The Deepavali Day Act, a nationwide movement by Indian American leaders from different walks of life trying to get a federal holiday on Diwali in the US, is still in the dark after 4 years of its introduction. However, something is better than nothing. After Texas and Pennsylvania, California is all set to make Diwali a public holiday for its South Asian population.

PC: BAPS.org and California State Capitol

On June 2, the California State Assembly voted unanimously (78-0) to pass Assembly Bill 268, a proposal that would make Diwali an official state holiday. The bill was introduced by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel, California’s first two Hindu American legislators. Hailed as the best Diwali gift to California’s largest Indian-origin population in the US, the legislation – AB 268 – would enable community colleges, public schools, and state offices to close on Diwali.

The California State Assembly Bill 268 is now heading to the State Senate for approval. It is a significant step towards promoting inclusion of Indian immigrants who have been contributing to California’s growth in all spheres for decades. AB 268 would add the Festival of Lights not only to the list of California State holidays but also to the court calendars for judicial personnel. It would designate Diwali as a paid holiday for state employees in California.

Recognizing Diwali at the state level is not just about a day off. It is about embracing the cultural identity of Indian immigrants who have woven themselves into the socio-economic fabrics of the Golden State. Diwali is also a time for Indian families across California for a reunion at temples in the state. California is inching closer to saying, “Yes, Diwali belongs here too. Your traditions matter.”

“I’m grateful to my colleagues for their unanimous, bipartisan support of AB 268, which would have California officially recognize Diwali as a state holiday,” said Ash Kalra after the vote. Fellow Assemblymember Darshana Patel also highlighted the cultural significance of the bill, calling it a proud moment for the American Hindu community. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) added, “Kudos to the US Indian Seniors for mobilizing the Hindu community on this important initiative.”

“We are happy for our customers from California, who would get to celebrate Diwali with peace of mind, most probably starting this year. Diwali celebration is grand not only in California but also in the northeast coast where many school districts observe Diwali as a holiday. May the Deepavali Day Act gain momentum this year to make the Festival of Lights a federal holiday” said the chief customer relations officer of Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in the US.

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After imposing a 3.5% remittance tax on international money transfers by non-US citizens, President Trump is looking to cash in on visa interview appointment delays at US embassies and consulates across the world. The US visa interview wait times continue to be a nightmare for Indians, especially B1/B2 visa applicants planning to visit America for personal or professional purposes. It takes several months to secure a B1/B2 visa interview slot, with the average wait time extending to nearly 9 months across the US Embassy and Consulates in India.

PC: Travel Beats | Indian Eagle

The Trump administration has proposed a premium service fee – $1000 – for US visa applicants to fast-track their interview appointments and bypass long waiting times. This is proposed in addition to the current processing fee of $185 for US tourist visa and student visa categories. With plans to be launched as a pilot program in December 2025, the new premium processing fee would enable you to secure early non-immigrant visa interview slots in India.

Cutting short, B1/B2 visas will particularly come with a hefty $1000+$185 fee given the US tourist visa interview delays at the US Embassy and Consulates in India, if President Trump’s proposal is approved. A significant number of US tourist visa applicants would take a hit, as evident from Hyderabad to Dallas, Chennai to Detroit, Kolkata to New York, Bengaluru to Seattle flights carrying Indians on B1/B2 visa.

Trump’s fast-track visa interview processing fee aims to monetize the demand for non-immigrant US visas and generate a revenue stream out of unusually long interview wait times. With over 10 million non-immigrant visas issued in 2024, including nearly 6 million tourist visas, the demand is high, and interview delays are often frustratingly long. By offering to expedite US visa interview appointments for a premium fee $1000, the Trump administration is to give travelers a choice: wait it out or pay to move up.

This proposed fast-track visa interview service is very much like President Trump’s vision of a Gold Card visa program that would sell US citizenship for $5 million, granting faster access to those willing to pay. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has quickly moved to reshape immigration policy by tightening screening procedures, revisiting visa categories, and now, introducing a paid route for faster visa appointments.

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Many Air India flights between North America and India are no longer nonstop due to route adjustments with refueling stops in view of the continued closure of Pakistan airspace. The rerouting of US-India flights in order to bypass the restricted airspace has increased not only total travel hours but also fuel consumption each trip. Initially, Air India’s operating costs soared due to refueling stops, additional ground time, and extra landing fees in Vienna, Austria. If it were to continue, it would have strained the airline’s revenue by incurring losses in millions of dollars.

PC: Travel Beats

As cost-effective alternatives to Vienna, Air India has started using Mongolian airspace and taking fueling stops within India for some of its 71 weekly North America flights to and from India. This strategic shift is aimed at reducing the soaring operational overheads and cutting down on excess travel time without compromising passenger safety and regulatory compliance. Mostly, Air India flights from San Francisco to Delhi and Vancouver to Delhi are being rerouted through the Mongolian airspace.

Those who have Air India flights from SFO to Bengaluru in June or July 2025 should brace themselves for longer flying times, 23-28 hours. Some flights (180|2845/2603) from San Francisco have two pitstops – Kolkata (CCU) and Mumbai (BOM) – en route to Bengaluru, each pitstop scheduled for 1 hr 15 min. Currently, some other SFO-BLR flights by Air India include a DEL Airport layover stretching 1 hour 35 minutes. But Bengaluru to San Francisco itineraries have some relief for Air India passengers. Some flights (AI 175) are nonstop while some (AI 2661|173) have one stop (Delhi).

Among Air India’s US to India flights, SFO to Mumbai itineraries do currently have one pitstop – Kolkata or New Delhi – increasing the total travel time to 20-22 hours, as seen on IndianEagle.com. On the other hand, flights from Mumbai to San Francisco are being rerouted via Bengaluru Airport or Delhi IGI Airport. Some SFO to Delhi flights operated by Air India are two-stop itineraries with Kolkata and Bengaluru as domestic pitstops in India.

Air India’s Chicago to Delhi flights and JFK to Delhi flights are back to nonstop operations, as refueling stops have been removed from the itineraries scheduled in June and July 2025, according to IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans for over 15 years. But DEL to ORD itineraries (Air India 127) continue to have a refueling stop in Vienna for 1 hr 10 min, which makes the journey as long as 19 hours 45 minutes.

You can check out Indian Eagle last-minute deals for alternative flights from San Francisco to Mumbai and Bengaluru for summer travel. Our exclusive phone-only fare deals from Air India and other airlines are also available at +1800-615-3969 round the clock. Subscribe to our newsletter for significant updates on USA-India airlines that could impact your travel plans.

The post Air India Flights from SFO to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru may have Two Pitstops; Brace for Longer Travel Time appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

In 2023, India received nearly 65 million international footfalls from across the world. Of these, 37 million passengers took direct or nonstop flights to India. There was a new high in the numbers compared to 2019, according to the reports by OAG, a UK-based air consultancy firm. While the booking of direct flights to and from India rose 3% in 2023 from 54% in 2019, the sales of flight tickets for itineraries with connecting airports dipped by 2.5 million last year.

Air India and IndiGo are the biggest Indian carriers increasing the number of direct international flights. The demand soaring for direct international travel seems to pose an opportunity for Delta Airlines’ comeback to India. In one of the recent business meetings held in Minnesota, Delta Airlines’ CEO Ed Bastian hinted at the likelihood of making a comeback to India that the airline served with its New York to Mumbai nonstop flights until the COVID-19 pandemic hit aviation.

Following the pandemic, the Russian airspace closure became too strong an obstacle for Delta Airlines to resume flying to India. It forced Delta to lease some long-range planes like B777-200LRs from its fleet grounded during the pandemic to Air India and other airlines. Subsequently, Delta Airlines’ nonstop service to its favorite destination, Mumbai BOM, has not been reinstated since then. Needless to say, Delta’s loss has been Air India’s gain in the US-India market.

Precisely, Delta Airlines’ CEO is looking forward to 2026 for a comeback to India with nonstop flights from Atlanta to New Delhi, as per reports. It all depends on the delivery of Delta’s order for twenty A350-1000 planes. This aircraft is capable of flying a longer range than the current A350-900 in the fleet of Delta Airlines. A350-1000 aircraft will facilitate the comeback of Delta Airlines to India bypassing the Russian airspace restricted to American carriers. “We really want to serve that market directly,” CEO Ed Bastian said.

Alongside the plans to revisit India, Delta Airlines has partnered with IndiGo, the only Indian carrier with the largest domestic network. Providing India-bound passengers with easy connectivity to domestic destinations from a major entry airport, New Delhi or Mumbai, is key to the survival of foreign airlines in the Indian market. That’s why IndiGo is a codeshare partner of Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and Japan Airlines for their expansion in India.

A number of developments accomplished and lined-up by IndiGo makes it a favorite codeshare partner of the Middle East airlines and their European counterparts to bet on for domestic penetration across India. IndiGo, which operated as an all-economy airline for budget travelers until the end of 2024, has rolled out business class cabins on domestic and short-haul international flights. It has placed an order for 30 Airbus A350-900 planes in a strategic move to reposition itself as an international carrier and expand its network to long-haul destinations.

Delta’s plans for nonstop Atlanta to India flights in 2026 is good news for Indians in Georgia given the failure of their petitions to Air India for nonstop connectivity to the home country. By the way, you can have the most affordable phone-only deals of Virgin Atlanta, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and other airlines by calling Indian Eagle at +1800-615-3969 (24/7) or visiting IndianEagle.com to save BIG this year.

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“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. This idiom seems to be a passe. Do in America as you do in India – is the new idiom set by the extravagant Indian wedding in New York that took over the Wall Street and broke the internet over the last few days of May. Over 400 wedding guests (baraatis) turned the financial district into an open-air dance floor with a DJ churning out foot-tapping music and making them groove to electrifying beats. There was everything common to a well-off Indian wedding, designer lehengas to boundless energy.

PC: Instagram.com/trueeventslive

The viral videos of the Indian baraat on Wall Street sent global netizens into a tizzy googling whether the couple is billionaire, how they managed to shut down the busy Wall Street for their pre-wedding revelry. It was a lavish multi-day Gujarati wedding in Manhattan. Not an Ambani or Adani one though there are billionaires in the Gujarati community worldwide. The Indian couple whose jubilant wedding procession on Wall Street became a viral spectacle online is identified as high-profile professionals from Boston.

The groom who arrived in a white vintage car during his baraat on Wall Street was Varun Navani, the founder and CEO of Rolai, an enterprise AI solution for businesses. His family hails from Gujarat. He was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2023. The bride was Amanda Soll, the director of legal compliance and risk management at MasterCard in Boston.

As they chose to solemnize their wedding in the Big Apple, some of their guests took business class flights to New York from Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. CEO Varun Navani’s Indian wedding festivities covered multiple locations in New York City, from Conrad Hotel to The Glasshouse and Cipriani Wall Street. Both in America and India, the traditional baraat on Wall Street amused some, while some found it an unnecessary hurley burley in the public space.

The couple not only broke the internet but also their bank to take over New York’s Wall Street for a half day. As reported by several media, including New York Post, they officially filed 28 permits with the Mayor office to shut down the public areas in the financial district – which cost them between $25,000 and $66,000 per area. Some netizens despised the event as a mere display of wealth by super rich Indians, while others resonated with the celebration of traditional culture away from India.

Indians, especially Gujaratis and Marwaris can go the extra mile to make weddings an unforgettable bash full of fashion, food, culture, pride, and celebration. This reminds us of the first big fat Indian wedding hosted by Air India in the sky. What’s not available in the US these days! Nearly everything from homemade Indian snacks to Sabyasachi lehengas,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in North America

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All these years, Air India has been a preferred airline for family travel to India for its generous checked baggage allowance in Economy Class, irrespective of fare types. A once-in-a-year trip to home (generally) means heavy luggage, especially gifts for parents, close relatives, and friends. Even many parents visiting the US prefer Air India not just for nonstop flights but also its two free checked bag policy, as they pack in various homemade savories and other Indian essentials for their children settled there.

Not anymore! Air India’s free check-in baggage allowance on economy flights is now varying with fare types – VALUE and CLASSIC, effective for bookings made on or after 5 June 2025. The lowest economy fare with two pieces of free checked baggage (each up to 23kg) will be all history for new reservations starting June 5. Precisely, you can check in only one bag (max 23kg) for free with Air India flight tickets in the VALUE segment (lowest economy fare). Checking in a second bag for the VALUE economy fare would cost you USD 240 per one-way trip.

However, the CLASSIC fare type will let you check in two bags for free on Air India’s economy flights between USA and India, irrespective of routes, aircraft, and travel dates.

Air India: Fare Difference between Value and Classic in Economy 

The difference between Air India’s VALUE and CLASSIC fares is only $60, which is just one-fourth of USD 240 for checking in a second bag with the VALUE economy tickets. If you have two bags (each 23kg) to check in, it is wise to choose the CLASSIC fare type over the VALUE fare type for Economy Class travel on Air India. The CLASSIC fare (though $60 more than the one-way VALUE fare) is worth not only for a free second checked bag but also lesser fees for rescheduling and cancellation.

“By choosing the lowest economy fare (VALUE) to save only $60 one way, you may end up incurring additional costs. If you need to pack more stuff into the free checked bag rather than checking in a second bag, Air India will charge you USD 130 for the free checked bag’s excess weight up to 32kg. Given all scenarios, we recommend CLASSIC fares to our customers for economy travel on Air India,” said the chief travel economist of Indian Eagle, the trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians and Americans.

I booked my flight tickets to Mumbai in April but I will travel in early July. I got the lowest Air India deal from Indian Eagle. Can I check in more than one bag for free?      

Yes, you can. Since your booking was done in April, Air India’s revised checked baggage policy for the VALUE fare tickets does not apply to you. The changes to the check-in baggage allowance for the cheapest economy fares of Air India is effective for new bookings made on or after 5 June 2025.

The post Air India Revises Free Checked Baggage Allowance for US to India Economy Flights, Effective from June 5 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100^th edition in 2025, and once again, Indian-origin spellers are in the spotlight. They have been on a winning spree for three decades by tossing the most coveted trophy in 29 out of the past 35 grand finales. They have been dominating the competition with exceptional talent, dedication, family blessings, and their parents’ hard work – which has forced the making of several documentaries, including Breaking the Bee, decoding what makes Indian kids unbeatable spellers.

Like previous years, the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals has a majority of finalists from Indian Community in America. The art and science of spelling tongue-twisting words is a cherished pursuit in many Indian households across the United States. May their legacy of wins in spelling bee contests continue this year!

PC: Scripps National Spelling Bee | Facebook

Sarv Dharavane, Georgia

Sarv Dharavane, only 11 years old, is making waves as the youngest finalist in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. He is a bundle of energy and curiosity. Reading and playing outdoors are his favorite pursuits. Other than being active in soccer and swimming, he has earned a green belt in tae kwon do. From solving Rubik’s Cubes at a lightning speed to building with Lego and dabbling in coding, Sarv is a problem-solving prodigy. A diehard fan of fantasy books and movies, he aspires to be a scientist or mathematician.

Harini Murali, New Jersey

Harini Murali, a talented 8^th grader from Edison, New Jersey, is no stranger to the Scripps stage. She had started her journey as a speller from the fourth grade. After tying for 9th place in 2024, she returned with more confidence and ended up among the 9 finalists of Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025. A history buff, Harini is also deeply rooted in the arts. She learns Carnatic music and Indian classical dance, and proudly plays first chair viola in her school’s chamber orchestra. Whether it is academics or arts, Harini brings dedication and grace to everything she does.

Sarvadnya Kadam, California

Sarvadnya Kadam, a curious and thoughtful eighth grader from California, lives up to the meaning of his Sanskrit name, “the one who knows all.” He loves diving deep into ancient history, math, and profound philosophical questions. A big fan of classics like The Iliad and The Odyssey, Sarvadnya previously competed in 2023 (tying for 23rd place) and 2024 (tying for 60th place). This time, he is among the Scripps National Spelling Bee finalists. He is fond of Mumbai’s street food like Pav Bhaji and admires Kautilya Chanayka.

Aishwarya Kallakuri, North Carolina

Aishwarya Kallakuri, a 14 year old from Charlotte, is a determined finalist this year after tying for 22^nd place in 2024. She is an avid reader, prolific writer, and a music enthusiast. This eighth grader distributes yoga and philosophy books for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Her profound interest in learning new languages took her on trips to India, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. With dreams of pursuing a career in psychology and neurology, Aishwarya hopes to give back to the spelling community that has shaped her journey.

Faizan Zaki, Texas

Faizan Zaki, a bright 13-year-old from Dallas, Texas, had incredibly finished second in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals. He is now eying the most coveted trophy as one of the finalists this year. He made history last year as the first Indian Muslim in 96 years to rank second at the Bee. When he is not playing with words, Faizan is all about fun. Playing video games, chatting with friends, speedcubing, and making music on the viola are his favorite pastimes. Faizan, a language enthusiast, is currently picking up French.

Akshaj Somisetty, Pennsylvania 

Akshaj Somisetty, a fun-loving 13 year old from Pennsylvania, is back to the 2025 Scripps Spelling Bee as a finalist after tying for 60th place in 2024. When he is not buys spelling tricky words, Akshaj enjoys biking, swimming, and catching up on sleep. He is a big fan of board games and loves reading fantasy books. He is equally proficient in Telugu and Spanish other than English. He has a sweet tooth for cookies as well as cream ice cream, and binge-eats pizza. New Zealand is his dream destination.

Esha Marupudi, Arizona

Esha Marupudi, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Phoenix, Arizona, nailed the spelling of the word ‘Ektexine’ and made it to the grand finale of Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025. She is more than a spelling whiz. She’s a music lover who enjoys singing and playing the piano. When she’s not hitting the right notes, Esha loves diving into books on biology and history. She also enjoys fun family moments, playing board games like Monopoly and Scrabble with her little sister. She nurtures dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter and making it big in medicine.

This article is brought to you by Travel Beats, a leading portal for Indian community stories and international travel news. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle Travel, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians and Americans for more than 15 years. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow us on Instagram for significant updates on USA to India travel.

The post Among 9 Finalists, 7 Indian-origin Spellers are Eyeing $50K Prize and Trophy at 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Since the onset of 2025, American Airlines has been innovating travel within and to the United States. In a major new development, TSA PreCheck Security have got a touchless upgrade for AAdvantage members among passengers of American Airlines. The Touchless ID program makes the US airport security process smarter, smoother and safer by eliminating the need to present a physical ID. It is mostly helpful for family travelers with kids and unaccompanied elderly travelers who can now pass through TSA security checkpoints with their physical IDs safe in the handbag.

What is American Airlines’ Touchless ID for TSA PreCheck?

American Airlines’ new Touchless ID program uses facial recognition technology to simplify and speed up passenger identity verification at TSA checkpoints for eligible flyers. Launched in collaboration with the US Transportation Security Administration, this is a step into the future of air travel. With contact-free security options being the new cool, your face is now your ID and boarding pass for American Airlines flights to India or any other destination.

Who can use American Airlines’ TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?

Among the passengers of American airlines, those who are both AAdvantage members and TSA PreCheck travelers with an active Known Traveler Number (KTN) are eligible for the Touchless ID program. You must also have a valid passport. Once you meet requirements and opt in for the program through American Airlines’ website or app, you can breeze through the TSA security screening via a dedicated touchless ID lane at certain airports in the US. The opt-in is valid for one year and can be canceled at any time.

How American Airlines’ Touchless ID Works?

When you enter a TSA PreCheck touchless ID lane, a facial recognition camera scans your face. It then checks that scan against the passport photo you already saved during your check-in with TSA. If identification is successfully done, you’re cleared to go through security without the need of showing your ID or boarding pass. This can save a lot of time, especially for frequent flyers and families trying to catch a connecting domestic flight after landing from long international flights from India to USA.

The Touchless ID program is part of a larger trend that US airlines, including United and Delta, are adopting to facilitate more biometric applications, like self-check-in, self-bag-drop, faster boarding, and even lounge access. India’s Trusted Traveler Program for faster immigration clearance uses the same technology.

While American Airlines is the latest to introduce Touchless ID, the technology itself isn’t entirely new. Delta Air Lines was the first to test facial recognition for TSA PreCheck passengers, starting at its hubs in Atlanta and Detroit. United Airlines followed, rolling out touchless ID at major airports like Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles. Alaska Airlines also joined the bandwagon by launching similar touchless identity verification at Seattle and a few other locations.

Which US airports have got American Airlines’ Touchless ID?

American Airlines has rolled out the Touchless ID program at seven major airports in the US:

• Roland Reagan National Airport, Washington DC
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport
• Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• New York LaGuardia Airport
• Salt Lake City International Airport

American Airlines, its codeshare partner Qatar Airways, and other major airlines’ best flight deals are available at IndianEagle.com for your travel between USA and India. Indian Eagle is the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans for more than 15 years. You can also call us at +1800-615-3969 to grab exclusive phone-only deals from our airline partners and save BIG.

Also Check: Mobile Passport Control, a free alternative to Global Entry, for faster US immigration & customs

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North Carolina is emerging as a destination of interest for several international airlines, including Etihad Airways. In 2024, Lufthansa added RDU Airport to its network and connected Raleigh to India and beyond via Frankfurt. In 2026, Etihad Airways will launch flights to Charlotte from Abu Dhabi with connections to major cities across its global network. Charlotte, the most populous city in North Carolina, is the airline’s sixth gateway in the US, after New York, Chicago, Boston, D.C., and Atlanta.

Etihad flights to Charlotte will take off on May 4, 2026, and this is good news for Indians in North Carolina. They will get to travel on a Middle East airline other than Lufthansa, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Precisely, Etihad Airways is the first Middle East carrier to expand to North Carolina and operate flights from Charlotte to India via Abu Dhabi, a popular transit layover in the UAE. Etihad will further connect travelers from North Carolina to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kozhikode, and Trivandrum.

With more than 450,000 Asian Americans living in North Carolina, and Indian-origin immigrants being the largest ethnic group, Etihad Airways is a more convenient option for them. Among the perks of flying with Etihad, you will get to enjoy the inflight hospitality and award-winning service that the Middle East airlines are known for. Etihad is a family-friendly airline with inflight nanny service for infants and trained nurses for passengers with a medical condition.

Booking Etihad flight tickets for a round trip or two one-way trips between USA and India is an opportunity to explore Abu Dhabi City for less. Of course, it depends on the layover length in your itinerary. Etihad Airways offers various Abu Dhabi stopover programs to international transit travelers. Interestingly, US citizens are eligible for the UAE’s visa on arrival at Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi. Indians can get a single-entry transit visa to Abu Dhabi for 48 to 96 hours.

Among the top 10 airlines on major India-USA routes, Etihad Airways stands out for the US immigration preclearance facility at AUH Airport, a major advantage for USA-bound travelers from India and other countries. Unbeatable flight deals from IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner for Indians and Americans, make it another advantage of flying with Etihad.

The post It’s Official: Charlotte to Get Etihad Flights with One-stop Connections to India via Abu Dhabi in 2026 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

With the summer travel season nearing, Indian families abroad are gearing up for trips to India and looking to spend quality time with loved ones back home. To make their arrival and departure easier and much convenient during this busy season, Air India has launched dedicated ‘Family Assistance’ counters. These special counters are designed to offer on-ground support to families in real time, especially those traveling with children and/or elderly parents needing a little extra help or special assistance.

Currently available at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Air India’s ‘Family Assistance’ counters aim to make your airport experience smoother and far less stressful by providing personalized support and guidance, from check-in to baggage handling, customs queries, and immigration formalities. Air India is not only transforming into a more family-friendly carrier but also joining the ranks of best international airlines to fly between USA and India.

PC: Air India

Integral to the Tata Group’s transformation plan – Vihaan.AI – for Air India, the Family Assistance counters extend support to passengers with special requirements, such as wheelchair assistance. This initiative comes in handy if you forget to request wheelchair assistance for yourself or your elderly parent at the time of booking Air India flight tickets. You can ask for wheelchair support at the Family Assistance counter.

Elevating your experience also in the sky, Air India’s new ‘Family Assistance’ service may get you seated with your family on flights from New Delhi to USA, London, Singapore, and other destinations. It depends on seat availability during your airport check-in. This one-stop initiative is very useful for senior citizens’ unaccompanied travel. The airline staff at the Family Assistance counter will offer service to “help them navigate from the check-in counter to the designated boarding gate of their flight while completing all the airport formalities”, and thereby ensuring peace of mind for their families.

Part of Air India’s meet and greet service, the dedicated Family Assistance check-in counters are similar to British Airways’ in-person airport assistance at five Indian airports. British Airways’ ‘Meet and Assist’ team offers assistance in five Indian languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Punjabi, from check-in to boarding at Indian airports to transit at London Heathrow. It seems that this kind of thoughtful passenger-friendly service has become a bandwagon that airlines are jumping on.

Prior to setting up Family Assistance counters at New Delhi Airport, Air India brought screen-free entertainment for children on long-haul flights that Indian Eagle Travel books at the most unbeatable fares. Air India’s collaboration with Vobble, an audio content platform, is a deliberate move to reduce inflight screen time for kids, who otherwise indulge in visual content for hours. During its ongoing transformation journey, Air India has made several key improvements and achieved some milestones – which make Air India worth flying with for trips to and from India.

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