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Under the offer, you can now take a return flight to Delhi, a very popular destination for Indians in the UAE, for just Dh613 in its economy class and for Dh1,470 if you prefer the luxury of business class. (Shutterstock)
Airfares to several destinations from the UAE seem to have skyrocketed as we approach the month of December, a traditional time of the year when many look to travel abroad.
A number of airlines that are offering discounted airfares on select destinations end the offer around the second week of December, right before school vacations begin in the UAE.
This leaves many parents looking for other options to spend their holidays or just deciding to put their travel plans on freeze.
“I want to travel to Delhi during the second half of December but the prices are ridiculous. For a family of four, which includes two kids, the total airfare comes to over Dh10,000,” said an Indian national living in Dubai, exasperated by the amount being charged for a three-hour flight.
It’s simple demand-supply economics, and low-cost airlines too seem have upped the ante.
“It works out to more than Dh7,000 when I look at budget carriers,” added the Dubai resident from India.
A quick online scan of prices to other popular destinations also reveals a similar surge.
European nationals planning to travel to their hometowns for a white Christmas will have to shell out a lot more.
Dubai-London airfares for a family of four – two adults and two kids – after the second week of December are anywhere between Dh15,000 and Dh20,000-plus, depending on the airline you choose and how close to Christmas you intend to fly out.
It’s a similar story if we look at other destinations in Europe.
For example, a return ticket for one passenger to Geneva will be close to Dh4,000 and if you are two adults with two kids, the total fare will be more than Dh15,000.
In fact, such seems to be the demand that no seats are available for some destinations on certain days while, during other days, the airfare is just too high.
“When I checked for my planned dates, the fare being quoted to Manila is Dh20,000-plus for four people. It’s just too much,” said a marketing professional in Dubai, who had plans to spend some days in Philippines during the Christmas break.
Ticketing officers at airlines say this is very normal. “December is a peak season for all airlines. It’s Christmas, school holidays and New Year time. The demand really soars and thus the price,” said a booking agent at a leading travel agency without wishing to be named.
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