Many in the US blame the rising prices to the air bubble scenario created by Indian government
With US air routes now open to Indian travelers, rising ticket prices now seem to be the latest concern for many looking to travel into the US.
Chandigarh, India based Prakash Ahuja and his wife, who had been patiently waiting for the travel ban to end to join their son in the US, avoided the third country routes that were turning out to be extremely exorbitant, is disheartened that the steep ticket prices are making it difficult for him to book their tickets.
Earlier this week when he checked the ticket prices were beginning from $2,100 onwards for a round trip! He says, “Every year around the onset of winter in India, we make a plan to travel to our son in Miami.
Read: India’s new travel guidelines require negative Covid report for entry (October 29, 2021)
“While we know that it is the beginning of holiday season in the US and ticket prices are comparatively higher than the off-season months, this year the prices are touching the sky.
“It is unfortunate that airliners are taking advantage of the fact that people have limited choices and have been desperate to travel for a while now,” Ahuja said.
Many in the US looking to book tickets for their parents, blame the rising prices to the air bubble scenario that the Indian government has created, giving the travelers only a handful of choices to travel to and fro from India to the US.
The airlines, they say, are of course taking advantage of the same. Kirti Balani who was trying to book a ticket for her mom from Chennai via Mumbai to San Francisco says, “I was stumped to find that British Airways is not allowing Indian citizens to travel via London. I am still trying to gather more information on it.
Read: Time for India to rethink its air bubble arrangement; soaring flight costs impact travelers, businesses (November 12, 2021)
“To add to the confusion the rules are often changing and most airlines do not bother responding to the calls. If they do, we are left to enquire from clueless staff who are as confused about the details of the regulations as the caller.”
New Jersey based Mahima Nath says, “It is the simple case of rising demand and supply. The best course of action is to get a trusted travel agent. I have myself checked the prices and while the usual go-to rate during this month is usually between $1,000-$1,200 we checked that tickets were costing $3,000. That’s too much for a family to travel.”