While President Trump is wooing foreign millionaires with his ‘Gold Card’ visa, Indian American Balaji Srinivasan is busy building a decentralized, digital-first nation on an island for tech startup founders outside the United States. Balaji, among Silicon Valley’s most unconventional investors, has bought an island near Singapore and is planning to convert the island into a nation for startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, thinkers and digital community builders.

Srinivasan has long believed that the next Silicon Valley might not be in the US. With the tech world changing fast, he felt it was time to build something new outside the old systems. That is what led him to launch the Network School, a hands-on for startup founders and fitness enthusiasts. It is the first real-world test of his bigger idea of building self-governed communities, also known as Network State.

PC: Balaji Srinivasan

Balaji Srinivasan’s Vision for a New Tech-First Country

In 2022, he published a book titled The Network State: How to Start a New Country. It introduced a bold idea: why wait for governments to change when you can build your own? Using the Internet, like-minded people can form online communities, raise funds, purchase land, and start living by shared values. In 2024, Balaji and his team acquired a private island near Singapore and launched the first live experiment of the Network School, which he sees as a possible foundation for Network State, a tech-first nation for startup founders.

Who is Indian American Balaji Srinivasan?

Balaji Srinivasan is an Indian-origin American entrepreneur, investor, and futurist. He was born in Long Island, New York, in 1980, to physician parents who immigrated from Tamil Nadu, India. He often credits his disciplined upbringing and early love for technology to his family. While other kids were reading comics, Balaji was exploring math with his grandfather and learning computers.

He holds four degrees from Stanford University, including a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering. He also taught at Stanford, sharing his knowledge of statistics and bioinformatics. His first success came with Counsyl, a genetic testing company he co-founded in 2007. The firm helped couples screen for hereditary conditions before having children and was later sold in 2018 for $375 million.

Then came 21.co, a bitcoin-related startup that pivoted into Earn.com, a platform where users could get paid in crypto to answer emails. That company was acquired by Coinbase, where Balaji became the first Chief Technology Officer. He also joined Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms, as a General Partner, where he backed early-stage crypto and biotech startups.

Over the years, Balaji has invested in more than 200 companies, including Ethereum, OpenSea, and Alchemy, cementing his place in the tech elite. But the most interesting chapter in Balaji’s story is just beginning.

What is Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School or Network State?

The Network School isn’t just a place to learn. It’s a complete environment where founders live together, work out daily, code, build companies, and debate the future of tech and governance. The curriculum covers everything from AI and crypto to community building and digital law. Participants are selected not just for their skills but for their values. Belief in Bitcoin, trust in AI as a force for good, and a shared vision of freedom and innovation, these are some of the foundational ideas behind the school.

For Balaji, the Network School is a working prototype for what he calls a “Network State.” Just as the United States was once a radical new idea shaped by liberty and self-rule, the Network State is a digital-first evolution of that concept, born from the internet rather than geography. Balaji is already thinking beyond this island, with similar plans of building a next-generation society in Dubai, Tokyo, the Mediterranean, and possibly even India.

Right now, a three-month program is underway at the Network School. Up next is a one-year fellowship that’s currently in the works. Fellows will be selected through a rigorous process and will receive $100k in funding to build a new or existing venture after successfully completing the program. All participants are expected to relocate to the island, where they will live, build, and grow together with other founders.

The post Who is Indian American Balaji Srinivasan? An Entrepreneur who Buys an Island to Build a Startup Nation appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Come 2026, India will welcome one more airline with one-stop flights between USA and Mumbai. While the anticipation for Delta Airlines’ comeback to India with nonstop flights to Delhi is building up, Scandinavian Airlines officially announced its return to India after 17 long years. Initially, SAS – the national airline of Denmark, Sweden and Norway – will cater to Mumbai from and via Copenhagen, thereby connecting Mumbai to its US gateways. Mumbai-bound travelers from the US will get a new route through Europe.

PC: Indian Eagle

SAS Airlines to India: Flight Schedule and Frequency

Scandinavian Airlines flights to Mumbai will take off on 2 June 2026, with a frequency of five times a week. SAS’s Copenhagen to Mumbai flight SK969 schedule includes Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Arrival in Mumbai is scheduled past midnight (01:30 AM IST) the following day. Mumbai-Copenhagen flights SK970 are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with departure at 6 AM IST and arrival in Copenhagen at 11:45 local time.

The upcoming flights between Copenhagen and Mumbai are carefully timed to provide smooth connection on SAS flights to and from the United States. New York, Newark, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francsico and Miami (seasonal) are Scandinavian Airlines destinations in the US. Scandinavian Airlines will seamlessly connect travelers from the US to Mumbai, India via its principal hub, Copenhagen.

If Mumbai is your final destination, you may consider SAS Airlines for your summer travel to India from those US cities in 2026 and compare SAS fares with Indian Eagle deals from major airlines.

Scandinavian Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 Features

Reportedly, Airbus A330-300 with premium economy seats will be deployed for Scandinavian Airline flights to India. A330‑300 is a modern, fuel-efficient, wide-body aircraft that seats approximately 266 passengers across three cabins, making it well-suited for long-haul routes like Mumbai-Copenhagen-US. The aircraft is known for its reliability, comfort, and long-range capability. Its Economy travel cabin has 174 seats in a 2‑4‑2 layout, each offering around 31 to 32 inches of pitch along with personal in-flight entertainment.

One step up is SAS Plus, the airline’s premium economy cabin, which includes 56 seats in a 2‑3‑2 configuration with 38 inches of pitch and a 12-to-13-inch screen featuring an upgraded entertainment system. At the front, business class offers 32 lie-flat seats in a 1‑2‑1 arrangement, each 23 to 24 inches wide with a pitch of 77 to 78 inches, along with Zodiac RAVE in-flight entertainment.

Do Indians need transit visa at Copenhagen Airport for connecting flights?

If a SAS Airline flight itinerary, USA to India, does not require you to exit the international transit area during a layover at Copenhagen Airport, you don’t need a transit visa. As long as you stay within the international transit zone and your bags are checked all the way to India or USA, you are good to go. However, landside transit involving immigration at Copenhagen Airport requires a transit visa or short-stay Schengen Visa for Indians.

It would be better to check your flight PNR and confirm with Scandinavian Airlines SAS the latest visa rules for transit at Copenhagen Airport. First, let the airline open bookings for summer 2026. Meanwhile, you can check out IndianEagle.com for cheap flight tickets to India or call us at +1800-615-3969 for exclusive phone-only deals from our airline partners.

The post With Its Return to India in 2026, Scandinavian Airlines will Connect USA and Mumbai; All You Need to Know appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

When the Middle East conflict was escalating in and after mid-June, multi-country airspace closure caused international departure delays and connecting flight cancellations. Thousands of transit passengers, including Indians from the US and other countries, got stuck at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha airports for unusually long hours. The situation became worse especially on 23 June. Etihad Airways could provide accommodation at its partner hotels outside the terminal only to the passengers having a transit visa.

Among the passengers of Etihad Airways flights from Chicago to Mumbai, New York to Kochi, and Boston to Chennai, were an Indian family with two kids. Their onward flight to Abu Dhabi was actually on 18 June, but it was rescheduled on 20 June, and the layover at Zayed International Airport extended to 8 hours from the actual 3 hours.

At Chicago ORD Airport, they were informed that they would get complimentary accommodation during the long layover. But at Abu Dhabi Airport, they learned that only those having a UAE tourist visa or transit visa could exit the terminal and access the hotel. While the UAE’s entry visa on arrival can be obtained in real time for a fee of AED 100 (approx. $27) per person, an Abu Dhabi transit visa must be arranged in advance.

As they were a group of four travelers, the visa on arrival would additionally incur them a little more than $100 in total. The situation was so overwhelming that they chose to keep away from serpentine lines for the visa on arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport. They received vouchers for an economy lounge which was no way better than a waiting area. They just walked away and got into a business class lounge at their own expense.

This brings into light the importance of having a transit visa even for Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the Middle East. Precisely, having a transit visa is like “better safe than sorry”.

UAE Visa on Arrival vs Abu Dhabi Transit Visa for Indian Nationals

When a scheduled layover becomes longer than usual, Etihad Airways like other airlines provides accommodation at Zayed International Airport. However, when accommodation options get exhausted within the airport, transit passengers get access to the airline’s hotel partners outside the airport. In such unexpected events as the one explained above, only the UAE visa on arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport works for Indian nationals.

The entry visa on arrival in UAE for Indians costs AED 100 and comes with 14-day validity. But there is a catch. Only Indians holding a valid visa or residence permit of USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand are eligible for it. If you travel through Abu Dhabi or Dubai with your expired US visa or Green Card, you are not eligible for the visa on arrival.

Indians are eligible for the Abu Dhabi Transit Visa for 48 hours or 96 hours only if they go for Abu Dhabi stopover programs while flying with Etihad. Or, your US-India flight itinerary must have a layover of at least 8 hours in Abu Dhabi for a 48-hour transit visa. If the Abu Dhabi airport layover in your itinerary is shorter than 8 hours, you are not eligible for a transit visa in the UAE.

Many Indians still confuse between the transit visa and the visa on arrival for Abu Dhabi. While transit visa must be applied for in advance, the visa on arrival is instantly available at Zayed International Airport for eligible Indians. Both visas give entry to the UAE, but their eligibility criteria are different.

The post Abu Dhabi Transit Visa or UAE Visa on Arrival: A Guide for Indians Flying between USA and India via Abu Dhabi appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

PC: Youngscientistlab.com

List of Indian-origin winners of America’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge:

• Deepika Kurup, New Hampshire in 2012
• Sahil Doshi, Pennsylvania in 2014
• Maansa Mendu, Ohio in 2016
• Gitanjali Rao, Colorado in 2017
• Rishab Jain, Oregon in 2018
• Anika Chebrolu, Texas in 2020
• Sirish Subash, Georgia in 2024

3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025: Eight Indian American Finalists

Divyam Desai, Texas

Divyam Desai, a 7th grader from Frisco, TX, is one of the 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for his foundation tilt prevention system. His innovative irrigation system monitors soil moisture and waters the soil, only as needed, around building foundations in order to prevent damages that expansion soils cause to the foundation of brick-and-mortar structures in Texas. It would save his parents and other homeowners hefty repair costs. At the same time, his smart invention would help conserve water in clay-rich regions.

Divyam wants to become a mathematician, as algebra and statistics fascinate him. This 13-year-old believes that 3D printers are the best invention of the last 100 years.

Reanna Bhuyan Patel, New Jersey

13-year-old Reanna from Princeton, New Jersey has built a next-gen device based on thermoelectric principles. Her device captures energy from surrounding heat and converts it into electricity. Thus, her low-cost electricity generation tool has the potential to provide clean energy to communities with zero to little access to reliable power. No wonder why this project earned her a spot among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title in 2025.

She believes, “Intelligence is not defined by what you know, but by the power of what you do with it.” In 2024, Reanna Bhuyan Patel won the New Jersey State Merit Award from 3M for developing a zero-energy air conditioning system. She aspires to become an entrepreneur and an engineer.

Anirudh Rao, Colorado

12-year-old Anirudh Rao is the youngest of all finalists for Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025. He built a moisture-powered nano-generator that can provide clean, affordable electricity for health and environmental sensors in areas with limited access to power. His innovation focuses on making renewable energy solutions more practical and accessible, especially in off-grid locations.

Being a prolific inventor, Anirudh competed for America’s Top Young Scientist title in the past three years, each time with a new solution. However, he made it as a finalist this year. He also developed a tornado detection system using a network of drones designed to detect infrasound and sense approaching tornadoes.

Amaira Srivastava, Arizona

Amaira Srivastava’s commitment to curbing food waste, plastic pollution, and climate change brought her to the Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge finals 2025. Aiming to promote sustainability, she has created biodegradable cups made with fruit peels not only to reduce plastic waste, but also to deliver natural nutrients through flavonoid-rich water. She believes that the 3M Young Scientist Challenge platform would help make her product a household item in the US and beyond.

Amaira dreams of becoming a global scientist, innovator, and purpose-driven entrepreneur who tackles challenges like climate change, pollution, and hunger.

Sheyna Patel, Florida

Sheyna Patel, an 8th grader from Longwood, has been named a finalist for the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for her innovative solution to a major environmental problem. She has developed a non-toxic hydrogel that can capture and break down microplastics in water with over 93% efficiency, offering a promising way to protect aquatic ecosystems. Her project showcases both scientific skill and deep concern for the environment.

This 14-year-old is 14-year-old and passionate about STEM research and is driven by a strong desire to solve real-world problems. Sheyna Patel’s favorite invention of the past 100 years is the smartphone, as it helps her explore and understand the possibilities of the world.

Shrey Arora, Tennessee

Among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title 2025, Shrey Arora from Tennessee presents a solution that both homemakers and restaurant owners would love. A resident of Collierville in the Memphis metropolitan area, Shrey has developed FreshMate, a smart fridge device that tracks expiration dates of refrigerated food items, and thus, helps to reduce food waste in everyday life.

Passionate about solving real-world problems, Shrey dreams of working at NASA. He was named the 2024 Tennessee State Merit Winner in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. He is mentored by Indian-origin Lalitha Ganapatibhotla, an advanced product development specialist in 3M.

Aniket Sarkar, Florida

Aniket Sarkar’s low-cost atmospheric solution for farmers in the arid regions of America will compete for the first prize at Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge this year. a 7^th grader from Sarasota, Aniket developed an easy-to-use atmospheric moisture capturing system that absorbs water from air to support farming in the arid regions of hinterlands.

Aniket hopes to become an environmental engineer aiming to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Despite being 13-year-old, he has already gained hands-on experience in rocketry and robotics, which has fueled his passion for innovation.

Isha Marla, Oregon

Isha is famed in her school as the “young doctor in the making.” She is 14-year-old and is one of the top 10 finalists of the America’s 2025 Young Scientist Challenge. Isha created AlginaFAB, a fabric made from seaweed and other natural ingredients. Her eco-friendly textile mimics the strength and flexibility of traditional fabrics while being fully biodegradable.

She is an 8th grader from Portland with a strong passion for science, innovation, and music. Isha has been studying piano and percussion for the past 8 years, and her favorite invention of the past 100 years is the drum set. She hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon, aiming to perform life-saving surgeries and drive innovation in healthcare.

The post Know who 8 Indian Americans are among 10 Finalists of America’s Top Young Scientist Title 2025 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

PC: Emirates

Emirates Airline News: New Economy Seat Features

The new seat design for economy travel cabins on Emirates flights to India, USA, China, and other countries will leverage vertical space to enhance comfort. Seat height – neither seat width nor seat pitch – is the focus of unusual seating improvement for the Dubai-based airline this time. The design has already been prototyped for seat manufacturers and aviation regulators.

Vertical enhancement of economy class seats is a signature innovation, like Emirates’ virtual windows in the first class cabins of B777-300ER planes. The new seats will be taller by 4 to 5 inches to improve the way the seat height supports our body posture and contour, according to Tim Clark, one of the most revered leaders in aviation, who is credited with driving the growth of Emirates Airlines from a two-plane startup in 1985 to one of the best international airlines in the world.

The more legroom, the more premium fare. In Economy Class, the wider the seats, the higher the ticket prices. By utilizing the vertical cabin space, Emirates Airlines aims to elevate your seating comfort in Economy without charging a premium. Usually, Emirates’ economy flight seats are wider and more spacious than Air India’s and other airlines’. Currently, seat height is the only area wherein the airline has some room for improvement without reducing cabin density.

Emirates’ new economy seats height has challenges

“The more height a seat has, the more space it needs to recline back. The reclining of one’s seat causing discomfort to the other behind is often the reason for inflight scuffles among economy class passengers. Given the cases of passengers getting into an argument over unfair reclining of seats, Emirates’ tall seat design for Economy travel cabins seems to be a move against basic air travel etiquette,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats.

A more serious concern than the above is obstructed viewing of passengers for the cabin crew. Emirates’ new economy seats height (to be increased by 4 to 5 inches) could block the line of sight, one of the inflight safety requirements for the cabin crew. However, President Tim Clark shrugged off this concern by saying that cameras are installed inside Economy Class cabins of modern aircraft like A380s in the fleet of Emirates Airlines. Passengers activity and safety can be monitored through inflight cameras.

On one hand, Sir Tim Clark is sanguine about the pragmatism of increasing the height of seats for international economy travelers. On the other hand, he says, “It’s not an easy process” to get approval from aviation regulators. He is trying to connect dots between inflight seating innovation and aviation safety compliance.

Better seat height or better seat width – what is your preference for comfort on economy flights between USA and India?

Subscribe to Travel Beats, a leading aviation news portal for US-India airline news, travel tips, travel FAQs, visa guides, checked baggage allowance, and a lot more. Also, check out Indian Eagle flight tickets for USA to India budget travel and beyond with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air India, United, British Airways, Cathay Pacific…You can call +1800-615-3969 for unpublished phone-only deals.

The post Emirates Airlines is Working on New Economy Class Seats with Better Height for Long-Haul Flights appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

PC: Freepik (paid)

Where to Find Your Flight PNR Number after Booking Travel? 

The PNR number for your international flight tickets is common to all communications post booking, like e-tickets, travel confirmation email, and subsequent notifications issued by the airline or your travel agency, like Indian Eagle. Often labelled as ‘Booking Reference’ or ‘Reservation Code’, you can see the PNR number next to the airline name among trip details on the e-ticket.  The boarding pass lists the 6-digit PNR code near the top.

Locating the PNR number on flight tickets is not a big deal. Do make sure not to confuse it with the flight number – one of the common mistakes that first-time flyers make. Airline reservation PNR number and flight number are different things.

What Does a PNR Number Do?

A flight PNR is not just a code of alphanumeric digits; it plays a big role in your air travel. Knowing the PNR number for your one-way flight boking or round trip helps with web check-in, flight status checking, travel rescheduling, seat selection, ticket cancelation, refund claims, and baggage loss/damage reporting. For your travel agent and the airline, it is the key to access your itinerary details so you are provided with the right service as and when needed. Precisely, PNR or booking reference is a vital link between the traveler and the airline.

It not only connects you to the airline but also with your near and dear ones who pray for your safe travel. You should share your flight PNR number with someone (trustworthy) in your family so that they can contact the airline and check your whereabouts in case you are not reachable over the phone during an international layover at London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Zurich, Singapore Changi Airport, or in the Middle East.

On 23 June, some India-bound travelers from the US got stuck at Doha Airport due to the sudden closure of Qatar’s airspace amid the Middle East conflict. Those having the PNR number of their family, parents, siblings, or friends traveling through Doha were able to contact the airline and check the status. Hence, it is recommended you share the airline PNR number with a close family member or friend before your board the flight.

Is PNR the Same as a Booking Reference?

Yes! In most cases, PNR and booking reference mean the same thing. Different airlines may use different terms, such as reservation number or confirmation code, but they all refer to the same thing: the unique 6-character code linked to your flight booking. So if you come across any of these terms, just know they all point to your PNR.

International Flight PNR Number Sharing Risks 

Since a flight reservation PNR number provides access to its owner or the traveler’s personal information and itinerary details, it should be treated like a password. Anyone can exploit your last name and PNR code to gain unauthorized access to itinerary. Misuse of your personal info, identity theft, cyber fraud, fraudulent booking, frequent flyer mile theft, and unsolicited trip cancelation (a prank) are among the potential risks of sharing your PNR with anyone, except the airline and your trusted air-ticketing partner.

“This is why we advise our customers to refrain from sharing their PNR numbers publicly and avoid posting pics of boarding passes on social media during or after travel. Particularly, H1B and H4 visa holders should keep their boarding passes safe for an extension of their visa validity under the visa recapture rule,” said the chief customer relations officer of Indian Eagle Travel.

The post Why is It More Important to Know and Save Your Flight PNR Number These Days? A Complete Guide appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Air India news amidst the Middle East tensions

In response to the Israel-Iran-US tensions, Air India suspended flights to and from New York JFK, Newark EWR, Washington DC, and Chicago ORD, until further notice, affecting travel during the summer holiday season. Below is an excerpt from Air India’s message:

“Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins and others are being diverted back to India or re-routed away from the closed airspaces.”

After a few hours of shutdown, Qatar reopened its airspace for safe departure of international transit passengers stranded at Doha Hamad Airport. In a communication to IndianEagle.com, Qatar Airways offers to rebook cancelled flights and reschedule travel for the passengers who wish to change their travel plans under amidst the Middle East crisis. Qatar Airways flights booked on or before 23 June for travel on or before 30 June 2025 are eligible for a waiver on the airline’s rebooking fee.

In addition to Air India flight cancelation, other airlines highly anticipate flight delays and diversions through the Middle East airspace, a vital corridor between North America and South Asia. With Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Pakistan continuing to keep their airspace restricted, longer flight paths and additional flying hours are expected in the coming days. However, the situation is volatile and unpredictable, thereby making civil aviation safety considerably important though inconvenience is inevitable to some extent.

Passengers scheduled to travel to India or USA are strongly advised to watch out for airlines’ alerts and advisories. Save airlines’ customer helpline and emergency contact numbers for updates on your upcoming trip. Check your flight status on the day of travel and before leaving for the airport. If you booked Indian Eagle USA to India flights for your travel in the last week of June 2025, contact our 24/7 customer support for rescheduling and alternate options.

The post Here’s How Middle East Conflict Impacts Travel between USA and India: Flight Delays, Diversions, Cancelation appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Contrary to the popular belief that children from India leave their parents helpless in their pursuit of ambition and success abroad; an Indian techie not only flew his parents out to the US but also took them to his office where his ‘American Dream’ career is taking shape. It was a transcendent moment for the parents who could not hold back tears for being proud of their son and happy for his success. The US-based Indian techie’s sister shared the heartwarming story that resonated with Indian Diaspora on social media and went viral.

PC: X.com/BhosalePratim. (Their faces are covered to preserve their privacy)

The Indian techie works at Nvidia’s headquarters in California. It is his parents’ first trip to the United States from India. Since they arrived in California a few weeks ago (in May), they have been on a multi-city tour across the US starting from Mount Madonna with a hilltop Hanuman temple in Santa Clara County. Naturally, their excitement and joy doubled during a visit to their son’s workplace, the Nvidia office in Santa Clara. “Big smiles on their faces,” their daughter who lives in Amsterdam said in a tweet.

The parents who taught their children to dream big and blessed them to make it big in life were overwhelmed to see the spaceship-like buildings spanning more than 1 million square feet – close to the total area of the Taj Mahal complex in India. At Nvidia’s headquarters, world-class meeting rooms, fully-equipped canteen, flamboyant entertainment areas, sprawling workspace, top-notch gym and other state-of-the-art facilities left them in awe of the promising career and the bright future that they had imagined for their son (and the daughter).

For them, it was not just a simple office tour at one of the trillion-dollar American MNCs. Rather, a walk down memory lane – the days of their hard work, their sacrifices, their joy over simple things, their investments (of energy, time, and effort). All these have resulted in good things for their children. This very thought gave them absolute peace of mind and a profound sense of fulfilment that most Indian professionals working abroad and their parents can relate to.

The daughter’s social media post on her parents’ visit to her brother’s Nvidia office in California has gone viral melting hearts and evoking positive emotions in the global Indian community. One Indian from London commented, “I did the same with my parents 2 years ago in London. Great refresher!” It resonated with Indian immigrants in the US, one of them wrote, “Great deed! My parents are visiting me next month. I will surely take them to my office.”

This is part of our continued series of inspiring stories of Indians in America, at Travel Beats, your favorite community portal for Diaspora news, US-India travel updates, airport guides, transit visa queries, etc. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner for Indians and Americans.

The post Indian Techie Takes Parents to His Nvidia Office in USA; It Leaves Them Teary-eyed out of Pride and Joy appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Like many other Indians, Rakesh is traveling to India with his family this summer (in July). He proudly holds a Green Card for his permanent residency in the land of American Dream. He had booked his flight tickets from Seattle to Bengaluru with Lufthansa when Indian Eagle was offering US-India flight discounts celebrating Women’s Day 2025 through March. After having secured a good deal for the summer travel, they got busy making a bucket list of things to do and see in and around Bengaluru this time.

PC: Freepik (paid)

Their round-trip itinerary has two Schengen airport layovers – Frankfurt and Munich in Germany – which requires a regular Schengen Visa for smooth transit. We had sent him the booking confirmation email and Lufthansa flight tickets with a note that the itinerary he purchased may require a short Schengen visa or airport transit visa in Germany. It seems that he overlooked the note as he was under the impression that Green Card holders are exempted from this visa requirement in the Schengen area.

He woke up to this requirement for his journey through Frankfurt and Munich, when a user post in some Facebook community group caught his attention. In the post, an Indian from San Francisco shared his ordeal of being denied boarding by Lufthansa for not having a Schengen Visa for his flight itinerary similar to Rakesh’s. Taken aback by the post, Rakesh took no time to call Indian Eagle’s customer helpline and confirm whether a regular Schengen Visa is required for transit via two airports in Germany.

He got into a dilemma over whether he should cancel their reservation with Lufthansa and book a new round trip with one-stop flights from Seattle to Bengaluru with some other airline, or apply for a short Schengen Visa. Cancelling the scheduled travel would have incurred him a hefty airline fee for each of four travelers in the booking, though the itinerary was refundable. On top of that, a new booking would cost him more than what he paid (minus the Women’s Day discount) in March.

After two days of deliberation, he chose to apply for a regular Schengen Visa. It was the third week of April; thankfully, not too late to meet the transit visa requirement for their US-India round trip with Lufthansa. Many travelers like Rakesh are still unaware of this critical visa rule involving transit between two Schengen airports in Germany. Most of them realize this late, and thus have no other option than cancelling their travel in the eleventh hour and seeking last-minute flight tickets with deals.

Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans, thanks Rakesh Gupta for this story. We wish him a safe and happy trip! Subscribe to Travel Beats, a leading US-India travel news community for latest updates on airlines, airports, transit visas, routes, etc.

The post Hidden Schengen Visa Rule for Transit via Frankfurt and Munich, Rakesh Decodes and Saves His Travel on Time appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Detroit Metro Airport launched its visitor pass known as DTW Destination Pass in 2019 after the Seattle Airport visitor pass was introduced in 2018. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Orlando, Ontario, New Orleans, and San Antonio airports have similar programs for non-travelers. Detroit Airport is the origin of flights to India via Europe and the Middle East for Indians in Michigan. They will benefit from this guide on how to get a DTW Airport visitor pass online.

PC: Freepik.com (paid)

How to Get a Detroit Airport Visitor Pass Online

It is easy to get a DTW Destination Pass, but you cannot apply for it online or in advance. The process to get a visitor pass for Detroit Metro Wayne Airport is completely offline. If your family or parents are scheduled to travel on flights from Detroit to India, you can head to the ‘Destination Pass Kiosk’ on the Departures Level of either the McNamara or Evans Terminal on the day of travel.

All you need to do is to scan your valid US government-issued photo ID at the kiosk. Foreign passports are also accepted. Once your ID is verified, the kiosk will print a visitor pass that allows you to go through TSA screening, just like regular passengers.

Is DTW Destination Pass free?

Yes, the visitor pass for non-travelers to Detroit Metropolitan Airport is free and valid only for the day of its issuance.

What IDs are eligible for Detroit Metro Airport Visitor Pass?

To get a DTW Visitor Pass, you must be 18 years or older. Your government-issued photo ID could be your US passport or Indian passport or Green Card or US work authorization card or DHS Trusted Traveler Card. Other acceptable forms of identification include state-issued IDs like driver’s license.

For minors under 18, a government-issued photo ID is not required. They can still receive a Visitor Pass as long as they are accompanied by an adult, and their full legal name is manually entered on DTW Destination Pass kiosks at Detroit Airport.

What are valid hours for DTW Visitor Pass holders?

DTW Destination Pass is available daily from 5am to 9pm at both McNamara and Evans terminals of Detroit International Airport. This means you can arrive as early as 5 am, get a visitor pass, go through security, and explore the terminal, or spend time with loved ones, until the 9 pm cutoff. If you exit the terminal, re-entry is allowed, but you’ll need to rescan your pass and ID. All visitor pass holders are subject to the same TSA security procedures as those boarding flights from Detroit to Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata.

Subscribe to Travel Beats, a leading community portal for airline news, travel tips, and visa guides. Also, explore Indian Eagle deals for cheap flights between USA and India. Grab unbeatable flight deals from airline partners of Indian Eagle, the most trusted air-ticketing company in USA for both Indians and Americans.

The post DTW Airport Destination Pass: Know How You can Go Past TSA Security to See Off Your Family appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.