Dhanteras, Diwali tours: Travelling this festive season? Here's how to find cheaper train and flight tickets | Guide

With airfares on domestic and international routes rising sharply and train tickets selling out quickly, travellers can save by booking early. Here's how to find cheaper fares if you are travelling this festive season.

Planning a trip during the festive season can be expensive this year, thanks to strong demand and higher operating costs for airlines. According to a report by The Economic Times, average one-way fares for travel between September 1 and November 10 rose 68% year-on-year on the Delhi-Hyderabad route, while Mumbai-Kolkata fares increased 51%. Fares on Delhi-Goa and Mumbai-Bengaluru routes were up 39% and 37%, respectively.

The rise comes as airlines grapple with higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs and fewer flight options on some routes. With the rising cost of flights, one might consider taking a train to visit their hometowns or take a holiday during Diwali or Dhanteras. But chances are, train tickets are all sold out.

Hence, booking at the right time can be beneficial for travellers. Wondering how to find cheaper flights or train tickets this festive season? Cleartrip recommends planning ahead, tracking flight fares and using flexibility in travel dates to find cheaper tickets.

Book flight tickets early

Booking flights two to three months before travel is generally advisable, according to Cleartrip.

Early booking can help travellers secure lower fares before demand rises closer to the departure date. It can also offer a wider choice of flight timings and seats, particularly on popular routes during festivals.

The company also offers a domestic flight date-change option for its Elite loyalty members at ₹9. For international travellers, it provides Visa Rejection Cover at no additional cost, with a full refund if the visa is rejected, subject to terms and conditions.

Travellers should check the eligibility criteria and terms of such offers before booking.

Check price trends before booking

Instead of booking immediately after finding a fare, travellers are recommended to compare prices across different dates and evaluate the fare.

The company offers a price trends feature that uses pricing data from the previous 30 days to indicate whether a fare is lower than usual, typical or higher than average, helping travellers decide whether to book immediately or explore other dates.

However, historical fare trends are not a guarantee that prices will fall further. During peak travel periods, fares may rise as seats become unavailable. On the other hand, last-minute seats may see low prices as well.

Be flexible with travel dates and timings

Travellers who can adjust their departure date by a day or two may have a better chance of finding lower fares.

According to Cleartrip, early-morning and mid-week flights tend to cost less than flights on more popular travel dates and timings.

Check baggage and additional charges

Airlines offer different fare categories, including lower-priced options that may exclude checked baggage or impose limits on baggage allowances.

Travellers carrying only cabin baggage could consider such fares to reduce the upfront ticket cost.

However, passengers should check what is included in the fare before making any purchases. A low-priced ticket may not necessarily be the cheapest option after baggage, seat selection and other fees are added.

About the Author

Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.