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Cheap Christmas flights to India

Compare fares to get the best price on last-minute Christmas flights to India.

Stephanie Yip
Stephanie Yip

Updated

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With global coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in place, 2020 may not be the best time to travel. We're here to help you plan your trip when you're able to travel again, so keep these tips in mind for potential 2021 Christmas travel. Follow all government regulations and check with your supplier for up-to-date information.

Choosing to fly somewhere that is not as popular for Christmas could cost you a lot less this holiday season.

Flights to India on average are cheap during the month of December which means you could sneak in a quick holiday or family reunion before or for Christmas.

We found the best days to fly and when you should book to guarantee plenty of savings.

Search for Christmas flights to India

When’s the best time to book Christmas flights to India?

According to Skyscanner booking data the best time to book any long-haul flights from Australia is generally 38 weeks in advance (9.5 months). This is where you can reap savings of up to 36% compared to the median price of a flight to India throughout the year. Booking 5 months in advance can still save you up to 14%.

That being said you might still be able to jump on a last-minute sale window. This typically happens in the second week of November.

By booking your departure flight for 6 December or earlier, you’ll score a major deal. For your return, book a flight that takes off on 29, 30 or even 31 December to find reasonably priced fares.

Prices spike for flights in the first week of January but if you plan on being in India for New Year’s you can still find cheap return flights just after New Year's Day.

Tips and tricks to getting cheap Christmas flights to India

Here are the top tips that could help you save hundreds flying to India this year.

  • Don't fly direct: Choose a longer trip and you can save yourself up to $600. Opt for the trip with a long layover or more stops and you can have some extra cash in your pocket. Of the all-inclusive carriers, Etihad Airways often has cheaper flights as its flights include multiple stops in Australia, Asia or the Middle East.
  • Fly into a different Indian city: Skip flying into popular cities such as Mumbai and Delhi and instead choose Tiruchirappalli or Chennai to save up to $100+ on airlines such as Qantas, AirAsia and Scoot. Once in India hop on a flight to your desired destination on one of the country’s many budget airlines such as SpiceJet or GoAir.
  • Know when to fly: Use tools such as Skyscanner that show the cheapest days to fly into and out of India from your departure point.
  • Fly cheaper airlines: Choose an airline such as China Southern which flies direct to India for some extra savings or opt to fly into Asia on budget airlines such as AirAsia, or Scoot.

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