasons. The argument can be made that there is no region on the entire planet as culturally different as India. For example, it is home to as many vegetarians as the rest of the world. But its unique cuisine is just one of reasons to go there – India has a lot to offer. You can finde paradise like beaches in Goa and Kerala. Buzzing metropoles like Delhi and Mumbai invite you as well as and extravagant buildings and palaces like the world famous Taj Mahal. In conclusion, a country as huge as India is full of possibilities.
Visa & Entry
EU citizens need a visa and a passport to enter India. The easiest way is to apply for an eVisa, that will grant you two entries and a stay up to 60 days. It costs around 30€ on the government’s official site. With it, you can enter the country at almost any international airport.
Transport infrastructure
Flag carrier Air India and a bunch of smaller LCCs connect the airports of Delhi and Mumbai to almost any noteworthy city in the country. For a country its size, India has an excellent railway network. This allows for extremely cheap ground transportation. Renting a car is possible, but incredibly dangerous due to poor road conditions and reckless driving habits.
Currency
Official currency is the Indian rupee. €1 buys roughly ₹89.
→ All Dealz for India
Cover Picture: Alex Tino Friedel - ATF Pictures