If you’re traveling to India in December, you should prepare yourself for some of the highest fares of the year to India.
Whether you are a family of Indian origin living in the United States or a student from the US looking to return to India during the winter break, December is one of the peak times for travel to India. It’s also a time of year that many families like to use their annual vacation to return to their relatives in India for Christmas and New Year.
Thousands of travelers all want the same seats at the same time!
One family shared their search online and found fares for $9,500 for 4 travelers for a 2 week round trip journey from DFW to HYD. Another traveler shared that he paid $6,000 for 3 tickets for a similar period. Many are reconsidering travel in December or changing their travel dates instead.
You don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for air travel to India but you will have to research fares for all possible routes (with all possible airports on each route), all possible travel dates, booking airports, airlines and even connections to find the cheapest air travel fare.
Why Are Flights to India So Expensive in December?
December combines several high-demand travel periods.
Students travel home for the winter break, families travel during Christmas and New Year time and many Indian origin travelers in the US use up their one annual trip to visit their relatives in India.
These routes can become even more expensive because so many people are trying to travel on the same dates.
A recent post on the discussion forum for the travel booking site Reddit, stated that the fares for travel from Dallas to Hyderabad were extremely high for the December and early January travel period. Posts for other routes to India such as New York to Delhi reported similar problems for December travel as well.
Your departure city also makes a difference.
In addition to a given origin city, prices to India can also vary greatly based on the destination in India as well as the number of airlines serving a given route and their available seating capacity, in addition to connections (if any) and corresponding demand.
When Should You Book December Flights to India?
Booking at a specific time will not guarantee low prices for air travel; however, December travelers should not wait until the last minute in hopes of finding cheaper fares.
There is no single day of the year to book your flight to ensure you get the lowest price. However, December travelers should not rely on last-minute travel deals.
One poster even mentioned that even after months of monitoring said that fares for the dates that he wanted were still far too expensive.
Fixed dates, early comparisons, and spending time researching are necessary for those traveling in December.
This is especially important if you are:
- Traveling with several family members
- Returning around New Year's
- Traveling to a smaller Indian city
- Looking for nonstop flights
- Flying from a smaller US airport
- Checking a popular route such as DFW to HYD
You could end up with less favorable flights, like with a stopover and early morning departure, or even pay more for your airline tickets.
Be Flexible With Your December Travel Dates
Lower fares can often be found if you search for different dates for your trip's departure and return.
Do not search only for:
December 20 to January 3
Also check:
- December 17 to December 31
- December 21 to January 5
- December 23 to January 6
- December 26 to January 8
- December 28 to January 10
Moving your trip by a few days can even change the available fare for the same origin and destination.
Traveling before Christmas or returning after the first week of the year can even save you even more money.
It’s worth reading recent traveler feedback on Reddit around the most expensive dates in Dec and trying to travel a few days earlier or later to save.
Compare Nearby US Airports
Just because your closest airport is the closest does not necessarily mean it is the cheapest airport to fly out of to India.
For example, people living near Dallas would compare prices for flights from DFW to India with those from other distant airports. People living near New York would compare JFK with Newark and with other airports in the area.
This same type of search can also be applied in major US cities, such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and many others.
Before booking, compare the complete trip cost.
That the savings from a $100 cheaper flight can be eaten up by the costs of getting to another airport for departure (and checking in) and also returning to your home.
- Long-distance driving
- Parking
- An additional domestic flight
- Checked baggage
- An overnight hotel
- Ground transportation
In addition to the cost of the flight look at the total cost of traveling to and from your home.
Consider Different Indian Arrival Airports
You should also compare airports in India.
When considering airports in India, do not assume that every search must end at Hyderabad International Airport. For instance, traveling to family in Hyderabad may mean searching for flights ending at Delhi International, Mumbai International, Bengaluru International, Chennai International etc.
Whether your final destination is in a smaller city or in a bigger one, if you are flying from abroad to visit your family in India, compare international flights to major Indian airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, etc.) and then search for a domestic connection from there.
Another example of the cost savings of flying into a major airport for a trip to a smaller city in India would be to fly into Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai or other major airports in India and then take a connecting flight to your final destination.
However, be careful with separate tickets.
Important Note About Separate Tickets
Be wary of booking separate tickets for your international flight and your domestic connections. In the event of a delay on the international flight resulting in a missed connection on the domestic flight, the airlines are not liable to re-route you on an alternative flight.
It’s not always the cheapest itinerary which is best for important family trips.
Nonstop or Connecting Flight?
Nonstop flights may have time to spare but can cost a pretty penny or two.
A connection in a major international hub can sometimes be cheaper than a non-stop flight.
Even travel reviewers online, such as a recent Reddit discussion on flights for December, say to compare flights with different connections to get the best fare even if it’s to travel a day later or to arrive a day later.
When comparing flights, check:
- Total travel time
- Number of stops
- Layover length
- Airport change requirement
- Baggage allowance
- Connection country
- Fare rules
This would mean extra hours of traveling time for children, adding up to a whopping $150 saving for your family!
Do Not Ignore the Return Flight
Travelers who book a cheap ticket to India may find the return flight costs a lot more as the return date can affect the overall price.
December trips often overlap with New Year's travel.
You can also try to move the return date by a few days and look at the total price for a round trip.
Compare return dates such as January 4, 6, 8, or 10 if you have the flexibility in your travel dates.
Changing your return date can sometimes offer more possibilities for cheaper flights than changing your departure date.
Are One-Way Tickets Cheaper?
Sometimes, but do not assume it.
For example a recent discussion on Reddit was brought to my attention where travelers were talking about the prospect of purchasing one-way tickets to India instead of round-trip tickets as the round-trip price is far too high.
Be sure to get a quote for two separate one-way flights and compared it with the normal price for a round-trip flight as well.
Similarly, also check the baggage allowance, cancellation charges, change fees, and connections.
Two one-way tickets are often even more risky (as one flight might get delayed).
For most travelers the best approach is to book a round-trip flight properly.
Check the Full Fare, Not Just the Headline Price
It is crucial to check for all additional charges when you find a low fare advertised online.
Before paying, check:
- Checked baggage
- Seat selection
- Change fees
- Cancellation rules
- Meal availability
- Connection requirements
- Fare restrictions
This is especially important to consider for families traveling to India for several weeks.
For example, for a family of four traveling to India for several weeks, if each person needs two bags checked, a fare that includes baggage in the rate for two people may actually cost less than a ‘basic fare’ + baggage for two people.
Use Price Alerts While You Compare
Instead of checking for flights at random times and dates, use Price Alerts to monitor fares for your desired flights on the dates you are interested in traveling.
By using Price Alerts on flight comparison sites such as Google Flights or Skyscanner, you can monitor prices and receive the best time to book your flight.
A discussion about cheap flights to India recently occurred on the Reddit travel forum, in which search engines Google Flights and Skyscanner were used to search for flights as well as to compare routes and find cheapest dates to travel.
Flying incognito or switching IP addresses via a VPN does not result in cheaper flights. The variables that influence flight prices for a given itinerary are dates, airports, airlines, class of travel and baggage requirements.
What Is a Good December Flight Deal?
The price for a cheap USA-to-India ticket in December depends on many factors.
A good fare depends on your:
- US departure city
- Indian destination
- Travel dates
- Number of passengers
- Number of stops
- Baggage requirements
- Cabin class
For example, a fare that is reasonable for DFW/Hyderabad may not be comparable to NYC/Delhi.
Here are two examples of very different round trip prices for flights to India. One is for a family of four for a 2-week trip to Hyderabad from DFW. The other is for a single round trip to Delhi from New York for one person. I’m not saying these are the best prices for these routes, but they give you a sense of the kind of pricing you might see on Reddit reports for flights to India.
Each traveler’s fare to India will differ from other travelers, so the wisest traveler will always compare the cost of different routes rather than fixating on some number that he believes to be fair.
How to Find Cheaper Flights to India This December
Use this checklist before booking:
-
Search multiple dates.
Shift your departure and return dates by several days.
-
Compare nearby airports.
Check practical alternatives around your departure city.
-
Search several Indian airports.
Consider whether another international gateway makes sense.
-
Compare nonstop and one-stop flights.
Decide how much your time is worth.
-
Check baggage costs.
A seemingly cheap basic fare can incur additional costs for services such as checked bags, etc.
-
Monitor prices.
Set alerts if your dates are flexible.
-
Check the complete itinerary.
Look at total travel time and connection rules.
-
Do not wait until the last minute.
December can be very hectic and be more expensive as travel dates approach.
Book Your December Flight to India Before Options Shrink
With December 2026 just around the corner, recent discussion among travelers who are traveling to India from the USA has identified many of the major routes as becoming very expensive for flights well before the holiday season.
Don't wait for a “secret” fare to emerge.
As well as comparing prices for your preferred travel dates, check out the prices for different travel dates, compare nearby airports to and from your desired city, different Indian airports, different airlines, check the cost of baggage on your chosen flight and add up the cost of all extras to a ‘basic fare’ flight.
Whether your dates are flexible or not, use the first to search for alternative travel dates and the second to search for cheaper flights while there are still good flights available.
So, be sure to price out flights to India early on, whether you’re traveling solo, with family, with friends, are a student, an NRI, or just planning a special holiday trip to India in December!
