The journey from Kolkatta to Cochin airport in the northern Indian state of Maharashtra can be completed in just over two hours.
The cost to buy one-way tickets at a domestic airline is around Rs 2,000.
However, it can be done in minutes.
In a recent trip, I travelled from Cochin to Odessa via the airport transfer in Kanpur in South India.
This is the first time I have been able to travel with a domestic flight in the country, and I could tell immediately the difference in the airport’s air-conditioning.
In my previous trip to Mumbai, my ticket to Odessas airport cost me about Rs 3,000 to travel.
The transfer in Odessa costs me about three times that.
For some, the process of booking domestic flights in India may seem daunting.
But if you have the experience of travelling to several cities in India, and know how to navigate and book a domestic transfer with the best airlines, then you can make a real difference to your travelling experience.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the process.
First, check with the airline for the best rates and fares in your destination.
For example, Jet Airways and AirAsia have good rates for transfers from the airport in Odess, and cheap fares for transfers to other cities in Kerala, India.
Then, try to book the flight in advance and book the domestic transfer in advance with the lowest possible fares.
Second, you should consider the cost of your ticket.
For me, this was around Rs 8,000 for one-hour transfer to Odisha, about Rs 1,500 for one hour transfer to Kerala, and about Rs 6,000 from Mumbai to Kerala.
Third, try the cheapest airline for transfer, and pay for the flight before booking the domestic flight.
I have found that Indigo Airlines offers the best fares for transfer from the Odessa airport to Mumbai and from Mumbai, and also offers a discount on transfers to Odassa.
This allows me to fly to Mumbai in about two hours and travel to Kerala in just one hour.
For more tips, check out the article I wrote on How to Transfer Airport Tickets from a Hotel in Kollam to another City in China.
