Travelling home for Navratri, Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath is becoming more expensive for many air passengers, with some reporting flight fares more than double those paid last year.
For households planning festive visits alongside leisure trips, the higher cost of travel makes it important to account for transport, accommodation and other expenses before finalising holiday plans.
A LocalCircles survey released on October 12 found that 72% of air travellers planning to visit their hometowns this festive season said they were paying more for flights than in 2025. Of these, 54% reported paying more than 50% extra, including 9% who said fares were more than double last year’s levels.
The survey received 19,993 responses from air travellers across 277 districts of India. These figures reflect respondents’ reported experiences and do not represent the average increase in airfares across all domestic routes.
The survey findings come amid higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and reduced domestic flight capacity. Fares can also vary significantly by route and travel date, particularly around festivals when demand is concentrated on a few days.
For households, the increase can affect more than the travel budget. Higher costs for visiting family may leave less room for shopping, gifts, dining out or a separate holiday during the festive period.
How to plan your festive travel budget
Calculate the full cost before booking
Airfare is only one component of a trip’s cost. Travellers should factor in return tickets, local transport, accommodation, meals, baggage charges and spending at the destination.
Those visiting family may have lower accommodation costs but still need to budget for local travel, gifts and family gatherings.
For package holidays, check what the quoted price includes and whether airport transfers, meals, activities and other charges are extra.
Compare dates and travel options
Where possible, compare fares across different departure and return dates rather than booking around a single preferred date. Travellers can also compare flights with train or road travel where practical, taking into account journey time, convenience and the total cost for the family.
A lower headline fare may not necessarily be cheaper once baggage, transfers and other charges are included.
Set a separate limit for discretionary holidays
A visit home for a festival and a leisure holiday serve different purposes, but both draw on the household’s available money. Travellers planning both can decide how much to allocate to each before making bookings.
Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted by YouGov found that 64% of surveyed Indian travellers used long weekends and calendar holidays as opportunities to travel. The survey covered 1,000 consumers across 10 Indian cities who had travelled in the preceding 12 months and planned to travel in the following three months.
Long weekends have evolved from simple days off into powerful triggers to travel ‘just because’. While many of these trips begin spontaneously, travellers remain thoughtful about how they spend their time, whether that’s extending a break, finding great value or choosing a stay that feels like a destination in itself. Whether it’s a quick road trip, a local staycation or an impromptu flight, Indians are making every extra day count.SANTOSH KUMAR, REGIONAL HEAD, SOUTH ASIA, BOOKING.COM
Among respondents, 24% preferred a new destination within their budget, while 21% favoured a drive of less than four hours and 22% preferred a nearby hotel as the holiday destination itself.
These preferences point to several possible formats for a break, but the least expensive option will depend on the destination, accommodation rates and activities planned.
Check whether a short break fits the budget
A long weekend does not necessarily mean a low-cost holiday. Travellers should compare the total cost of a nearby stay, a road trip and a flight-based holiday before deciding.
For instance, Pickyourtrail said searches for holidays involving photoshoots had increased 10% year on year on its platform. The company has introduced Thailand itineraries combining a holiday with a professional couple photoshoot.
According to Pickyourtrail, these packages start at ₹50,000-55,000 per person, or around ₹1 lakh-1.1 lakh for a couple. The company estimates that a pre-wedding or couple photoshoot in India can cost ₹1.25 lakh-1.5 lakh per couple after adding the photographer, travel and accommodation.
These are company-provided estimates, not industry-wide price benchmarks. Actual costs will depend on travel dates, accommodation, photographer fees and package inclusions. Travellers should compare like-for-like costs before concluding that one option offers better value.
Avoid financing a holiday without accounting for repayment costs
Travellers considering credit cards, personal loans or buy-now-pay-later options should check the interest rate, processing fees, repayment period and penalties before borrowing. Credit card balances that are not paid in full by the due date can attract interest, adding to the cost of the trip.
It is also worth checking whether a booking discount requires a minimum spend or a particular payment method. A discount does not necessarily make a trip affordable if the overall expense exceeds the budget.