Economy to Mumbai from UK

[jameseyre1]

Any advice appreciated for a work trip to Mumbai from Manchester going on 1st or 8th Feb for 6 days. Unfortunately, the policy is economy only unless a premium/business fare can be found that's cheaper. :confused:

Can anyone offer any advice for who to go with? The options are BA via LHR, Emirates via DXB, Turkish via IST, Qatar via DOH and Etihad via AUD, AF via CDG....plus a few others!

Any help appreciated.

[oldpax]

Matters not who you go with,its the arrival there that will really wake you up!!!Step back in time a few years and you will realize what you have arrived at.if you have to take a taxi to wherever your going then you will experience the 1970s via the Fiat models on hire .Oh sorry its about five years since I was there!!

[ExXB]

I'd avoid Heathrow regardless of the price.

[Hotel Tango]

I personally would opt for Qatar via DOH. Only because I would rate DOH easier for transfers.

[jameseyre1]

Thanks for the replies so far.

In terms of legroom/comfort, the Emirates A380 is an option - I expect that will definitely be better than BA, Qatar, etc?

[Sultan Ismail]

I'm with Oldpax, it's not the flight it's the arrival.
I went in economy with BA, upstairs in 747, long time ago.
Had to transfer to the Domestic Airport which turned out to be the other end of the runway.
Happy days 😊

[Andy_S]

I personally would opt for Qatar via DOH. Only because I would rate DOH easier for transfers.

Easier than what? LHR and CDG maybe, but Doha is NOT the best of transfer experiences either.

Unless they've opened the new airport, and I don't believe they have, all aircraft are parked on stand and you will be bused to and from a temporary and rather functional terminal building. The whole process can be chaotic, and some of the transfer times are very tight indeed which can make for a rather stressful experience. Qatar airways have a pretty good economy product, although I can only vouch for the 777 (I think MAN is served by the A330).

You could do worse than Emirates, although the transfer experience at Dubai can be a lottery, with aircraft parking both on stand or at one of two separate terminals. Having said that, if you're on 380's all the way, you've got a far better chance of arriving and departing from the same terminal, in which case it's straightforward.

Abu Dhabi IMO is the easiest for transfers, although again some aircraft park on stand, and I (personally) find their economy product overrated.

Good luck.

[three eighty]

The new Doha airport has been up and running for a few months now.

[Hartington]

I take the view that you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Any airline, in any class can give you a good experience or a bad one.

I'd go BA. Why? Well if things go wrong on the way home you will at least get as far as home turf with options for getting home. Tenuous reason, but there you are.

[Hotel Tango]

Andy S, it would be helpful if you checked your facts about DOH before posting. I have used the new airport, which Qatar Airways moved to last May, and that is what I based my opinion on.

[Andy_S]

The new Doha airport has been up and running for a few months now.

Thank you for your courteous response; more than some people could manage. (I'm really surprised that there wasn't more widespread coverage in the media).

I stand corrected. In which case I would agree - Qatar is probably a good choice.

[Hotel Tango]

Come on Andy S, I'm discourteous simply for suggesting you check your facts after you contradicted my post? For info, there was plenty of coverage about it in the aviation media, although I do admit that it may have escaped the attention of the Daily Mail.