Page 753 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  751

Domestic Airports are more stringent and can DIRECTORY
Airports at the four main require up to an extra half hour.
cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata Take any inordinate delays into Domestic Airlines
and Chennai – and cities account, make sure all bags are Airport Enquiries
such as Agra, Bhubaneswar, tagged, and do not carry batte- Tel (0124) 337 6000, Delhi.
Kochi, Hyderabad, and ries, lighters or any sharp objects, Tel (022) 6685 1010, Mumbai.
Bengaluru have modern not even scissors, nail files or Tel (033) 2511 8036, Kolkata.
terminal buildings with up- tweezers. As part of the security Tel (044) 2256 0551, Chennai.
to-date facilities. However, measures on some routes, you
smaller towns, such as Dehra may be asked to identify your Air India
Dun, have tiny airports with baggage on the tarmac, before Tel (011) 2462 4075, Delhi.
fewer facilities. boarding the flight. Tel (022) 2202 3031, Mumbai.
Tel (033) 2211 0730, Kolkata.
Tel (044) 2345 3375, Chennai.
Getting to and from Reservations
the Airport Air Vistara
All domestic airlines have their Tel (0120) 669 9901.
The distance from airports own booking offices in the city, Tel 0928 922 8888.
to city centres varies, so it is as well as a reser vation counter ∑ airvistara.com
useful to check the travel time at the airport (usually only in Indigo
beforehand. Also always allow larger towns and cities). Tickets Tel (124) 661 3838, Gurugram.
time for unforeseen delays en can also be booked through Tel 0991 038 3838.
route. Airport coaches run travel agents (see p735). ∑ goindigo.in
regularly for a fee. Pre-paid However, the easiest way to
taxis with fixed rates can book tickets is online at travel Jet Airways
usually be booked from websites such as www. Tel (011) 3989 3333, Delhi.
counters both inside and makemytrip.com and Tel (022) 3989 3333, Mumbai.
outside the arrivals area. www.yatra.com. All Tel (033) 3989 3333, Kolkata.
Metered auto-rickshaws airlines have Tel (044) 3989 3333,Chennai.
are also available. Make computerized booking ∑ jetairways.com
sure the meter is working, and flight information SpiceJet Airlines
or agree on a fixed facilities all over the Tel (0965) 400 3333, Domestic.
amount before taking The Maharaja, country, even in smaller Tel (987) 180 333, International.
one. If you are booking mascot of towns. Tickets can be
accommo dation, check if Air India paid for in US dollars or
your hotel offers a free sterling, as well as in to cancel, you may lose the full
pick-up service. Radio taxis rupees. Payment can also be value of the ticket. If flights are
are also available at several made by credit card. There are cancelled or delayed, you can
major airports. special fares for infants and claim seats in alternate flights.
children. Indian nationals aged
63 and above get a 50 per cent
Check-In senior citizens discount, subject Travel Packages
For most domestic flights, to identity and age proof. All Air India offers two travel
the check-in time is normally ticket cancella tions must be packages if the payment is in
45 minutes to an hour before done at least four hours before US dollars. Scheme 1 for 30 days
departure. If you are travelling your flight. Cancellation on a is about US$650–900 and allows
to politically sen sitive places refundable ticket varies from unlimited travel with certain
such as Kashmir, Jammu, Leh airline to airline, and only taxes route restrictions. Scheme 2 is
and some of the northeastern are refunded on a non- about US$500 for 15 days of
states, note that security checks refundable ticket. If you fail travel in one region. This package
does not include the Andaman
Islands. Private airlines, such as
Jet Airways, Indigo and SpiceJet,
also offer special packages for
foreign nationals. The “Visit India”
offer by Jet Airways ranges from
US$550–800 for economy-class
travel over a period of 15–20
days. Airlines have started
offering discounts on tickets, and
value add-ons such as free stays
and gourmet dining to beat the
competition. It is therefore worth
doing a little research before
Aircraft lined up at Indira Gandhi International Airport purchasing your ticket.

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