SkyTeam options - London to Hyderabad
Aug 14, 2017, 4:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
SkyTeam options - London to Hyderabad
Hi. I am new to FlyerTalk and a recent transplant from NYC to London. Delta Gold. I need to travel to Hyderabad and would like to use SkyTeam if possible. Unfortunately, there are no direct options that I can find.
Current plan - LHR to DEL (Virgin), separately booked local carrier to HYD
Other Options:
-- LHR - CDG - BOM - HYD (Air France)
-- LHR - AMS - BOM - HYD (KLM)
For now, I only foresee one annual trip to Hyderabad and therefore not worthwhile to switch to BA.
Current plan - LHR to DEL (Virgin), separately booked local carrier to HYD
Other Options:
-- LHR - CDG - BOM - HYD (Air France)
-- LHR - AMS - BOM - HYD (KLM)
For now, I only foresee one annual trip to Hyderabad and therefore not worthwhile to switch to BA.
Aug 14, 2017, 4:40 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
As a quick reminder, Virgin Atlantic is a Delta SkyMiles partner and JV partner but is not a member of SkyTeam.
One should be able to get Virgin Atlantic to DEL and onward to HYD on the same ticket. ITA Matrix shows it possible. There's even a Virgin-coded Jet Airways flight.
tinerary
London (LHR) to Hyderabad (HYD) — Wed, Sep 13
Overnight flight
London (LHR) to Delhi (DEL) — Wed, Sep 13
Virgin Atlantic 300
Dep: 9:50 pm
Arr: 10:55 am
8h 35m
Boeing 787
Economy (Q)
Dinner
Layover in DEL
Thu, Sep 14
2h 20m
Delhi (DEL) to Hyderabad (HYD) — Thu, Sep 14
Air India 104
Dep: 1:15 pm
Arr: 3:15 pm
2h 0m
Airbus A320
Economy (L)
One should be able to get Virgin Atlantic to DEL and onward to HYD on the same ticket. ITA Matrix shows it possible. There's even a Virgin-coded Jet Airways flight.
tinerary
London (LHR) to Hyderabad (HYD) — Wed, Sep 13
Overnight flight
London (LHR) to Delhi (DEL) — Wed, Sep 13
Virgin Atlantic 300
Dep: 9:50 pm
Arr: 10:55 am
8h 35m
Boeing 787
Economy (Q)
Dinner
Layover in DEL
Thu, Sep 14
2h 20m
Delhi (DEL) to Hyderabad (HYD) — Thu, Sep 14
Air India 104
Dep: 1:15 pm
Arr: 3:15 pm
2h 0m
Airbus A320
Economy (L)
Aug 15, 2017, 1:21 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
What 3Cforme said, that's exactly the way I'd go about it. While VS is not Skyteam, you will get most of your DL benefits on VS. One point though that is not clear is if you're get miles for the VS flight if it's not DL coded, they are subnoted (3) on the Skymiles site which says it has to be a DL marketed flight for mileage credit. (India's Jet airways is the same). The other big exception is lounge access if you're flying Economy. You can cover lounges with Priority Pass or Diners Club if desired.
Another data point, you mentioned there are no direct options from London in Skyteam. I think that goes without saying since LHR is a BA hub (OneWorld) and that's the only alliance carrier based anywhere in the UK and there is currently no Skyteam carrier in India either. Legacy carriers (meaning non-LCC) all operate a hub & spoke system from their home country. That means to stick to Skyteam to India you would need to look at the likes of KL, AF, and a bit further afield you have SV as well if you don't mind a dry airline. Indirect (connecting) flights are just a fact of life for most folks who want to stick to one alliance and don't live in one of the big hubs.
Another data point, you mentioned there are no direct options from London in Skyteam. I think that goes without saying since LHR is a BA hub (OneWorld) and that's the only alliance carrier based anywhere in the UK and there is currently no Skyteam carrier in India either. Legacy carriers (meaning non-LCC) all operate a hub & spoke system from their home country. That means to stick to Skyteam to India you would need to look at the likes of KL, AF, and a bit further afield you have SV as well if you don't mind a dry airline. Indirect (connecting) flights are just a fact of life for most folks who want to stick to one alliance and don't live in one of the big hubs.
