Flying in Premium Economy is no luxury. Rather, it is a matter of comfort for those who always made compromises and endured discomforts to save for their daughter’s education. Like most middle-class parents, they always preferred buses and auto-rickshaws over cabs while putting Ananya’s needs ahead of their own. Their day-to-day struggle did not go unnoticed by her. Hence, she had eagerly been waiting for the day she would be able to book premium economy flight tickets.

Ananya’s dream came true at Indian Eagle

With Indian Eagle deals for Air India flights to USA, her dream came true. Premium Economy offers a greater deal of comfort than Economy but costs lesser than Business Class. This significant upgrade comes with cozy seating, extra legroom, priority boarding, and personal attention to travelers’ inflight needs. For her parents, it was more than a travel experience, it was a matter of pride for them.

When Ananya called Indian Eagle customer support helpline, she was very clear about what she was looking for – the best flight deal. I recall her words, “I just don’t want my parents to arrive exhausted or stressed. I wish their first international flight to be full of joy, not fatigue,” said the chief ticketing officer of Indian Eagle Travel. We offered her the most unbeatable fare deal from Air India, one of our airline partners, for a nonstop flight from New Delhi to New York including a domestic connection from Kolkata.

Why Air India for Premium Economy Travel

One of her colleagues in the US referred Indian Eagle to her as a reliable travel partner for parents’ solo international travel. Our ticketing team goes the extra mile when it comes to booking international flight tickets for parents and family travelers. For Ananya’s parents, we recommended Air India not only for unmatched fares, but also nonstop travel, short flying time, brand-new A350 aircraft, premium economy comfort, etc.

Flying in the Premium Economy was their first such premium travel experience, from priority check-in at Delhi International Airport to smooth onboarding to the A350-900 plane, cushioned seating with extra legroom, business-class-like inflight dining, personalized service to their individual needs – all these made their first international trip nothing short of a dream as Ananya shared with us later.

Air India’s A350-900s, one of the most advanced widebody Airbus planes in the fleet of major airlines, have earned rave reviews for elevating passenger experience in terms of comfort, luxury, and inflight service. Indian Eagle best deals for Air India flights in all travel classes on A350s between New York to Delhi, and Newark to Delhi are available both on the website and on calls to +1800-615-3969.

Ananya further shared with us that her father, a retired schoolteacher, has kept the boarding passes safe as a cherished memento of her love for them. When they landed at JFK Airport in New York, she welcomed them with tears in her eyes. Precisely, this was the moment that she waited for long because, sometimes, a flight is not just a flight – it’s a way to say “Thank You”.

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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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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.

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.

The post Delta, One of the Best Airlines, is Planning Nonstop Flights from Atlanta to India and Codesharing with IndiGo appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Planning and booking an international itinerary feels like a dream only if you have a trusted air-ticketing partner like Indian Eagle. For more than 15 years, Indian Eagle has been offering not only unbeatable flight deals but also seamless travel-booking experience. Among hundreds of thousands of happy customers, we have served till date, M. Tajendra has a story to share.

Seven years ago, Mr. Tajendra took the biggest leap of his life. He secured an H1B visa, the most coveted US visa for an “American Dream” career, and took his first international flight from Bangalore to Austin, Texas. That flight was just the beginning of his life-changing journey and the future he was planning to build for his family in the US.    

He took the very first step towards that unforgettable journey at Indian Eagle. Advised by a friend who was settled in the US, Tajendra called us for cheap flight deals to Austin from India. He still recalls how anxious he was that day 7 years ago. He was confused about routes, airlines, layover lengths, etc. This is common to many first-time international travelers. On top of that, the very thought of leaving the home country, parents, friends…behind rattled him.  

Our ticketing team provided him with the best fare deals from Delhi to Austin, Mumbai to Austin, and Bangalore to Austin. Sensing his state of mind, we recommended booking BLR to AUS flight tickets for hassle-free departure from Bangalore International Airport. In those days, navigating the terminal of BLR Airport was a lot easier than that at New Delhi and Mumbai airports. He trusted our recommendation. Since then, he has been a loyal patron of Indian Eagle, grabbing our lowest fare offers for his holiday trips between the US and India.    

Fast forward to 2025. Tajendra’s son, Vedant is a graduate scholar now. In April, he traveled to Hyderabad from Austin to celebrate his graduation with his grandparents and other family members. He followed in his father’s footsteps and stopped by IndianEagle.com. It was an absolute pleasure for us to book his AUS to HYD flight tickets and a rare honor to be the trusted travel partner of two generations.    

“Interestingly, Tajendra is a member of the Indian Eagle loyalty program. He earned ‘Eagle Points’ from Indian Eagle on every booking for his solo trip and family travel, which he redeemed for decent fare discounts as and when applicable. With the patronage of Tajendra and many other customers like him, we have grown and come a long way as a leading source of “Indian Eagle deals” not only for holiday trips but also last-minute flights for emergency travel to India,” said the chief ticketing officer of Indian Eagle.

The post Indian Eagle: The Only Trusted Travel Partner for Two Generations of Indians in USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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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

The post Meet CEO Varun Navani whose Baraat with 400 Guests Rocked Wall Street as a Dance Floor in New York appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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.

With Air India and Emirates having entered this segment and heightening the competition, Premium Economy is the future of travel between USA and India. Indian Eagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America, is here to guide you through top airlines offering the best premium economy class seats between USA and India.

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Emirates’ Premium Economy Class 

Emirates, one of the best airlines for USA to India travel, is the only Middle East carrier with premium economy offering. Emirates Airlines’ Premium Economy on double-decker A380 flights to Mumbai, Bengaluru, New York, San Francisco, Houston, and Los Angeles has won Skytrax World Airline Awards for the best-in-class seats, amenities and services. Our comparative guide on Premium Economy: Emirates vs Air India will enlighten you more.

Emirates’ Premium Economy cabins have 19.5-inch wide seats with 40 inches of legroom and 8 inches of recline – which is the best in this category. The golden beige hued interior oozes sophistication. You can rest your back against a fluffy pillow and adjust the headrest in six different ways to elevate your comfort level for some good sleep during a long-haul flight.

Premium Economy travel with Emirates flight tickets is worth an upgrade from standard economy also for superior inflight entertainment on 13.5-inch HD screens, and certain privileges like priority check-in and expedited boarding.

Japan Airlines Premium Economy

“JAL SKY Premium Economy seats are second to none in functionality and privacy. Among the airlines with best premium economy travel cabins, Japan Airlines takes the lead by offering 42-inch legroom and 16-inch personal screens – the best in class. The best of JAL SKY Premium is available on the airline’s brand-new A350-1000 that is deployed for flights to Dallas and New York,” said the chief ticketing officer of Indian Eagle Travel.

Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 aircraft has Premium Economy seats with significant upgrades from that on other aircraft in the fleet. You get to relax on electric seats with effortless recline and motorized leg rests that rise up to 90 degrees. Your privacy is taken better care of with larger dividers between seats as in the business class. The same fold-out divider between seats is available in the JAL Premium Economy cabin on B787-9 that the airline uses to operate flights to New Delhi.

The perks of booking Japan Airlines Premium Economy tickets to India or USA include access to JAL lounges at Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka Kansai airports in Japan. ENCALM Prive Lounge at Indira Gandhi Airport, and 080 Lounge at Kempegowda BLR Airport are also accessible to premium economy passengers of JAL flights to/from Bengaluru and New Delhi. Special check-in counter access and priority baggage service are cherries on the cake for those flying premium economy with JAL.

Singapore Airlines’ Premium Economy Class

Singapore Airlines is the one that can compete with Emirates Premium Economy on long-haul routes. It has all the makings of best premium economy class seats to India and USA, such as ample room to stretch out, adjustable personal reading light, in-seat USB ports, noise-cancelling headphones, etc. The seats with soft leather upholstery are cozy enough to make you feel at home in the sky. Singapore Airlines’ premium economy seats come with a dedicated stowage area where you can store your laptop, headphones, water bottle and other personal items.

The USP of Singapore Airlines Premium Economy cabins is restaurant-like inflight dining service at the cruising altitude. Starting from April 2024, the airline has been serving meals from its enhanced menu designed by award-winning chefs from different countries, including India. You can pre-order a main course of your choice from Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook menu, at least 24 hours prior to your flight (with minimum 15 hours of travel time). The airlines pampers the tastebuds of premium economy travelers to/from India with chicken biryani, garlic roasted prawns, apple crumble cheesecake and likes from its new menu of over 200 dishes.

Hours of absolute entertainment over a vast content library consisting of 1800 movies, TV programs, music, and games on 13.3-inch HD touchscreen monitors complement the experience of flying Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines flights to India and USA.

Lufthansa’s Premium Economy Class 

More room, more comfort, more attention, and more free baggage define Lufthansa Airlines’ Premium Economy cabins. Each seat has a cocktail table at the armrest, adjustable footrest, and 11-12 inch inflight entertainment screen. In Lufthansa Premium Economy, the seats offer 8 inches of recline, 38 inches of pitch, and width of 18-19 inches for optimum comfort. The seat lets you recline without encroaching the space of the passenger behind you. The headrest, leg rest and armrest can be adjusted as per your convenience.

Lufthansa’s new Allegris travel cabins with pod-like Premium Economy seats have set a benchmark for other premium economy airlines. The Allegris Premium Economy cabins being rolled out on Airbus A350s and B787 Dreamliners have 15.6-in 4K entertainment monitors with discreet screen. You can relax in a comfy position and tune in to nonstop streaming of content or read/work under a personal reading light during long-haul travel on Lufthansa flights.

“Bengaluru and San Francisco are the first to see the brand-new Allegris cabins with premium economy seats, among the destinations of Lufthansa flights to India and USA this year. You can check-in two bags for free when traveling Lufthansa Premium Economy; a great advantage over Lufthansa’s economy flights with one piece of checked baggage,” said the chief customer experience officer of IndianEagle.com.

Air India’s Premium Economy on Nonstop Flights 

In a very short time following its launch in June 2023 for nonstop US-India flights, Air India’s Premium Economy has earned rave reviews. All thanks to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson’s vision and Tata Group’s takeover of the airline! Everyone from regular travelers to celebs like Chef Vikas Khanna praised Air India’s service on Boeing 777-200LRs (leased from Delta Airlines) which have 48 leather-upholstered Premium Economy seats with big IFE screens, better seat pitch and greater seat recline.

The blue-hued premium economy cabins are available on Air India flights from New York to Mumbai, and San Francisco to Bengaluru, as well as Mumbai.

With its brand new A350-900s taking to the skies, Air India is all set to up its Premium Economy game by late 2024. This long-range, widebody aircraft has 24 Premium Economy seats other than 28 full-flat luxury beds in Business Class. Read our in-depth coverage for more details of Air India’s A350s and take a walk through the aircraft in our short video. Once it hits long-haul international routes, it will be among the best premium economy airline cabins for travel between USA and India.

Cathay Pacific’s Premium Economy 

Of the best premium economy airlines, Cathay Pacific stands out for offering such perks as dedicated check-in lines and priority boarding, other than super comfy seats with 40 inches of legroom on board. The airline has started rolling out newly designed premium economy seats with 20 inches of width – the best in the industry – on its fleet of B777-300ERs. The leather-padded seats come with full-length leg rests, USB ports, spacious tray tables, and 15-inch wide monitor screens with Bluetooth audio pairing.

The larger tray table makes dining and working a lot more comfortable in Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific flights to India, USA and other destinations. In 2023, Skytrax Awards (the Oscars in aviation) ranked Cathay Pacific as one of the top 10 airlines with best premium economy class seats.

The post Which Airlines have Best Premium Economy Cabins for Travel from USA to India in 2025? A Useful Guide appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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!

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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.

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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