I moved to Bangalore for work five years ago, and my family is still in Delhi. That means at least four trips home a year, usually around Diwali, a wedding or two, and the winter holidays. After a few expensive mistakes, I've learnt that finding cheap flights from Bangalore to Delhi is mostly about timing and a few habits, not luck.
What The Bangalore To Delhi Route Looks Like
This is one of the busiest routes in the country, with well over thirty non-stop flights a day across IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Air India Express and SpiceJet. Flying time is usually around two hours and forty-five minutes to three hours.
With that many departures, there's almost always a cheaper flight close to the one you wanted. The trick is knowing where to look. Competition on this route also means fares can differ quite a bit between airlines for similar departure times, so it's worth scanning the full list rather than sticking to the airline you usually fly.
When Cheap Flights From Bangalore To Delhi Are Easiest To Find
For an ordinary trip, booking about three to six weeks ahead has worked best for me. In the final week, fares usually climb quickly.
Festival travel is different. Before Diwali, a large share of Bangalore's working population heads north at the same time, and fares rise weeks in advance. The Christmas to New Year stretch and summer holidays push prices up too. For those dates, I book as soon as my leave is approved rather than waiting for a dip.
I start every search with the fare calendar on MakeMyTrip, looking at the whole week around my trip. Flying out a day earlier, especially avoiding a Friday evening, often brings the fare down noticeably.
Pick Your Time Slot With Delhi's Winter In Mind
Late-night departures from Bangalore are often cheaper than evening ones, which fill up with people heading home after work. Just remember that Bangalore's airport is a long drive from most of the city, so factor in the cab fare at odd hours.
In December and January, morning fog in Delhi regularly delays early arrivals. If you have a function to attend or a connection to make, a midday arrival is the safer choice, even if it costs a little more.
It's also worth checking which Delhi terminal your airline uses before you book. Different airlines use different terminals, which matters for whoever is picking you up.
Watch The Extras On A Trip Home
Trips home rarely mean travelling light. Between gifts on the way there and homemade food on the way back, I almost always need checked baggage. A cabin-baggage-only fare can look cheapest on the search page but end up costing more once a bag is added, so I compare the final payable amount.
Before paying, I check the bank offers on MakeMyTrip at the payment step, since my card often qualifies for one. And when I book a festival trip early and worry the fare might drop later, I sometimes add MakeMyTrip's Price Drop Protection, which refunds the difference if the price falls after booking.
Conclusion
Finding cheap flights from Bangalore to Delhi comes down to a few habits: compare nearby dates, book a few weeks ahead, plan early for Diwali and winter holidays, choose your time slot carefully, and compare the final price with baggage included. Follow them, and the trip home gets noticeably cheaper.
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