Diwali airfares on Pune-Nagpur route up to seven times normal, one-way tickets go up to Rs 42,682

A flight from Pune to Nagpur usually costs about Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,500, but with the Diwali travel rush the same ticket has become several times costlier. One-way fares listed for November 4 to 7 have reached Rs 42,682 on some routes. The costliest options are also the longer journeys, so passengers have to weigh cost, time and convenience.

The listings show a wide gap between ordinary-day and festival-day prices. IndiGo's non-stop flight is listed at Rs 19,068, about three times the upper end of the usual fare. Some connecting flights are costlier still, even though passengers travel several hours longer on them.

Against the usual fares of Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,500, the one-way prices being shown are about 193 to 675 per cent higher, depending on the route. IndiGo's non-stop flight at Rs 19,068 is 193 to 247 per cent higher. IndiGo's flight via Indore, at Rs 21,770, is 235 to 296 per cent higher. IndiGo's flights via Hyderabad and via Goa are listed at Rs 23,584 and Rs 24,393, which is 263 to 329 per cent and 275 to 344 per cent higher respectively. Air India's flight via Delhi, at Rs 38,486, is 492 to 600 per cent higher. Air India's flight via Lucknow and Delhi, at Rs 42,682, is 557 to 675 per cent higher. These percentages were worked out by comparing with the range of usual fares and should not be treated as an official change in fares by any airline.

Even for passengers choosing a direct flight, the difference is large. The Rs 19,068 ticket is about 193 per cent costlier than the usual Rs 6,500 ticket and 247 per cent costlier than the Rs 5,500 one. The burden grows faster for groups. If four people take this non-stop flight, the outward journey alone costs Rs 76,272, against Rs 22,000 to Rs 26,000 at usual fares. That is Rs 50,272 to Rs 54,272 more for a one-way trip.

IndiGo's non-stop flight takes about one hour 25 minutes. It is the shortest journey among the options listed, with no change of aircraft and no wait at an intermediate airport. Connecting flights are not a cheap option this Diwali. Their fares range from Rs 21,770 to Rs 24,393, and the journey takes 4 hours 35 minutes to 14 hours 25 minutes. Passengers may thus pay more and also lose several hours on the way.

Air India's options cost Rs 38,486 to Rs 42,682 one way, while IndiGo's direct flight is Rs 19,068. The matter is not only one of two airlines. Routes, number of connections, travel time and the fares available on the chosen dates also differ. Air India's listed flights go via Delhi, or via Lucknow and Delhi, and take 12 hours 50 minutes to 16 hours five minutes. A high fare is no guarantee of a faster or more comfortable journey.

Airline fares are generally set by booking demand, seats left in each fare class, time of purchase, route availability and ticket conditions. Airlines use dynamic pricing, so fares can climb once cheaper seats are sold out. The listings do not make clear which of these factors explains the full difference between Air India and IndiGo fares. Passengers should look at the whole journey, baggage limits, cancellation terms and connection details, and not just the airline's name or the headline fare.

The return journey also adds to the cost. From November 9, Air India's listed return options are Rs 36,543, Rs 39,063 and Rs 41,387, and the total journey takes 19 hours 50 minutes to 21 hours 50 minutes. This comparison is based on the listed outward and return options. It does not mean these are the only flights available or that every passenger will have to pay these amounts.

Families returning home for Diwali, people visiting relatives and travellers bound by fixed holidays all travel together. When demand is squeezed into a few days, the cheapest fare classes can sell out and only costlier tickets remain. Those with flexible dates can compare fares for nearby dates and search early. Those choosing connecting flights should check the full route and the layover, since a low fare can come with a much longer journey.