In February we wrote about new lower tactical fares to Africa; and in December we had a high-level overview of airline tactical fares, but we haven’t done a deep dive into India since August 2016.
Tactical fares are significantly discounted fares that airlines offer sporadically for a variety of reasons, but usually because their sophisticated algorithms tell them that seats won’t sell.
This diverse group includes holiday tactical fares (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s), origin-specific tactical fares, destination-specific tactical fares, and advance-purchase tactical fares, to name a few.
And then there’s this beauty:
LIMITED-ROUTE TACTICAL FARES
Over the last few months we’ve seen some big-time savings on certain routes from the U.S. to India. Business Class fares have historically been in the $4,000 to $6,000 range on major carriers, but on the routes we'll cover today, prices have plunged to under $2,900.
As always, the fares may not last or they may be restricted to certain U.S. departure cities and/or carriers. The bigger picture: Discounted Business Class fares have landed in India from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Dallas (from Miami, New York, and Washington, DC only to Delhi).
Sample low-cost tactical route
On the Atlanta- and Dallas-Mumbai route, United’s published Business Class fare is $2,631 round-trip. Compared to other high-fare routes, such as Charlotte-Mumbai, starting at $5,930, that’s a savings of $3,299 (57%). For more details on new Business Class fares found to India starting at $2,260, go here.
United.com
British Airways DEALS
British Airways’ Business Class fares are slightly higher but with the AARP Discount (anyone of any age can join for $16), members save up to $200 on fares booked on British Airways before Jan. 31, 2019. The Dallas to Mumbai fare is $2,711, but with the AARP discount the cost drops to $2,511.
Plus, you can get an additional savings of 10% off now until June 30 with the British Airways Visa card, using the promo code CARDOFFERU. The Dallas to Mumbai fare with AARP discount is $2,511, but with the 10% off discount the cost drops to $2,260.
BritishAirways.com AARP discount
BritishAirways.com AARP discount + 10%
Travel Beyond India on Cathay Pacific: Maldives
Another limited-route tactical fare can be found with Cathay Pacific from Chicago (via Hong Kong) to India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
The normal fare to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on other airlines starts at around $5,500 from Chicago. With Cathay Pacific, Chicago–Malé goes for $2,519 round-trip, a savings of $2,981 (54%). For more details on new Business Class fares found from Chicago to India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka on Cathay Pacific starting at $2,519, go here.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THESE ARE REAL FARES
Many people think FCF is in the mistake-fare business because there are now so many bloggers that focus on them. Be aware that mistake fares are a risky proposition because airlines often don’t honor them. The fares we’re talking about in this exclusive report may appear to be mistakes because they’re so low, but they’re not. They’re honest-to-goodness real published fares.
Relevant Reads
How Open-Jaw Itineraries and Airfares Can Save You From Getting Bitten.
Are You An Opportunity Traveler?
[fcf-deal-table title="Sample Business Class Fares to India and the Maldives" /]
Don’t Miss The Maldives
If you're going all the way to India, you should tack on a side-trip to one of the remotest and most beautiful places on Earth, The Maldives.
This double chain of 26 atolls, actually the tops of extinct volcanoes far off the tip of India, extends some 800 miles north to south. The atolls have incantatory names, Raa, Baa, Haa Dhaalu, and Kaafu. This archipelago is the tropics sublime: sifted-sand beaches, cerulean-blue water, intact coral reefs, world-class surfing (look up 'The Jailhouse' online), and an amazing concentration of luxury resorts that have staged a luxury arms race with each other over the past 10 years. All of the major brands have outposts here (Four Seasons, Taj, Six Senses, One&Only, and even W, as do some minor ones.)
The key for you is to grasp one major point and the logistics: The point is that you're going to a resort, not a country. The Maldives, an Islamic country, classifies islands as 'inhabited," meaning Maldiveans live there, and "resort," meaning a resort occupies the island. Foreigners are barred from visiting inhabited islands without special permission. (But trust me, you're coming for the resorts, some of the best in the world.)
So, while your ticket will say 'Malé,' the capital of the Maldives, you're actually only going to Malé Airport, a man-made island off the city. Outside of customs, you will meet a representative of the resort who will take you to the resort boat (even if you arrive at midnight) or to the airport lounge if your resort requires a flight. If you want to go to a remote atoll, you may have to book an overnight at a resort within boat-range of the airport. But the resort staff can help you with all that.
How much time do you have? That's your key element. If not much, then you want a resort within boat-distance of the airport (Taj, and Soneva Gili, among them). If you have time to fly—and it's a great experience as the plane lands on the water and the pilots fly barefoot—then you can get to more distant atolls, including the southern ones, where more resorts have been opening in recent years. Among those to consider are Soneva Fushi and the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru.
The key move is to find the resort you want, get in touch with them and give them the flight information, and let them work the logistics.
