Travel can be an intimidating experience for those who aren't used to it. The ins and outs of finding tickets, getting visas, and navigating airport security can be overwhelming at first. With a little preparation, however, you'll be breezing through this part of your travel experience and moving on to more exciting things.
The first step is to get yourself a passport. Regardless of the deal you get, you won't be able to use your air tickets for international travel if you don't have a passport. The process itself is relatively simple, but it can take as long as three months to actually receive the passport, so start early and budget for the cost. If you've already passed the three month mark, expedited services are available for an additional $65. You will need an India visa as well, so don't neglect that step of the process.
There are several different avenues you can take when actually purchasing your airline tickets. Travel agents are the traditional option. These people use their resources to search for deals that they can pass on with you. Most travel agents have good relationships with various travel companies and may be able to find deals that are unavailable to the public.
A lesser known resource for finding air tickets is the consolidation company. These groups, or sometimes individuals, buy large quantities of tickets at a significantly discounted price. They then sell these tickets to individual travelers at a profit. It will often cost less to buy a ticket from a consolidator than it would to purchase them directly from the airline. This discount can be especially helpful on international flights, which tend to be pricey. Make sure you do your research before buying though. Some less reputable companies will claim they are consolidators when they are actually standard purchasers who aren't offering any discounts.
If you feel comfortable with the internet, you can do your own research and purchasing online. Many sites show comparative pricing for many different airlines, arranged by your choice of travel dates. A few good hours of research online can greatly reduce the price you'll pay for your air tickets to India. Airlines often offer deals in the slow seasons in order to improve their sales numbers. Most airlines have begun advertising these sales online, not just to the travel agents, so everyone can take advantage of them. Occasionally there are also deeply discounted prices for the first few tickets purchased for a flight. You have to be quick to catch these, as they sell out quickly, but the savings on your air tickets will be worth the time spent.
Once you've actually purchased your airline tickets for India, it's time to go to the airport. The airline will most likely have baggage restrictions, so be aware of these before you go. Make sure you arrive several hours early so you have time to get through security and customs and make it to your gate. The more time you leave yourself, the less stressful the experience will be. A smooth experience at the airport will set you up for a great trip.
