Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from North America to India

Direct flight routes to India

Currently only a handful of non-stop routes operate between North America and India.

• New York (JFK) to Delhi (DEL) – Air India – 14h 10m


• Newark (EWR) to Mumbai (BOM) – United Airlines – 15h 15m


• San Francisco (SFO) to Bengaluru (BLR) – Air India – 16h 40m


• Chicago (ORD) to Delhi (DEL) – Air India – 14h 45m


• Washington (IAD) to Delhi (DEL) – Air India – 14h 30m

Layover/stopover options

Dubai (DXB) – Emirates hub offering extensive connections to multiple Indian cities. Average connection time 2-3 hours. Features world’s largest airport terminal and excellent duty-free shopping.

Doha (DOH) – Qatar Airways primary hub with modern facilities and efficient transfers averaging 2 hours. Award-winning airport with complimentary city tours for longer layovers.

London (LHR) – British Airways and Air India connections. Longer average layover times of 3-4 hours. Terminal transfers may be required.

Frankfurt (FRA) – Lufthansa’s main hub with consistent connections to major Indian cities. Average connection time 2.5 hours. Efficient immigration process for transfers.

Time vs money

Non-stop flights typically command a premium of 20-30% over one-stop options. Flights with multiple stops or longer layovers generally offer the lowest fares but can double total journey time.

Tips and recommendations

• Middle Eastern carriers often offer better in-flight service and newer aircraft compared to direct flights.


• Multi-city bookings with planned stopovers can cost the same as regular layover flights.


• Winter fog in Delhi can cause significant delays for non-stop flights.


• Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically offer lower fares across all route types.


• European hubs often require transit visas even for Indian citizens, while Middle Eastern hubs don’t.

• Air India’s nonstop routes from New York JFK, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco typically offer the lowest fares to major Indian cities, averaging 15-20% below market rates. Their newly retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs feature improved Economy seats with 32-inch pitch and upgraded entertainment systems. The airline’s recent membership in Star Alliance means better connection options within India and improved loyalty benefits.
• Flying via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines often provides an excellent balance of comfort and value, with fares typically 10% lower than Gulf carriers. Their long-haul fleet features comfortable Economy seats with 31-33 inch pitch, and connection times in Istanbul are consistently under 4 hours. Istanbul’s new airport offers superior amenities for layovers, including complimentary city tours for longer connections.
• For travelers from western Canada, consider Korean Air’s routes via Seoul, which frequently offers promotional fares up to 25% below market average from Vancouver and Toronto. Their A330 and 787 aircraft feature some of the most spacious Economy seats in the industry with 33-34 inch pitch, and Incheon Airport’s efficient layout ensures smooth connections under 2 hours.
• The newly launched Air Canada route from Montreal to Mumbai provides an excellent option for eastern Canadian travelers, operating three times weekly with competitive introductory fares. Their 787-9 Dreamliner offers a comfortable Economy cabin with 32-inch pitch and enhanced humidity levels for reduced jetlag. This route particularly benefits Quebec and Maritime province residents with convenient departure times.
• Consider Emirates’ fifth freedom route from Seattle to Dubai for accessing smaller Indian cities, as it often prices 15% lower than their other US departures. The route uses A380 aircraft with industry-leading Economy comfort, and Dubai’s connections to secondary Indian cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Ahmedabad are efficiently timed. Bonus tip: this route frequently offers upgrade bargains to Premium Economy.

1. Booking the shortest route only Direct flights to India from North America are significantly more expensive than routes with strategic layovers in Europe (London, Paris, Frankfurt) or Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha).
2. Ignoring secondary Indian airports While most travelers default to Delhi (DEL) or Mumbai (BOM), flying into Bangalore (BLR) or Hyderabad (HYD) can be cheaper and more convenient depending on your final destination in India.
3. Last-minute peak season bookings Waiting too long to book flights during Diwali (October-November) or winter holidays (December-January) can result in fares that are 50-100% higher than usual.
4. Tight layover scheduling in Middle East hubs Booking connections with less than 3 hours at major transit points like Dubai or Doha can lead to missed flights due to frequent delays and lengthy security procedures.
5. Not accounting for domestic transfer times Many travelers underestimate the time needed to clear immigration, collect bags, and recheck for domestic connections in Indian airports, which often requires at least 3-4 hours buffer.

Emirates

Best for: Most comfortable Economy Class seats and highest rated entertainment system among carriers serving US-India routes.

Operating from 12 US/Canadian cities to India (biggest: New York JFK, Toronto, Chicago) via Dubai hub. Emirates offers generous 34-inch seat pitch in Economy, multicourse meals with both Indian and Western options, and over 4,500 entertainment channels. Consistently receives 4+ out of 5 stars in passenger reviews for long-haul flights. Single efficient connection in Dubai typically keeps total journey time under 20 hours.

Qatar Airways

Best for: Superior service quality and most awarded dining experience in Economy Class.

Serves 10 North American destinations (biggest: New York JFK, Chicago, Montreal) with connections to India through Doha. Known for attentive cabin crew and high-quality dining with regional specialties. Economy seats offer 32-33 inch pitch with adjustable headrests. Doha’s modern Hamad International Airport makes connections smooth, though layovers can be longer than competitors.

United Airlines

Best for: Most extensive network of direct flights from US to India with best loyalty program benefits for North American travelers.

Operates from 7 US cities (biggest: Newark, Chicago, San Francisco) including direct flights to Delhi and Mumbai. Recently upgraded Boeing 777-300ER fleet features improved Economy seats with 31-inch pitch and better cushioning. Meals include both Indian and American options. Connection times are minimal when connecting through European partners.

Air India

Best for: Largest selection of non-stop routes between North America and India with most authentic Indian service experience.

Flies from 7 North American cities (biggest: New York JFK, Chicago, Toronto) with maximum non-stop services to Indian cities. Despite older fleet, offers generous 33-inch seat pitch in Economy. Authentic Indian cuisine is consistently rated highly. However, inflight entertainment and cabin maintenance receive mixed reviews. Perfect for travelers prioritizing direct flights and shorter journey times.

Leverage APAC carriers for cheaper India flights

Savvy travelers can save significantly on flights to India by breaking their journey into segments and utilizing Asia-Pacific regional carriers. This strategy often yields savings of 20-40% compared to direct routes.

1. Book separate tickets – First leg from North America to major Asian hubs like Singapore, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur using traditional carriers, then connect to India using budget airlines
2. Target key budget carriers – Airlines like AirAsia, IndiGo, and Scoot offer dramatically lower fares within Asia, especially to major Indian cities
3. Consider alternative hubs – Singapore and Bangkok typically offer the most competitive connections to India, with frequent budget flights to multiple Indian destinations
4. Plan longer layovers – Building in 6-12 hour layovers provides buffer against delays and often results in better fare combinations

Key regional budget airlines for India routes include IndiGo, AirAsia India, SpiceJet, and GoFirst. These carriers maintain extensive networks connecting Southeast Asian hubs to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

While this approach requires more planning and flexibility, savings typically range from $400-800 per round trip compared to traditional single-ticket options.