You had definitely had sweet tamarind in meals aboard Jet Airways flights, domestic and international, before the massive collapse of the airline. Serving sweet tamarind candies along with inflight meals to all passengers, regardless of travel class and fare type, had been a holy practice for more than 25 years for the airline until 2019. Many travelers still wonder why they were served with those tongue-tantalizing candies during their flights from USA to India and while traveling other routes in the airline’s network.

Jet Airways has resurrected from its fall and is all set to take off for commercial operations starting with daily service between Delhi and Mumbai in the third quarter of this calendar year, as the airline has got security clearance from the government and approval from the Directorate General Civil Aviation. Hope those sweet tamarind candies will be back on board too.

Well, it is known that tamarind is full of good health properties. It helps prevent digestive problems and throat infections. It benefits those having stomach discomfort. It works also as an antidote to heat stroke. Moreover, tamarind is a good source of vitamin C. Tamarind intake curbs airsickness or jet lag during long-haul flights, according to leading health experts. Possibly, these reasons were good enough for Jet Airways to have flavored inflight meals with sweet tamarind candies. 

Motion sickness is common to some travelers during takeoffs and landings. It causes a sinking feeling in the stomach. Prevention of motion sickness is among the health benefits of tamarind intake. In addition to this, tamarind reduces nausea, which is also a common symptom of inflight sickness.

Why sweet tamarind candies are served on Jet Airways flights has another strong reason. Tamarind helps prevent retraction that is bulging of ear drums. Some travelers experience it during takeoff or landing. Difference in air pressure levels outside the ear and the middle ear cavity causes bulging of ear drums, at changing altitudes during a flight. Sweet tamarind candies trigger salivation, thereby causing frequent swallowing – which helps equalize air pressure levels between the outside ear and the middle ear cavity to prevent retraction.

Some inflight chefs opine that passengers of Jet Airways flights were deliberately given sweet tamarind candies instead of mouth fresheners because tamarind is cheaper than any good quality mouth freshener cost wise. Since travelers began to like the tangy and sweet flavor of tamarind candies, it was made an integral part of all meals on Jet Airways flights.

Sweet tamarind candies were previously given to travelers on Air India flights and other airlines in India.

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Emirates Airlines announced to reduce the number of flights to USA because the rigid security restrictions, including the recent ban on electronic devices in the cabin of US-bound flights, by the US government have caused a decline in the market of Emirates flights via the Middle East. It’s likely to benefit Jet Airways’ new codeshare partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways for improving the US-India air travel via London Heathrow.

India’s Jet Airways has inked a codeshare deal with the UK’s Virgin Atlantic Airways to offer an alternate route to those traveling on US-India flights via the Middle East cities. The adverse impact of the US government’s security restraints on air travel via the Gulf has piqued travelers’ interest in booking itineraries for US to India flights routing through Europe.

Now onwards, Jet Airways’ US-bound passengers from India can board Virgin Atlantic flights at London Heathrow for nine US cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Newark, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. Jet Airways frequently operates flights to London Heathrow from Delhi and Mumbai.

India-bound travelers from the above-mentioned nine US cities can conveniently connect onto Jet Airways flights at London Heathrow. Those flying to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Goa, Amritsar, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, Vadodara, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Indore, Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram from USA, can board Delta Airlines flights at the airline’s US hubs including Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and New York airports. Delta Airlines flights connect onto India-bound Jet Airways flights at London Heathrow.

Those booking Jet Airways flights in codeshare partnership with Virgin Atlantic should select itineraries with sufficient connection time, at least, for two hours. It’s because Jet Airways operates from Terminal 4 which is on the other side of the airport, while Virgin Atlantic uses Terminal 3 at London Heathrow. Though airlines offer transfers between the two terminals, itineraries with connection time as long as 2 hours or more are recommended.

Indian Eagle, a leading US-based, trusted travel booking organization, takes special care of it while booking connecting flights between USA and India.

Emirates Airlines is about to cut the weekly number of services to five of the 12 US destinations in its network. Emirates’ service to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale will be limited to weekly five flights from a daily flight. Emirates flights to Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston will be reduced from twice to once a day.

Jet Airways operates US to India flights also via Paris and Amsterdam in codeshare partnership with Air France and KLM Airlines respectively. Grab Jet Airways discount fares and book Jet Airways cheap flights for US-India travel at Indian Eagle.

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The most recent codeshare partnership of Jet Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic has opened a gamut of new ways connecting the United States and India for air travel via the UK. Jet Airways’ extended codeshare agreement with Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic has facilitated opening of more routes for flights between USA and India via London Heathrow.

Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic’s passengers from USA can catch Jet Airways flights to 17 destinations in India, including major cities, from London Heathrow. These 17 cities in India are Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Goa, Amritsar, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, Vadodara, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Indore, Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram.

Jet Airways’ passengers from these Indian cities can catch codeshare flights from London Heathrow to nine cities in the US: Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Detroit, New York and Salt Lake City. All of these routes to USA from London are operated by Delta Air Lines.

For the first time, travelers are able to fly from USA to India via London with a single Delta flight ticket. Both Jet Airways and Delta Airlines coordinate with each other in service to passengers throughout their flights from the above-mentioned North American cities to India.

Over 11,000 people travel between USA and India daily, and tourism is flourishing between India, the UK and the US, according to Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, India, Africa and Middle East. The expanded codeshare partnership of these three international airlines is aimed at enhancing air connectivity of USA and India giving Indian Americans more options to fly from USA to India via London.

Virgin Atlantic has proposed to expand its codeshare partnership with Jet Airways in 2017, which will allow the passengers of Jet Airways flights from India to connect with Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow to North America. Virgin Atlantic flies to 10 cities, including Newark, Miami, Washington DC and San Francisco, in the US from London Heathrow.

Read More USA-India Travel News

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Is traveling by air while pregnant possible? Do international airlines permit flying during pregnancy? Is a “fitness or no complication” certificate from a doctor mandatory for international flights during pregnancy? There is a lot to know about airlines’ policies for pregnant travelers before booking your flight. As different airlines have different policies for expectant women, you may end up being baffled about which airline is the best for flying during pregnancy, or which airlines have compliable rules for traveling during pregnancy. You may get tips on flying to India from US during pregnancy from different sources, but knowing nothing about US to India airlines’ policy for pregnant women won’t help. Below is our guide on how you can travel to India from US when you are pregnant, based on a compilation of regulations from some of the major airlines:

Different Airline Policies for Flying during Pregnancy

Air India’s Policy for Pregnant Passengers

According to Air India’s policy for pregnant travelers, expectant women in good health can fly till the 32^nd week of pregnancy. Air India permits traveling during pregnancy to women with high possibility of normal delivery till the 35^th week. In this case, a medical certificate ascertaining their fitness for flying on long-haul routes is essential. Flying during pregnancy beyond 35 weeks may be possible on grounds of urgency or compassion. Flying while pregnant till the actual delivery requires women travelers to sign an indemnity bond and be accompanied by a physician on Air India’s international flights. Permission for traveling at the advanced stage of pregnancy should be sought from Air India’s Chief Medical Officer.

READ MORE Air India’s Baggage Policy for US to India Flights

British Airways’ Policy for Expectant Women

British Airways’ policy for air travel and pregnancy is stricter than Air India’s. Expectant women cannot board British Airways’ flights once the 36^th week of pregnancy is over. If you are expecting more than one baby, you cannot fly with British Airways after the end of the 32^nd week of pregnancy. Flying while pregnant for more than 28 weeks requires you to carry a confirmation letter from your doctor or midwife with regards to your fitness for air travel and the possible delivery date.

READ MORE British Airways Baggage Policy for US to India Travel

United Airlines’ Policy for Pregnant Women

A medical certificate confirming your health and fitness is required for traveling on United Airlines in the ninth month of pregnancy. The certificate should not be dated before 72 hours of the scheduled departure. You need to carry the original certificate and its two copies as well. According to United Airlines’ policy for pregnancy and air travel, the medical certificate from a doctor or midwife should carry an official statement about your physical wellness for flying. Make sure to carry the original certificate in your handbag because you need to produce it while checking in at the departure airport. Flight attendants may ask for copies of the certificate during air travel.

READ MORE United Airlines’ Service Policy for Special Travelers

Lufthansa’s Policy For Flying during Pregnancy

Lufthansa permits traveling during pregnancy in uncomplicated cases. Expectant women having no physical complicacy can board Lufthansa flights till 4 weeks before the possible delivery date or the end of the 36^th week of pregnancy. It is not mandatory to carry a medical certificate. If you are expecting more than one baby in uncomplicated pregnancy, you can be flying while pregnant till the end of the 28^th week. You need to undergo a health checkup and get a certificate from your physician or gynecologist confirming your medical fitness for air travel after the 36^th week of pregnancy. The certificate should clearly state that flying while pregnant is not harmful for you.

READ MORE Lufthansa’s Inflight Entertainment on Long-haul Flights

Emirates’ Policy for Traveling during Pregnancy

Emirates Airlines’ policy for flying pregnant makes it mandatory for expectant women to carry a genuine medical certificate or letter issued by a qualified doctor or midwife during air travel in the 29^th week of pregnancy. The medical certificate should state the type of pregnancy: singleton or multiple, the stage of pregnancy, the possible delivery date, and the traveler’s physical condition as well as fitness. If you forget to carry or fail to produce a duly signed medical certificate while checking in at the departure airport, you will be denied boarding. Emirates Airlines does not permit flying in case of multiple pregnancies after the 32^nd week of gestation. Traveling on Emirates’ flights is permitted for single pregnancies even after the 36^th week of gestation, on the basis of prior clearance by the airline’s medical department. You should fill a medical information form (MEDIF) and submit it to seek clearance.

READ MORE Emirates’ Menu on US to India Flights

Etihad’s Policy for Pregnant Travelers

On Etihad Airways, traveling while pregnant with one or two babies is possible without a medical certificate till the 28^th week of gestation. However, Etihad Airways’ “flying while pregnant” policy is rigid for the period from the beginning of the 29^th week till the end of the 36^th week. Women expecting one baby or two need to submit a medical certificate stating their physical fitness and estimated delivery date prior to flying with Etihad Airways after the 28^th week of pregnancy. The airline does not permit traveling after the 36^th week in case of ‘single pregnancy’ and after the 32^nd week of gestation in case ‘multiple pregnancy.’ The airline accepts only clinical / hospital letterheads issued, signed and stamped by doctors or midwives as medical certificates within 7 days before the date of departure.

READ MORE Best Facilities in Etihad’s Economy Class

Jet Airways’ Policy for Pregnancy Travel

Jet Airways’ ‘travel during pregnancy’ policy is more or less the same as that of other major international airlines. Traveling by air during pregnancy is permitted to expectant women till the end of the 28^th week in complicated single pregnancy or uncomplicated multiple pregnancy cases. You need to get a medical fitness certificate from your treating doctor. Jet Airways’ ‘pregnancy travel’ policy allows only expectant women with uncomplicated single pregnancy to fly till the 35^th week if they carry a ‘fit for air travel’ certificate from their treating doctors. No flight with Jet Airways is booked for women with uncomplicated multiple pregnancy or complicated single pregnancy after the 32^nd week. The airline’s Medical Department clearance is a must.

*These airline policies for flying during pregnancy are applicable to most of international flights across the globe. The airlines may modify their policies for pregnant travelers at any time and without notification.

Get cheap airfare deals for US to India flights on IndianEagle.com. Indian Eagle offers the lowest airfare online from these airlines.

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Like Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways, Jet Airways rang in the New Year 2015 with a couple of new offers for premium passengers. With the new offers added to the list of inflight services, Jet Airways aims to scale up its level of onboard customer service.

One of the latest offerings for premium passengers is advanced meal booking service. The other one is a new range of Indian films and shows for onboard entertainment. Titled ‘Book Your Meal’, the advanced meal-booking facility is introduced on all international flights operated by Jet Airways. This initiative lets travelers order their preferred meals online in advance. The airline offers myriad varieties of meals including vegetable ones.

Next to food is entertainment, a critical part of inflight service to passengers. With the arrival of 2015, Jet Airways has revised the inflight entertainment content in all travel cabins. The revised schedule includes a series of theatre shows in Hindi with English subtitles. These shows by CinePlay are celluloid adaptations of classic stories from Indian literature and theatre.

Jet Airways does always strive to enhance travelers’ inflight service experience by introducing new facilities, upgrading the inflight service infrastructure and updating the inflight entertainment schedule with new shows, according to the airline’s vice president of commercial.

One of the premiere US to India airlines, Jet Airways’ inflight service on India-bound international flights is influenced by Indian culture. Familiarizing travelers from the USA, Canada and other countries with the richness and diversity of Indian culture is the main purpose of screening the CinePlay shows on board. Indian Americans and NRIs from other countries are given access to special India-oriented entertainment programs, in the air.

Book your cheap flights with Jet Airways on IndianEagle.com and enjoy the new inflight services. Why not check if US to Indian flights are as cheaper as guaranteed by Indian Eagle?  

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