Suggestion for which city to break up our flights on the way to India?
Apr 10th, 2014, 06:16 PM
#1
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Suggestion for which city to break up our flights on the way to India?
We're beginning to plan a trip to Southern India for February.
We'd like to break the long economy class trip from New York to Bangalore into 2 parts.
We could also land in Mumbai, or Delhi, if one of those works better, but Bangalore works best for our plans, as we could then drive south from there, instead of more flying.
So we're asking for suggestions for where to stay for 2 or 3 nights on the way that have non-stop flights from New York, and also non-stop flights from there to India.
I know lots of non-stop flights go JFK-LHR and then LHR-India. But in February that has limited appeal to us. For one thing, who wants to drag cold-weather clothes all over India?
Paris also seems possible, but again, not the best time to be there?
Maybe Istanbul? Anyone been there in winter?
Or any other ideas that might be warmer?
We ruled out Dohar or other mid-east cities because the first leg is so long as to defeat the goal of breaking the trip into 2 more easily tolerable lengths.
We'd like to break the long economy class trip from New York to Bangalore into 2 parts.
We could also land in Mumbai, or Delhi, if one of those works better, but Bangalore works best for our plans, as we could then drive south from there, instead of more flying.
So we're asking for suggestions for where to stay for 2 or 3 nights on the way that have non-stop flights from New York, and also non-stop flights from there to India.
I know lots of non-stop flights go JFK-LHR and then LHR-India. But in February that has limited appeal to us. For one thing, who wants to drag cold-weather clothes all over India?
Paris also seems possible, but again, not the best time to be there?
Maybe Istanbul? Anyone been there in winter?
Or any other ideas that might be warmer?
We ruled out Dohar or other mid-east cities because the first leg is so long as to defeat the goal of breaking the trip into 2 more easily tolerable lengths.
Apr 11th, 2014, 01:40 PM
#4
I think you're better off flying straight to India and flying into Mumbai, then flying on to your next location in south India. I did a quick search on nonstop flights from (or to) Bangalore, and the only cities that made any sense to stop in that also had direct flights to Bangalore were Paris, London & Frankfurt. Each had flights of roughly 10 hours long to Bangalore. Personally, stopping in these cities in the winter is less than ideal, much as I love Paris or London. You'd then have a 10 hour flight to Bangalore.
If you wanted to increase the stopover cities and have a nonstop flight to India, then you'd need to fly into Delhi or Mumbai. Istanbul would be a good stopover.
Dubai sounds fascinating, but it's almost as long to Dubai as it is to either Delhi or Mumbai, so it wouldn't be an ideal stopover place.
Personally, though, if you can handle it, I'd fly nonstop to either Delhi or Mumbai -- I think the flights are 14-15 hours, stay for a night and then fly on to your destination to adjust.
If you wanted to increase the stopover cities and have a nonstop flight to India, then you'd need to fly into Delhi or Mumbai. Istanbul would be a good stopover.
Dubai sounds fascinating, but it's almost as long to Dubai as it is to either Delhi or Mumbai, so it wouldn't be an ideal stopover place.
Personally, though, if you can handle it, I'd fly nonstop to either Delhi or Mumbai -- I think the flights are 14-15 hours, stay for a night and then fly on to your destination to adjust.
Apr 11th, 2014, 01:48 PM
#5
The other nonstop flights were either from other cities in India or cities that require long flights from NYC.
I hope I made some sense in explaining this-- it's,been a long week at work and my brain is fried (you know, Fried-day). Oy!
I hope I made some sense in explaining this-- it's,been a long week at work and my brain is fried (you know, Fried-day). Oy!
Apr 11th, 2014, 04:51 PM
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<i>thursdaysd
"I trust that is actually shorthand for "being driven"....</i>
Yes, we'll be driven.
I've been to India once before, and I got a very good look at those roads!
And we might take some trains, too. Last time we took the overnight train from Mysore to Madurai, and that was a good experience.
progol, I actually did fly non-stop from NYC to Mumbai last time.
But now I saw the non-stop United flights are 3 seats across, so one of us would be stuck in the middle for that very long flight. So I don't think that is an option for us.
You're right, Paris or London would not be ideal in February. I'm still considering Istanbul. Or as you said, fly through with whatever connection is necessary.
I'm going to mull this over for a bit...
rhkkmk, you're right, I think a night flight is the way to go.
"I trust that is actually shorthand for "being driven"....</i>
Yes, we'll be driven.
I've been to India once before, and I got a very good look at those roads!
And we might take some trains, too. Last time we took the overnight train from Mysore to Madurai, and that was a good experience.
progol, I actually did fly non-stop from NYC to Mumbai last time.
But now I saw the non-stop United flights are 3 seats across, so one of us would be stuck in the middle for that very long flight. So I don't think that is an option for us.
You're right, Paris or London would not be ideal in February. I'm still considering Istanbul. Or as you said, fly through with whatever connection is necessary.
I'm going to mull this over for a bit...
rhkkmk, you're right, I think a night flight is the way to go.
Apr 12th, 2014, 11:20 AM
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The very last row does have a 2-seat configuration... <i>jammed up against the toilets</i>.
I don't think I'm being overly picky when I say that fifteen hours in those seats, <i>both ways</i>, may not be my dream trip!
I don't think I'm being overly picky when I say that fifteen hours in those seats, <i>both ways</i>, may not be my dream trip!
Apr 12th, 2014, 07:13 PM
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I haven't decided yet, but I don't need to quite yet. So maybe I'll wait until after our upcoming trip. I've booked us on a total of 13 flights. I cashed in my stash of frequent flyer miles for one big award. From New York City to Australia and then up through Asia and back. After this trip I may never want to get on a plane again!
