Flying to India on a Budget

My wife and I will be going to Pondicherry, India in January 2005 for one month. We want to fly business class. Our budget is 2,500 USD. Can you help me, or point me in the right direction?
Christian

Dear Christian,

I hope that your budget of $2,500 is for your air-tickets and not your entire trip—otherwise you will be pinching more than pennies.

Air-fares from the states to India can be very expensive due to the length of the trip. So maintaining your $2500 budget will require careful planning. Realistically, the only way you’ll be able to obtain two business class tickets to India for this price is to purchase the least expensive upgradeable coach tickets to India and use miles to upgrade. You’ll find that upgradeable coach fares to India will range from $650 to $1200—so this will keep you in your budget.

As for the miles to upgrade, I suggest that you review my recent responses that deal with credit cards and upgrading.

Good luck.

PS: Try this to compare cheap flights to India.