Business & First Class Flights to Delhi

Air India flies Delhi nonstop from New York JFK, Newark, Washington, Chicago and San Francisco, and the aircraft is the whole story: its new A350-900s carry a modern lie-flat 1-2-1 business cabin, while some older 777s still fly with a dated seat and cabin until their retrofit is complete — we confirm which before quoting. United flies Polaris from Newark, and American flies Flagship Business from New York. The one-stops are where the best cabins are: Qatar Airways in Qsuite via Doha (three hours from Delhi), Emirates in First or Business via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and Air France via Europe, with BA First on the London–Delhi sector. Because the Gulf hubs sit almost exactly on the great-circle path, the one-stop often adds only two to three hours to the nonstop's block time.

Terminal 3 is modern and efficient, with the Air India and partner lounges airside and the Airport Express Metro into the city in 20 minutes. Delhi is the base for the Golden Triangle — Agra is two hours by the Gatimaan Express, Jaipur four by road or rail — and for domestic flights to Udaipur, Jodhpur, Goa, Varanasi and the Himalayan foothills, all under two hours. US citizens need an Indian e-visa; we remind you at booking.

The season is October through March. Diwali, in late October or November, and the wedding season that follows through February are the peak for Indian-American family travel, and premium cabins on the nonstops sell out weeks ahead; November also brings Delhi's worst air quality, which is worth knowing when choosing dates. December–February is cool, clear and ideal for Rajasthan. April through June is brutally hot, and the monsoon runs July to September, when fares are lowest — well below our $3,300 starting fare from New York.