{"id":44632,"date":"2026-06-23T08:51:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T08:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=44632"},"modified":"2026-06-23T09:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T09:01:19","slug":"uae-travellers-find-new-ways-to-cut-high-india-flight-costs-through-stopovers-and-rewards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/uae-travellers-find-new-ways-to-cut-high-india-flight-costs-through-stopovers-and-rewards\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE Travellers Find New Ways to Cut High India Flight Costs Through Stopovers and Rewards."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As flights to several Indian destinations become increasingly expensive, travel agents report that many UAE travellers are changing their approach by considering flexible schedules and alternative options.<\/h4>

Would you be willing to add extra hours to your journey if it helped reduce your family\u2019s travel expenses by thousands of dirhams? For many UAE residents planning trips to India during the summer season, choosing a longer route has become a practical way to save money.<\/p>

As flight prices on popular India routes continue to increase due to high seasonal demand, travellers are finding alternative ways to make their journeys more affordable. Instead of booking direct flights, some passengers are exploring different strategies, including arriving in another Indian city and completing the rest of their trip through domestic flights, trains or other transport options.<\/p>

Others are looking beyond their usual travel choices by considering departures from different UAE airports or using accumulated airline reward points to reduce ticket costs. Travel professionals say these changes show that passengers are becoming more flexible and willing to adjust their plans in response to rising airfare prices.<\/p>

According to travel agents, many UAE residents are now comparing multiple routes and looking for budget-friendly combinations rather than automatically choosing direct flights. The savings can be significant, especially for families travelling together during the busy summer holiday period.<\/p>

Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism, explained that some customers are choosing to fly to Mumbai and then continue their journey towards southern Indian destinations by train. This approach can help families lower their overall travel expenses while still reaching their final destinations.<\/p>

He said travellers are increasingly focusing on value and exploring options that allow them to manage higher ticket prices without cancelling their holiday plans. For some families, spending additional time on the road is a reasonable compromise when it results in major savings.<\/p>

With summer travel demand expected to remain strong, travel experts believe more passengers may continue adopting flexible approaches, combining different transport methods and making smarter booking decisions to control costs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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‘Direct tickets were too expensive’<\/h3>

For Sharjah-based marketing professional Aslam K., travelling to his hometown of Kochi during the busy summer holiday season required careful planning and a willingness to explore alternatives. Like many UAE residents preparing for trips to India, he found that booking a direct flight for his family had become increasingly expensive.<\/p>

When Aslam checked return ticket prices for his family of four, he found that even lower-cost airline options were reaching nearly Dh18,000 for a round trip. The high fares prompted him to look beyond traditional direct routes and consider other ways to reduce the overall travel cost.<\/p>

Rather than choosing a direct flight from the UAE to Kerala, Aslam decided to divide the journey into multiple stages. His family will first travel from Dubai to Mumbai with Emirates before taking a separate domestic flight operated by IndiGo from Mumbai to Kochi.<\/p>

Although the route involves an additional connection, Aslam said the financial savings made the longer journey worthwhile. The family has also planned to stay in Mumbai for two days before continuing south, turning the stopover into an opportunity to spend time with relatives and enjoy a short break before reaching their final destination.<\/p>

\u201cDirect tickets were too expensive. Even after adding the cost of domestic travel, the Mumbai route was still much more affordable for us,\u201d Aslam explained.<\/p>

He added that the decision was not only based on saving money. Since some of his relatives live in Mumbai, the stopover allowed the family to meet them, while his children were excited about spending time with their cousins before continuing their holiday.<\/p>

By choosing the alternative route, Aslam expects the total travel expense to come to approximately Dh10,000. This represents savings of nearly Dh8,000 compared with booking direct flights for the entire family.<\/p>

However, the lower cost comes with a compromise. Instead of reaching Kochi through a shorter direct journey, the family\u2019s total travel time will extend to between 48 and 56 hours, including the Mumbai stopover and the onward domestic connection.<\/p>

For Aslam, the extra time is a reasonable trade-off considering the significant reduction in ticket expenses. He said many travellers are now weighing comfort and convenience against affordability as airfares continue to rise during the peak summer travel period.<\/p>

Travel industry professionals say similar decisions are becoming increasingly common among UAE residents travelling to India. With strong seasonal demand pushing up prices, passengers are exploring different combinations of flights, alternative airports and connecting routes to control expenses.<\/p>

Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism, said more travellers are now choosing routes that involve connecting flights rather than paying higher prices for direct services. He noted that travelling to Mumbai first and then continuing to Kerala has become a popular choice among some passengers.<\/p>

According to travel agents, Mumbai has emerged as a useful transit point for travellers heading towards southern Indian destinations because of its extensive domestic flight network and rail connections. Passengers can often find more affordable combinations by separating their international and domestic journeys.<\/p>

Subair explained that travellers are becoming more flexible with their plans as they search for ways to manage rising summer airfare costs. Instead of prioritising the shortest route, many families are focusing on finding the best value for money.<\/p>

The trend highlights how increasing travel expenses are influencing passenger behaviour. Families who previously preferred direct flights are now comparing different options, including longer routes that offer substantial savings.<\/p>

For many residents, especially those travelling with multiple family members, even a small difference in ticket prices can add up to thousands of dirhams. As a result, some are willing to spend additional hours travelling if it helps them stay within their holiday budget.<\/p>

Travel experts expect this approach to continue as demand remains high during the summer vacation period. More passengers are likely to consider stopovers, connecting flights and mixed travel arrangements as they look for affordable ways to visit family and enjoy holidays abroad.<\/p>

The experience of travellers like Aslam reflects a broader shift in how UAE residents are approaching international travel. Rising fares are encouraging passengers to become more creative, compare more options and make decisions based not only on convenience but also on overall savings.<\/p>

For some families, the journey may take longer, but the financial benefits make the extra effort worthwhile. As airfare prices continue to influence holiday planning, flexible travel strategies are becoming an increasingly common way for residents to make their trips more affordable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Travellers explore airports beyond Dubai to find cheaper fares<\/h3>

As summer travel demand increases and flight prices continue to rise, many UAE residents are looking for alternative ways to reduce the cost of their trips to India. One strategy that has gained attention is choosing departure airports outside Dubai instead of automatically booking from the city\u2019s main airports.<\/p>

For some travellers, the savings available through nearby airports make the extra travel time worthwhile. Residents are increasingly comparing ticket prices from different emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, before finalising their bookings.<\/p>

Bibin Poojary, a businessman living in Dubai Marina, said he decided to look beyond Dubai after noticing a significant difference in airfare prices. After comparing options, he chose to travel from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai instead of flying from Dubai.<\/p>

The decision helped his family of three reduce their travel expenses by around Dh2,800. Although reaching Abu Dhabi required additional planning and travel time, Poojary said the savings made the change worthwhile.<\/p>

He explained that making the journey to another airport was a practical choice, especially during a period when summer ticket prices are significantly higher due to increased demand.<\/p>

\u201cFor us, the additional drive to Abu Dhabi was a small inconvenience compared with the amount we were able to save on flights,\u201d he said.<\/p>

Travel professionals say this type of comparison has become more common among UAE residents. Instead of limiting their search to one airport, passengers are now checking multiple departure points to identify the most affordable options.<\/p>

Bharat Aidasani, managing partner at Pluto Travels, said travellers are becoming more strategic when planning their journeys. Many are comparing fares across different airports and adjusting their travel dates where possible to find better prices.<\/p>

He explained that flexibility has become one of the most important factors for passengers trying to manage higher airfare costs. Small changes, such as choosing a different airport or travelling a few days earlier or later, can sometimes result in considerable savings.<\/p>

According to travel agents, demand for flights during the summer holiday period remains strong, with many routes filling quickly as families plan trips around school vacations. August, in particular, is expected to remain a busy period as many residents travel during the long school break.<\/p>

Loyalty programmes and rewards help travellers reduce costs<\/h3>

While changing airports and routes is one way to save money, some UAE residents are also using loyalty programmes, airline miles and credit card rewards to reduce their travel expenses.<\/p>

Frequent travellers who have collected reward points over time are using these benefits to offset the impact of rising ticket prices. For families travelling during peak periods, these programmes can make a noticeable difference in the final cost of their trips.<\/p>

Salim Sheikh, who plans to travel to Bengaluru this summer, said he used his Emirates Skywards miles to lower the overall cost of his journey.<\/p>

He explained that redeeming accumulated miles helped reduce the amount he needed to pay for flights. In addition, his son had an Emirates voucher that the family plans to use during the holiday period, providing another opportunity to save.<\/p>

According to Salim, these benefits together have helped bring down the total expense of the family trip. Instead of paying a much higher amount for tickets, he expects the final cost for the family to remain around Dh6,000.<\/p>

He said using available rewards has become an important part of his travel planning, especially when fares rise during busy seasons.<\/p>

Other travellers are using similar methods. Rakesh Sharma, an engineer travelling to Bengaluru, said he is relying on credit card reward points to reduce part of his airfare expenses.<\/p>

Travel operators say reward programmes have become increasingly valuable for passengers who travel regularly. While these benefits may not completely cover the cost of a trip, they can significantly reduce the amount families need to spend.<\/p>

Experts suggest that residents who frequently travel should consider joining airline loyalty programmes or using cards that offer travel-related benefits. Over time, accumulated rewards can provide useful savings, particularly during expensive travel periods.<\/p>

Travellers adjust routes and schedules to manage rising prices<\/h3>

For many UAE residents, planning summer travel has become a careful balance between convenience, time and affordability. With direct flights becoming more expensive, some passengers are willing to accept longer journeys, connecting flights and less traditional routes to keep costs under control.<\/p>

Instead of choosing the fastest option, some travellers are selecting routes that involve layovers or multiple airlines if the overall price difference is significant.<\/p>

Others are changing their holiday schedules by moving their travel dates slightly. Even shifting a trip by a few days can sometimes help passengers avoid the highest fare periods.<\/p>

Travel agents say flexibility has become one of the biggest advantages for people searching for affordable tickets. Passengers who are open to different airports, alternative routes or different departure dates generally have more opportunities to find lower fares.<\/p>

According to industry professionals, travellers who begin planning early and compare multiple options are more likely to secure better prices. Waiting until the last moment often results in fewer choices and higher ticket costs, especially during peak summer periods.<\/p>

The trend reflects a wider change in how UAE residents approach international travel. In previous years, many passengers focused mainly on convenience and direct connections. However, rising airfare prices have encouraged more people to explore creative solutions.<\/p>

From taking a short drive to another airport, using accumulated miles, booking connecting flights or adjusting holiday dates, travellers are finding different ways to make their budgets work.<\/p>

Travel experts believe these strategies will continue to remain popular as long as demand remains high and ticket prices stay elevated. Families travelling together are particularly motivated to search for savings because even small reductions per ticket can create significant overall differences.<\/p>

As summer flights continue filling up, residents who remain flexible are expected to have the best chance of finding affordable options. Whether through alternative airports, loyalty rewards or adjusted travel plans, many travellers are proving that saving money often requires a willingness to explore different possibilities.<\/p>

For UAE residents heading to India this summer, the journey is no longer only about reaching the destination quickly. Increasingly, it is about finding the smartest and most cost-effective way to get there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UAE passengers are exploring smarter travel options to lower expensive India flight fares, using stopover routes, loyalty programmes and alternative booking strategies to make journeys more affordable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,14,9],"tags":[],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-44632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-transport","category-uae","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44632"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44640,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44632\/revisions\/44640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44632"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=44632"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=44632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}