Diwali flight tickets booking: Airfare down on these routes, here's how to book cheap tickets

New Delhi: Planning your Diwali trip? Here's another reason to celebrate - in a recent analysis by noted Indian travel company Ixigo, it was found that airfares have significantly gone down now, up to 20 – 25 per cent this year, for the Diwali season. Increased aircraft efficiency and decreased aviation fuel prices have been attributed as the major reasons for this fare drop. However, the cheaper rates are available only for one–way tickets booked at least 30 days in advance. The airfares from November 10 - 16, 2023 and October 24 – November 3, 2024, were compared to note the difference. Last year, the airfare had gone up when the Go First airline was temporarily grounded.

Routes with reduced rates
As per reports, in the Bengaluru – Kolkata route, there is an average decline of 38% in airfare, from Rs 10 195 to Rs 6,319. Similarly, the price has fallen 36% on the Chennai- Kolkata route, from Rs 8,725 to Rs 5,604. In the Mumbai – Delhi sector, the reported drop is 34%, from Rs 8,788 to Rs 5,762. The Delhi – Udaipur route has a 34% drop, from Rs 11 296 to Rs 7,469. In the Delhi – Srinagar, Hyderabad – Delhi and Delhi – Kolkata routes, the decline is around 32%. At the same time, certain routes also have a 34% hike.

How to get cheap tickets?
To begin with, try booking directly from an individual airline's app instead of depending on third-party sites, as the rates can be cheaper there. This is because it can earn you exclusive discounts, eliminate third-party site fees, earn some loyalty points and change your bookings easily if required. Also, book when you can be flexible enough with dates. If you don't have the luxury for the same, looking for last-minute deals can also help you at times, as airlines can offer discounts on unsold seats and take advantage of them if you are alert. Also, use incognito mode to avoid price hikes based on repeated searches while booking the flight.