London, Paris, instead of Kerala?

HOLIDAYING

Planning a break to the mountains? Banish the thought. Pack your bags for that big foreign trip.

With international airlines and travel agents indulging in a rate offer, foreign travel hasn't been more attractive. Today, it is much easier to wing overseas than make that mandatory visit to your native town.

Now, an Ahmedabad-London round trip costs slightly more than the return fare from Ahmedabad to Kolkata. What's more, you may even bag a two night -three day hotel accommodation or land transfer absolutely free.

No wonder, people are flying overseas in droves.

Take Air India's latest offer for its recently introduced direct flight to London from Ahmedabad. "Pay Rs 23,500 for a return ticket to London and also buy the hotel accommodation suiting your pocket at the best price available. Even the prices offered across the internet through various websites, are much higher than our offer," said an official.

A Mumbai London Gulf Air round ticket will cost only Rs 22,500 with a halt in Muscat. And if you strike a hard bargain and chalk out your travel plans well, you could get coupons worth few thousands free to buy goods from the airline's duty free offerings. Delta Air, can take you to London with a halt in Paris at Rs 24,500, but another agent may fly you for Rs 23,000.

It is the same for travelling to the US or any of the far eastern hotspots like Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. On the Ahmedabad-Kolkata sector, a Jet Airways return ticket comes for Rs 21,922, Indian Airlines charges Rs 18,250, while Air Sahara costs Rs 17,500.

Even an Ahmedabad-Singapore return fare is around Rs 23,000.

"People who come to us for buying domestic air ticket for making a pleasure trip, also inquire about the best fares for travelling abroad. So when we offer them Ahmedabad-London-Ahmedabad for a little over Rs 20,000, most of them come back to us after few days, revising their tour plan. They convert their domestic destination to an international place as travelling abroad has become more affordable," said an executive of Green Channel travel agency, run by Cadila Pharmaceuticals.

British Airways charges Rs 40,245 for return airfare from Ahmedabad to London. On the same sector, Dutch K M Royal airlines charges Rs 40,895 for return airfare, Air India charges around Rs 36,000, while the return airfare ticket on Royal Jordanian Airlines comes at around Rs 37,000 with Gulf Air at Rs 31,500.

"We are ready to offer you a return ticket to London from Ahmedabad below Rs 19,500 if you buy the ticket in cash through us," said an agent in Mumbai, handling reservations for Royal Jordanian Airlines.

The rate war is evident on other sectors as well. The official return airfare for Paris through Air France is around Rs 37,285 and travel agents say they can offer it at around Rs 27,000.

Similarly, a return ticket to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur costing Rs 33,000 can come at Rs 23,000 if you can haggle with your agent.

Or take the US. A return ticket to US from Ahmedabad would cost Rs 62,175 on Air India, Rs 57,000 on British Airways and Rs 51,820 through Air France. Now, an agent can give it to you for as low as Rs 40,000.