Melburnian1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Posts
- 25,306
This article ( Direct flights to India with Air India ) discusses Air India's 29 August 2013 planned initiation of flights to and from Australia.
Of particular interest is that the flights will do the Sydney - Melbourne triangle (in both directions: a different direction each night). Its website Welcome To AirIndia does not seem to have been updated with the Australian timetable, nor could I make a ghost online booking although the site was slow so I gave up after a while. 'Mel' did not appear as an included destination for the ghost booking in the search time of 30 seconds or so that I allowed.
Philippine Airlines used to do this before it went to daily ex MNL, three nights a week being to MEL and four to SYD. When doing the 'triangle', PR had four or five flights a week. Its direct flights are now more convenient.
Jetstar still does the SYD - MEL triangle on routes such as BKK. Given that Jetstar does not emphasise freight or mail, this must be because it does not perceive that it can fill its planes out of one airport.
The 'triangle' used to be more popular but growing passenger numbers and the preference for direct flights, along with the danger of missing curfew at SYD for night arriving flights that need to depart for MEL have led to the latter (express - nonstop - flights) predominating even among second tier carriers. Missing curfew at SYD for a legacy airline means coughing up for accommodation in SYD for stranded travellers, turning a flight into a loss maker or at best one that makes little profit.
Air India has a frequent flyer program called 'Flying Returns'. It will be worth watching how many Australians take it up. With India sending many permanent migrants to Australia, I would expect quite a few to join Flying Returns. Here is a link:
AirIndia - Flying Returns
Will Air India try to subtly convince single (as in on their own when travelling) female Australian travellers that India is a 'safe' destination despite the recent highlighted media reports suggesting that solo female travellers face some difficulties? India competes with countries such as Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka for the attention of this group of travellers (among many other destinations). I know a couple of solo females who have been to Philippines recently and had a great time: I also know of one 20s girl who decided not to go to India on the strength of the media reports.
Of particular interest is that the flights will do the Sydney - Melbourne triangle (in both directions: a different direction each night). Its website Welcome To AirIndia does not seem to have been updated with the Australian timetable, nor could I make a ghost online booking although the site was slow so I gave up after a while. 'Mel' did not appear as an included destination for the ghost booking in the search time of 30 seconds or so that I allowed.
Philippine Airlines used to do this before it went to daily ex MNL, three nights a week being to MEL and four to SYD. When doing the 'triangle', PR had four or five flights a week. Its direct flights are now more convenient.
Jetstar still does the SYD - MEL triangle on routes such as BKK. Given that Jetstar does not emphasise freight or mail, this must be because it does not perceive that it can fill its planes out of one airport.
The 'triangle' used to be more popular but growing passenger numbers and the preference for direct flights, along with the danger of missing curfew at SYD for night arriving flights that need to depart for MEL have led to the latter (express - nonstop - flights) predominating even among second tier carriers. Missing curfew at SYD for a legacy airline means coughing up for accommodation in SYD for stranded travellers, turning a flight into a loss maker or at best one that makes little profit.
Air India has a frequent flyer program called 'Flying Returns'. It will be worth watching how many Australians take it up. With India sending many permanent migrants to Australia, I would expect quite a few to join Flying Returns. Here is a link:
AirIndia - Flying Returns
Will Air India try to subtly convince single (as in on their own when travelling) female Australian travellers that India is a 'safe' destination despite the recent highlighted media reports suggesting that solo female travellers face some difficulties? India competes with countries such as Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka for the attention of this group of travellers (among many other destinations). I know a couple of solo females who have been to Philippines recently and had a great time: I also know of one 20s girl who decided not to go to India on the strength of the media reports.
