Does anyone know how to get from BKK to Varanasi (India), or nearby, cheaply and effeciently? Thai Airways used to have direct flights, but apparently they don't anymore. Indian Airlines is the only option I could find, and they want $1500 for a horrible schedule (overnight in DEL both outbound and inbound). I suspect we might have to fly to DEL and take the train from there, but I welcome alternative suggestions. Thanks in advance!

For a seasoned FT member, you surprisingly omit such important points as time of the year and whether it is one-way or round-trip. :confused: So I can only offer general comments.

Yes I do think that buying a BKK-VNS ticket would be much more expensive than a BKK-DEL (just to give you an idea, round trips in October are available at approx $450) and then either flying or taking a train to Varanasi.

Domestic DEL-VNS flights are about Rupees 2400 (=$60) each way. You can research this on cleartrip.com. Buy only "rupee" tickets, even if you have to wait until you get to India. "Dollar" fares available abroad will be artificially expensive.

A train from Delhi to Varanasi would be another (and somewhat cheaper) option and if you have the spirit, it can be an interesting experience too. However if you are not used to 3rd world trains and need to get to Varanasi fast, just fly.

Whether you stay a night or two in Delhi is up to you. I always find it refreshing to break such journeys.

For starters, you could try Nok Air to Bangalore. Midweek that will cost you about $300.
www.nokair.com/NokConnext/aspx/Welcome.aspx

Next, check the website of Air Deccan. Note that you must be in line early enough to that when you reach the front of their line, you are there in time for their check-in cutoff. Other airlines might be www.flykingfisher.com.

For a seasoned FT member, you surprisingly omit such important points as time of the year and whether it is one-way or round-trip. :confused:

Sorry about the omission. This will be at the end of November, and a round trip. I've already found that some budget airlines don't have their schedules for November yet (e.g., Spice Air). What I'd really like is to be able to get from BKK to VNS all in one day.

Thanks for your suggestions.

For a seasoned FT member, you surprisingly omit such important points as time of the year and whether it is one-way or round-trip. :confused: So I can only offer general comments.

Yes I do think that buying a BKK-VNS ticket would be much more expensive than a BKK-DEL (just to give you an idea, round trips in October are available at approx $450) and then either flying or taking a train to Varanasi.

Domestic DEL-VNS flights are about Rupees 2400 (=$60) each way. You can research this on cleartrip.com. Buy only "rupee" tickets, even if you have to wait until you get to India. "Dollar" fares available abroad will be artificially expensive.

A train from Delhi to Varanasi would be another (and somewhat cheaper) option and if you have the spirit, it can be an interesting experience too. However if you are not used to 3rd world trains and need to get to Varanasi fast, just fly.

Whether you stay a night or two in Delhi is up to you. I always find it refreshing to break such journeys.

I thought, to be blunt, that the rupee fares were only available to Indians or Non-resident Indians, so if someone has a different colour skin, how can they buy a rupee ticket?

I thought, to be blunt, that the rupee fares were only available to Indians or Non-resident Indians, so if someone has a different colour skin, how can they buy a rupee ticket?

That used to be the case, but not anymore. This brings many happy memories of beating the system... :D

The discrimination was not required but allowed by the government, so it was an airline's choice and they all chose to overcharge anytime they could. Actual dividing line was not nationality or citizenship but country of legal residence. Anyone (Indian or foreigner) whose legal residence was in India was entitled to rupee fares; all others dollar fares. NRI's were not entitled to rupee fares, but often got away with it because of their appearance (India has never been big on ID's).

If you traveled a lot, you got to know other less-obvious loopholes too. I always paid rupee fares not only for myself but also for my wife who looks extremely caucasian. Many Caucasian friends I know always traveled on rupee tickets too. The trick was to realize that only an airline's city or airpot desks meant to sell tickets were interested in such rules, so a non-Indian-looking person should not go there: send friend/family or buy from a TA (they didn't care). For the check-in counter, ticket was ticket, their performance review seemed to depend on how much excess baggage charges they could levy: so don't bring your carry on when checking in, etc. :) Anyway, you could play the system and many did.

Everyone is entitled to rupee fares now, although many airline web pages and employees have not caught up with the change (but hold your ground as the law is on your side, or go to a different carrier / agency). Travel agencies who benefited from astronomical dollar fares, especially those abroad, also continue to offer them.

Please note that in the new free market spirit, there is no law against charging a huge amount to willing or clueless customers, only that every fare is available to everyone.

The latest quirk is that many Indian carriers and portals are not accepting foreign-issued credit cards for online or phone purchases, supposedly after some massive organized fraud. However, some are, and there are ways around for others too. But even if you have to buy a last minute ticket after reaching India, it will be cheaper than dollar fares sold by travel agents overseas.

This will be at the end of November, and a round trip. I've already found that some budget airlines don't have their schedules for November yet (e.g., Spice Air). What I'd really like is to be able to get from BKK to VNS all in one day.

DEL-VNS flights are bunched up between 10 AM and 2:30 PM, so you want to arrive in the morning...

The only choice I see is Air India (not Indian Airlines) flight # 349 which leaves BKK 2:40AM and reaches DEL 5:10 AM. This will work nicely for the 10AM connections (Indian at 10:05AM and Jet at 10:40AM, I'd recommend latter), but is limiting you to Air India. All other options seem to require a Delhi stay.

Returning, VNS-DEL flights are bunched in the aftrenoon arriving 4PM-5PM at the earliest, so you have to choose your inconvenience: (1) Take AI flight around 10PM which takes 10-11 hours to get to BKK via BOM (not sure if you need to change planes in BOM), or (2) Get to Delhi one day earlier and take the 6:30PM nonstop flight to BKK.

Please note that DEL-BKK fare follows the "international" practice and must be bought as RT for a good price. (If you were flexible, the cheapest ones are ~$450, you may be paying $600 for convenient schedule.) There is no advantage to buying RT within India, so you can buy one ways on different airlines.

All of this is from a very casual look at ITAsoftware for international flights and Cleartrip for domestic flights within India for randomly picked late November dates. A more specific and thorough research may well reveal better options. Good luck.

That used to be the case, but not anymore. This brings many happy memories of beating the system... :D

The discrimination was not required but allowed by the government, so it was an airline's choice and they all chose to overcharge anytime they could. Actual dividing line was not nationality or citizenship but country of legal residence. Anyone (Indian or foreigner) whose legal residence was in India was entitled to rupee fares; all others dollar fares. NRI's were not entitled to rupee fares, but often got away with it because of their appearance (India has never been big on ID's).

If you traveled a lot, you got to know other less-obvious loopholes too. I always paid rupee fares not only for myself but also for my wife who looks extremely caucasian. Many Caucasian friends I know always traveled on rupee tickets too. The trick was to realize that only an airline's city or airpot desks meant to sell tickets were interested in such rules, so a non-Indian-looking person should not go there: send friend/family or buy from a TA (they didn't care). For the check-in counter, ticket was ticket, their performance review seemed to depend on how much excess baggage charges they could levy: so don't bring your carry on when checking in, etc. :) Anyway, you could play the system and many did.

Everyone is entitled to rupee fares now, although many airline web pages and employees have not caught up with the change (but hold your ground as the law is on your side, or go to a different carrier / agency). Travel agencies who benefited from astronomical dollar fares, especially those abroad, also continue to offer them.

Please note that in the new free market spirit, there is no law against charging a huge amount to willing or clueless customers, only that every fare is available to everyone.

The latest quirk is that many Indian carriers and portals are not accepting foreign-issued credit cards for online or phone purchases, supposedly after some massive organized fraud. However, some are, and there are ways around for others too. But even if you have to buy a last minute ticket after reaching India, it will be cheaper than dollar fares sold by travel agents overseas.

This is the best information that I've learned on FT in the last 3 years. And you have detailed all of the steps so that I have no doubt of the courses of action open to us. Thank you for taking the trouble.

This is the best information that I've learned on FT in the last 3 years. And you have detailed all of the steps so that I have no doubt of the courses of action open to us. Thank you for taking the trouble.

Thanks, and Wow, I only wish I had been around here at FT to share this info when dual pricing was being enforced. :) Everyone is entitled to cheaper rupee tickets now. As I said, just hold your ground and don't believe any spin from anybody who tries to sell you dollar fares.

(Here is a typical one of the newspaper articles that covered this issue several months ago:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/402063.cms

Although as general guidance the article says that dollar fares were about double their rupee counterparts, often they were much higher.)