India - JFK during winter
Oct 13, 2011 | 1:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
India - JFK during winter
Hi everyone,
My first post here, though I've been a lurker for quite some time
I've looked through earlier threads for the question that I have now, but most answers were pretty dated.
Question is: I want to fly from Bangalore to JFK/EWR mid-dec and return mid-Jan. I would prefer a non-stop flight, but the only decent one is AI that takes off from Delhi. I hear a lot of flights get cancelled/delayed during this time frame (both NY and DEL), so am I better off taking a flight from Bangalore via Middle East? Or is the AI flight prioritized to avoid long delays? In terms of budget, AI works out to be the best. Emirates/Qatar Airways are about 5-6k higher.
Thanks a lot for your help.
My first post here, though I've been a lurker for quite some time
I've looked through earlier threads for the question that I have now, but most answers were pretty dated.
Question is: I want to fly from Bangalore to JFK/EWR mid-dec and return mid-Jan. I would prefer a non-stop flight, but the only decent one is AI that takes off from Delhi. I hear a lot of flights get cancelled/delayed during this time frame (both NY and DEL), so am I better off taking a flight from Bangalore via Middle East? Or is the AI flight prioritized to avoid long delays? In terms of budget, AI works out to be the best. Emirates/Qatar Airways are about 5-6k higher.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Oct 13, 2011 | 6:19 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Hi everyone,
My first post here, though I've been a lurker for quite some time
I've looked through earlier threads for the question that I have now, but most answers were pretty dated.
Question is: I want to fly from Bangalore to JFK/EWR mid-dec and return mid-Jan. I would prefer a non-stop flight, but the only decent one is AI that takes off from Delhi. I hear a lot of flights get cancelled/delayed during this time frame (both NY and DEL), so am I better off taking a flight from Bangalore via Middle East? Or is the AI flight prioritized to avoid long delays? In terms of budget, AI works out to be the best. Emirates/Qatar Airways are about 5-6k higher.
Thanks a lot for your help.
My first post here, though I've been a lurker for quite some time
I've looked through earlier threads for the question that I have now, but most answers were pretty dated.
Question is: I want to fly from Bangalore to JFK/EWR mid-dec and return mid-Jan. I would prefer a non-stop flight, but the only decent one is AI that takes off from Delhi. I hear a lot of flights get cancelled/delayed during this time frame (both NY and DEL), so am I better off taking a flight from Bangalore via Middle East? Or is the AI flight prioritized to avoid long delays? In terms of budget, AI works out to be the best. Emirates/Qatar Airways are about 5-6k higher.
Thanks a lot for your help.
have you considered the direct bom-ewr flight????
Oct 13, 2011 | 7:01 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2010
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+1
Or the CO EWR-BOM and EWR-DEL as well.
I'd reccommend AI over CO in Y, J, or F however, because:
1)CO seats in Y are hard enough on a transcon, the flight to india is like asking for back pain.
2)AI is almost always cheaper, and there is no particular advantage of another airline over AI
Or the CO EWR-BOM and EWR-DEL as well.
I'd reccommend AI over CO in Y, J, or F however, because:
1)CO seats in Y are hard enough on a transcon, the flight to india is like asking for back pain.
2)AI is almost always cheaper, and there is no particular advantage of another airline over AI
Oct 13, 2011 | 7:36 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
thanks for the tips Keyser and PVDtoDEL. I looked up the AI191 BOM-EWR flight reviews - seems to be a lot of delays/cancellations and is not as good as the DEL-JFK flight.
PVDtoDEL - I've heard about the CO seats so I'm not keen on that airline.
AI is definitely cheaper, but for about 4k rupees more there is an Etihad flight. Is the extra 4k worth it, in terms of lower chances of delays, etc? Departure from Bangalore will be between Dec 20th - 23rd.
PVDtoDEL - I've heard about the CO seats so I'm not keen on that airline.
AI is definitely cheaper, but for about 4k rupees more there is an Etihad flight. Is the extra 4k worth it, in terms of lower chances of delays, etc? Departure from Bangalore will be between Dec 20th - 23rd.
Oct 13, 2011 | 7:44 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2010
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BOM issues are primarily during the Monsoons, in the summer. Things get flooded, weather is crummy, ontime performance sucks, etc.
EWR issues affect afternoon flights year round(and I'm sure you know about the terrible crosswinds).
I'd fly EWR-BOM on AI to be honest. I wouldn't be able to justify spending more to not fly through BOM in the winter - your chances of delays should be low.
AI operates EWR-BOM with their newish 777s, so MX problems are rare...
Note with BOM - make sure you book with AI all the way through to BLR on the middle of the night Air India flight - transfering to another airline at BOM means you have to trek it out to the domestic terminal, which is a bit of a headache.
EWR issues affect afternoon flights year round(and I'm sure you know about the terrible crosswinds).
I'd fly EWR-BOM on AI to be honest. I wouldn't be able to justify spending more to not fly through BOM in the winter - your chances of delays should be low.
AI operates EWR-BOM with their newish 777s, so MX problems are rare...
Note with BOM - make sure you book with AI all the way through to BLR on the middle of the night Air India flight - transfering to another airline at BOM means you have to trek it out to the domestic terminal, which is a bit of a headache.
Oct 15, 2011 | 11:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I have flown Etihad and I like it a lot. The service may be on/off sometimes, but I haven't found major problems with it. But, please do note that if you're flying EY, you'll be landing around 2pm at JFK as opposed to AI's 7am arrival.