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I discovered this about three years back as well. India has quite a few holidays when you are required to travel to your home with two major festivals - Diwali(

I discovered this about three years back as well. India has quite a few holidays when you are required to travel to your home with two major festivals - Diwali(Oct/Nov) and Holi (March). Since, it is important for people to be at home for these festivals, they would book early, or take costly flights, or alternate flights. With my parents being flexible, and understanding about how I love them even when I am a day late to be at home, I ended up booking the flight on the festival day, rather than before. Cue and Behold. An empty airplane, with a total of 30-40 people in an Airbus 320. I got upgraded to business class for free. There were no lines for boarding. The plane took off on time, landed on time, and all of us could sleep in peace (or do whatever it is people do on planes). From that time, if I am going home for a festival, it will be the day of the festival.

Domark 8y ago
It’s a shame you’ll miss the festival travelling! To each his/her own.
ataturk 8y ago
What you don't realize is that this is how most of the world was until it became horrifically overcrowded everywhere. Although admittedly, I have no idea when India wasn't overcrowded. In the States, every place has gotten to be a gridlocked mess nearly all the time and it is terrible. I drove to work today just to enjoy what should be "normal" traffic levels, not the 5mph, stop and go, everyone cutting you off, nightmare.
billfruit 8y ago
Sry to be pedantic, and I do agree with your insight on travelling on Holidays. But I just want to say India is a pretty diverse country, so Holi/Diwali aren't necessarily the major holidays in many parts/sections of the country/population.
- ankit219 8y ago
  That is true. And I am in no way generalizing my experience with whole of India. But, in my experience, I have seen less crowds on Holi and Diwali. And taking flight has not failed me till now.

Domark 8y ago

It’s a shame you’ll miss the festival travelling! To each his/her own.

ataturk 8y ago

What you don't realize is that this is how most of the world was until it became horrifically overcrowded everywhere. Although admittedly, I have no idea when India wasn't overcrowded. In the States, every place has gotten to be a gridlocked mess nearly all the time and it is terrible. I drove to work today just to enjoy what should be "normal" traffic levels, not the 5mph, stop and go, everyone cutting you off, nightmare.

billfruit 8y ago

Sry to be pedantic, and I do agree with your insight on travelling on Holidays. But I just want to say India is a pretty diverse country, so Holi/Diwali aren't necessarily the major holidays in many parts/sections of the country/population.

ankit219 8y ago
That is true. And I am in no way generalizing my experience with whole of India. But, in my experience, I have seen less crowds on Holi and Diwali. And taking flight has not failed me till now.