Indian carrier Air Vistara currently runs an attractive sale for their nonstop flights between London and Mumbai. For departures in March, you can fly to India and back in a lie-flat-seat for as little as £979 (~€1,147).
Our Go2 will forward you to kayak with your selected flight dates. There, you can go to Vistara or check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to £200 (~€234) cheaper than the airline. You can only find the lowest fare for departures in March.
Flights are operated by Vistara’s Boeing 787 fleet, which oldest member is merely four years old. The premium cabin features lie-flat-seats in a 1-2-1 pattern. You can find a review of the product here, which concludes that Vistara offers a competitive business class experience.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, flights are on sale until February 25, 2024 for travel in March 2024. Your inbound may return later than that.
Google Flights‘ preview calendar does not display possible flight dates accurately, so the best way to find the cheap tickets is trial and error. We have been able to confirm the following dates at the lowest fare:
Outbound dates:
- March 5
- March 6
- March 7
- March 12
- March 14
- …and more
Inbound dates:
- March 11
- March 13
- March 14
- March 19
- March 21
- …and more
While buying these tickets from online travel agencies comes with a notable discount, we still recommend buying them directly from the airline.
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 runs a business class sale from London, too. With the Star Alliance member, you can reach more destinations over a longer period of time:
Mileage
Vistara issues these tickets in booking class D. You can earn miles and points with the following frequent flyer programs:
- 17,928 Award Miles on Miles&More
- 11,206 Award Miles on United MileagePlus
- 11,206 Award Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 11,206 Award Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 11,206 Award Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
Destination
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
Information & Tips for Mumbai
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the most populous city in India. Its city center is located on a peninsula. The city is famous for its breathtaking, pompous colonial buildings like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station or the Bombay High Court. The heart of India’s financial industry is located in Mumbai as well, resulting in numerous skyscrapers and contemporary buildings in its Southern districts.
The Best Time to Visit
Mumbai is hot and humid all year round, so there isn’t really a “best time to visit”. But there definitely are times when you shouldn’t visit the city – like in its monsoon season. That lasts from June to the end of September and sees daily, heavy rain showers pour on the city.
From The Airport to the City
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Int’l Airport serves as a secondary hub for Air India and attracts many international airlines from all over the globe. It is located roughly 30 kilometres north of the city centre. Before 2021, there will be no metro connection to the airport. Instead, you can take air-conditioned buses provided by private companies. A taxi ride downtown can take up to 90 Minutes due to heavy traffic, but its rather affordable and should not exceed 400 rupees (approx. €5).
→ All Dealz for Mumbai
Cover Picture: © Vistara