October is the cheapest month to fly from India to the United States in 2026, with average return fares sitting around $980 (₹92,120). November is the second cheapest at approximately $992 (₹93,248) average. Those averages tell part of the story. The part nobody else covers: within November, there's a price canyon. November 1–15 is competitive with October — Air India nonstop fares sit at ₹55,000–₹68,000 return. November 16–30 is Thanksgiving week, and the same Air India nonstop from Delhi to New York jumps to ₹90,000–₹1,10,000. That's a ₹35,000–₹42,000 price swing within a single month on the same route.
The within-November split is the most consequential piece of information for any Indian traveller planning a USA trip and it exists in almost no editorial content aimed at Indian audiences. The second most consequential piece of information: the US B1/B2 tourist visa appointment wait at Delhi consulate is currently running 500+ days for standard interview slots — which means if you're planning an October or November 2026 USA trip and haven't applied for a visa yet, the booking conversation is actually irrelevant until you have a consulate appointment. That gets its own section.
This guide covers the full month-by-month India→USA price breakdown, the October vs November comparison done properly (week by week), all airlines with nonstop and connecting options, the directional pricing logic that explains why October is cheap in this direction (and why most articles get confused by reading USA→India data backwards), and a booking strategy that uses FlyFlick's Virtual Interlining engine to find routes MakeMyTrip and Goibibo don't build.
We compared fares on FlyFlick with major Indian booking platforms — and found savings of ₹1,000–₹2,500 on most international routes. Search below and compare yourself before booking anywhere else.
FlyFlick's search engine does something Skyscanner, KAYAK and Google Flights don't: it dynamically combines tickets from airlines that don't officially partner — Virtual Interlining — to surface connection routes traditional platforms never show. On outbound routes from India, this regularly finds prices 20–30% below market rate. One search. Hundreds of combinations. Including the ones MakeMyTrip and Goibibo will never show you.
Booking in USD through FlyFlick? No GST applies on international flights booked via foreign platforms — you're not paying Indian service tax here. To avoid your bank's forex markup, use a zero-forex card like Niyo or Scapia. Note: a 5% TCS applies on foreign currency payments but is fully refundable when you file your ITR.
Flying to New York (JFK/EWR), Chicago (ORD), or Los Angeles (LAX) from India in October or November? Compare Air India nonstop against Qatar, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines — FlyFlick finds the fare MakeMyTrip won't show you.
Check Live Flight Prices
Air India operates the only nonstop flights from India to the USA — routes include Delhi to New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Washington DC (IAD), and Newark (EWR), plus Mumbai to New York (JFK) and Newark (EWR). Flight time is 14–16 hours depending on the route.
India to USA Flight Prices 2026 — Full Month-by-Month Calendar
The table below shows verified return economy fares from Delhi (DEL) to New York (JFK) as the reference route — the most-searched India→USA route. These are real booking-window prices, not theoretical minimums.
| Month | Return Fare (₹) | Return Fare ($) | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | ₹65,000–₹88,000 | $691–$936 | 🟢 Post-holiday drop — good value |
| February | ₹58,000–₹80,000 | $617–$851 | 🟢 Strong value window |
| March | ₹65,000–₹88,000 | $691–$936 | 🟡 US spring break adds demand |
| April | ₹68,000–₹92,000 | $723–$979 | 🔴 US spring break peak |
| May | ₹75,000–₹1,00,000 | $798–$1,064 | 🔴 Pre-summer climb |
| June | ₹88,000–₹1,25,000 | $936–$1,330 | 🔴 Most expensive — US summer |
| July | ₹85,000–₹1,20,000 | $904–$1,277 | 🔴 US summer peak |
| August | ₹70,000–₹95,000 | $745–$1,011 | 🟡 Summer winding down |
| September | ₹55,000–₹75,000 | $585–$798 | 🟢 Excellent value |
| October | ₹50,000–₹72,000 | $532–$766 | ✅ Cheapest month overall |
| November 1–15 | ₹52,000–₹75,000 | $553–$798 | ✅ Second cheapest window |
| November 16–30 | ₹85,000–₹1,10,000 | $904–$1,170 | 🔴 Thanksgiving surge |
| December | ₹90,000–₹1,30,000 | $957–$1,383 | 🔴 Most expensive — Christmas/New Year |
Prices are approximate return economy fares per person, DEL→JFK reference route. Currency conversion at ₹94 = $1 USD. Prices fluctuate daily — use FlyFlick's search to verify live fares.
The table reveals the November split more starkly than any competitor has presented it. November 1–15 is within ₹2,000–₹3,000 of October on most airline–date combinations. November 16–30 costs ₹33,000–₹38,000 more than November 1–15 on the same Air India nonstop. That swing is driven entirely by Thanksgiving — one of the largest domestic US travel events of the year. Airlines price it accordingly.
US Embassy India official visa appointment page.
Why October Is the Cheapest Month to Fly from India to USA
October is the cheapest month to fly from India to the United States, due to it being the off-season during this time. But the "off-season" label obscures the directional logic that actually explains the price.
October is cheap for India USA flights for a reason that is the exact opposite of why October is expensive for USA→India flights. Here's how it works: Diwali falls in October or early November each year (2026 dates: approximately October 20). The Diwali travel surge is almost entirely from non-resident Indians (NRIs) living in the US flying home to India for celebrations — that's the USA India direction. Indian families in India don't fly to the USA during Diwali; they celebrate at home. So Indian demand for USA-bound seats in October is structurally low — families are celebrating domestically, not booking international departures.
Diwali (often late October/early November) causes demand to surge in the USA-to-India direction, as NRIs go home for celebrations. But for the India-to-USA direction, this same window sees lower demand from India-based travellers, making it one of the cheapest periods to fly from India to the US.
This is the directional pricing insight that no competitor editorial explains. Most articles about India–USA flights discuss October being expensive (because of Diwali in the USA→India direction) and leave Indian travellers confused about why their outbound India→USA fares in October are actually the lowest of the year. The two directions are priced by two different demand curves.
September is the other strong value month — post-US-summer, Indian school terms have restarted, and the US labour market has settled back from vacation-heavy scheduling. Late August–September is one of the three cheapest windows for India–USA travel after summer rush subsides — fares run ₹55,000–₹75,000 on nonstop Air India from DEL→JFK.
November: The Two-Week Sweet Spot Before Thanksgiving Doubles the Price
November deserves its own section because it's the most misrepresented month in India→USA flight planning. The average November fare (₹92,000 per Momondo data) disguises a month that is split almost evenly between very cheap and very expensive.
November 1–15 (Pre-Thanksgiving): This is the second most underbooked cheap window on the India USA route. American travellers are not yet in holiday mode — Thanksgiving is still 2–3 weeks away, US domestic air demand is normal, and Indian outbound demand for the US is at a post-Diwali lull. Air India DEL→JFK nonstop returns in this window typically run ₹52,000–₹75,000. Qatar Airways and Etihad via their Gulf hubs price at ₹48,000–₹68,000. The November 1–15 window is competitive with October and has the advantage of cooler, more comfortable weather across most US cities for Indian travellers not accustomed to autumn cold.
November 16–30 (Thanksgiving window): Avoid this window unless the trip is unavoidable. November's last two weeks (before Thanksgiving) sees another surge, and tickets will almost double compared to off-peak months. The US domestic travel surge for Thanksgiving pushes international airlines to raise yields on transatlantic and transpacific routes simultaneously. Air India's nonstop from ₹55,000 in October becomes ₹90,000–₹1,10,000 for a Thanksgiving-week departure. Connecting carrier fares via Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul follow the same pattern.
If your India USA trip is for Thanksgiving specifically — visiting US-based family, a college visit, a holiday gathering — book at minimum 120 days in advance. Anything under 10 weeks for Thanksgiving week travel will find you paying December-level prices.
Air India operates a direct Delhi–Chicago (ORD) route — one of several nonstop India–USA services launched in recent years, reducing the total travel time that connecting via Dubai or Doha adds to the journey.
Nonstop vs Connecting Flights India to USA — Full Airline Comparison
The biggest pricing trade-off on India→USA flights is simple: nonstop saves 4–8 hours of travel time at a ₹5,000–₹15,000 premium. Here's the full 2026 comparison for October and November 1–15 (the cheapest window).
| Airline | Route Type | Stopover City | Total Time | Return Fare Oct/Nov 1–15 (₹) | Return ($) | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air India | ✅ Nonstop | None | 14–16h | ₹55,000–₹72,000 | $585–$766 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| Turkish Airlines | 1-stop | Istanbul (IST) | 18–22h | ₹45,000–₹65,000 | $479–$691 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| Qatar Airways | 1-stop | Doha (DOH) | 18–22h | ₹48,000–₹68,000 | $511–$723 | 30 kg checked ✅ |
| Etihad Airways | 1-stop | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 18–22h | ₹48,000–₹66,000 | $511–$702 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| Emirates | 1-stop | Dubai (DXB) | 18–24h | ₹50,000–₹70,000 | $532–$745 | 30 kg checked ✅ |
| Lufthansa | 1-stop | Frankfurt (FRA) | 20–24h | ₹55,000–₹78,000 | $585–$830 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| British Airways | 1-stop | London (LHR) | 20–24h | ₹58,000–₹82,000 | $617–$872 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| Air France / KLM | 1-stop | Paris/Amsterdam | 20–26h | ₹55,000–₹75,000 | $585–$798 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
| Gulf Air | 1-stop | Bahrain (BAH) | 20–24h | ₹46,000–₹65,000 | $489–$691 | 30 kg checked ✅ |
| SAS / Finnair* | 1-stop | European hub | 20–28h | ₹44,000–₹62,000 | $468–$660 | 23 kg checked ✅ |
*SAS and Finnair routes often available via FlyFlick's Virtual Interlining — may not appear on standard Indian OTA searches.
All prices approximate return fares per person, DEL→JFK reference route, October and November 1–15 window. Prices fluctuate daily.
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is consistently among the cheapest connecting options and is significantly underused by Indian travellers planning USA trips. The Istanbul layover is 2–4 hours typically — Atatürk Airport's international terminal is efficient, and the Turkish Airlines lounge at IST is one of the best at any hub airport for all economy passengers, not just business class.
Emirates via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, and Qatar via Doha offer competitive prices — often ₹40,000–₹60,000 during sales. The catch is 20–28 hours total travel time with layovers. For a trip longer than 7 days, that extra 5–8 hours of connecting time is a manageable trade-off for ₹8,000–₹15,000 in fare savings. For a short 5-day US visit, the Air India nonstop is worth the premium because every hour of travel time is a proportionally larger share of your total trip.
The Virtual Interlining angle: SAS and Finnair European-hub connections to the USA from India are frequently available via FlyFlick at ₹44,000–₹62,000 in October. These are not bookable as single itineraries on MakeMyTrip because the two-leg combination isn't officially codeshared — FlyFlick assembles them. On the DEL→JFK route via a Scandinavian hub in October, Virtual Interlining returns prices 20–30% below standard OTA quotes.
Which Indian City Gets You the Cheapest Flight to the USA?
Delhi (DEL) is the primary gateway for India→USA nonstop flights — Air India's US network is anchored here. But for connecting flights, your nearest major airport can actually be cheaper than routing through Delhi first.
| Departure City | Best Route Type | Cheapest Option | Oct/Nov 1–15 Fare (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (DEL) | Nonstop or 1-stop | Air India nonstop / Turkish via IST | ₹45,000–₹72,000 |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Nonstop or 1-stop | Air India BOM–JFK nonstop / Qatar via DOH | ₹48,000–₹75,000 |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | 1-stop only | Emirates via DXB / Etihad via AUH | ₹48,000–₹72,000 |
| Chennai (MAA) | 1-stop only | Qatar via DOH / Etihad via AUH | ₹46,000–₹70,000 |
| Hyderabad (HYD) | 1-stop only | Qatar via DOH / Emirates via DXB | ₹48,000–₹72,000 |
| Kolkata (CCU) | 1-stop only | Air India via DEL / Qatar via DOH | ₹50,000–₹75,000 |
Delhi and Mumbai have the structural advantage of nonstop access via Air India. For other Indian cities, connecting through a Gulf hub (Qatar from Chennai or Hyderabad, Emirates from Bengaluru) is frequently within ₹3,000–₹5,000 of the Delhi nonstop once you factor in the connecting leg from your home city to Delhi.
Los Angeles (LAX) is the primary US arrival point for flights originating in Mumbai and South India — most connecting carriers route via their Gulf or European hub into LAX, with total journey times of 20–26 hours from Indian metros.
US Visa for Indian Travellers — The Wait Time Nobody Covers
Every editorial guide about India USA flights addresses the ticket cost. Almost none of them address the factor that determines whether the ticket is even bookable for a specific travel date: the US B1/B2 tourist visa appointment wait time at Indian consulates.
The US B1/B2 visa costs $185 (~₹17,390). The application form (DS-160) and the online appointment must be completed at ceac.state.gov and the US consulate appointment scheduling portal. The five US consulates in India are located in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
Here is the critical information that is absent from every Indian travel editorial: as of May 2026, standard B1/B2 interview appointment slots at the Delhi US consulate have wait times of 400–600 days. Mumbai and Chennai run similarly long. Hyderabad is somewhat faster at 300–450 days. Kolkata typically processes fastest at 200–350 days.
This means: if you don't currently hold a valid US visa or have never applied, booking October 2026 India→USA flights is premature. Your appointment timeline simply doesn't support it. The appropriate sequence is: apply for the visa first → receive the appointment date → plan travel around that date → book flights.
Two options exist to accelerate the timeline: Emergency or urgent appointments are available for documented emergencies (medical, funeral) — apply through the normal portal and select the urgent category. Expedited appointments for applicants with compelling non-emergency reasons (significant business meetings, academic deadlines) can sometimes be requested after normal application submission. Processing times for expedited requests vary by consulate.
For Indian nationals who already hold a valid US visa (F-1 student, H-1B work, previous B1/B2) or who have a valid ESTA from a third country: none of this applies. Your entry pathway is different. Check your current visa status before planning travel dates.
If you're planning a first-time USA visit, realistic planning timelines for 2026: apply for the visa appointment today for travel in late 2027 under standard processing. This is not an exaggeration. The US consulate appointment wait is the most important piece of India→USA travel planning information, and it is absent from virtually every travel editorial targeting Indian audiences.
The US B1/B2 tourist visa appointment at Delhi's US consulate currently runs 400–600 days for standard slots — the single most important piece of India→USA travel planning information that almost no editorial guide for Indian travellers covers.
Best Day to Book and How Far in Advance for India–USA Flights
Thursday is the cheapest day to fly from India to the United States — the lowest ticket price recently found for a Thursday departure was $1,039. Avoid Sunday departures, which average around $1,181. For Indian OTA platforms, the interaction between departure day and bank cashback offers adds another dimension: Tuesday and Wednesday searches on MakeMyTrip and Goibibo activate rotating HDFC, Axis, and ICICI bank cashback offers (8–10%, capped at ₹1,000–₹1,500) for international bookings. On a ₹60,000 India USA ticket, a ₹1,500 cashback reduces your net cost to ₹58,500.
For October and November 1–15 travel, book 10–14 weeks in advance. The India USA route has deep inventory managed by airlines but sells more slowly than short-haul routes, meaning later booking sometimes encounters better fares as airlines clear seats. The reliable pattern: book 10–14 weeks out for off-peak months, and at minimum 16–20 weeks out for Thanksgiving week or any December departure.
All bookings via FlyFlick redirect to platforms accepting UPI, NetBanking, EMI on Indian credit cards, and standard debit cards. No foreign payment method required. Some international aggregators price India→USA in USD and add a 2–3% foreign transaction fee — on a ₹65,000 booking, that's ₹1,300–₹1,950 silently added at checkout. Avoidable.
Before confirming any long-haul booking, get VisitorsCoverage sorted — medical coverage up to $1,000,000 for the USA, where a single hospital visit without insurance can cost ₹3,00,000–₹15,00,000 at American private healthcare rates. The USA has no public healthcare for visitors. Insurance is not optional on this route. For budget secondary cover, EKTA starts from $0.99/day at ektatraveling.com.
For flight delay protection on this route, Compensair covers up to €600 for delays and cancellations — the DEL→JFK route via Air India has experienced delays due to airspace restrictions and weather at both ends. File from your phone, no upfront cost.
October and November fares from India to USA move every 72 hours — the cheapest window closes faster than most travellers expect. Search before Thursday's prices update.
Check Live Flight Prices
Booking in USD through FlyFlick? No GST applies on international flights booked via foreign platforms — you're not paying Indian service tax here. To avoid your bank's forex markup, use a zero-forex card like Niyo or Scapia. Note: a 5% TCS applies on foreign currency payments but is fully refundable when you file your ITR.
Step-by-Step Booking Strategy for October and November India–USA Travel
Step 1 — Confirm your US visa status before anything else. If you hold a valid US visa (B1/B2, F-1, H-1B) or are applying now, proceed. If you've never held a US visa, apply for your B1/B2 appointment immediately — appointment wait times are 400–600 days at most Indian consulates. Do not book flights before confirming a realistic appointment date.
Step 2 — Target October or November 1–15. These are the two cheapest windows. If Thanksgiving-week travel is unavoidable, book 16–20 weeks out and accept higher fares.
Step 3 — Compare Air India nonstop against Turkish Airlines, Qatar, and Etihad. Air India nonstop is worth ₹5,000–₹10,000 over connecting carriers on trips of 7 days or less — every hour saved in transit is meaningful. For trips of 10+ days, Turkish Airlines via IST or Qatar via DOH at ₹8,000–₹15,000 below Air India nonstop is a rational trade-off.
Step 4 — Run FlyFlick's Virtual Interlining search for European-hub connections. SAS, Finnair, and Norwegian connections through European hubs to the USA appear at ₹44,000–₹62,000 in October — these are not available on MakeMyTrip because they're assembled from two separately-ticketed legs. FlyFlick surfaces them in a single search. The savings on these routes average 20–25% versus standard Indian OTA prices for connecting flights to the USA.
Step 5 — Book on Thursday or Tuesday, 10–14 weeks ahead. Apply your HDFC, Axis, or ICICI bank cashback offer before paying. On a ₹65,000 booking, ₹1,500 back is meaningful. Verify the booking is through a platform that accepts UPI — no foreign transaction fee.
Step 6 — Sort eSIM for the US before departure. Saily covers the USA from $1.99/day with 5G. Yesim covers unlimited US data if you're staying for a month or more. For the widest eSIM destination coverage, Airalo offers 200+ country plans from $1.50/day — browse, compare and activate from one app before you board. A US eSIM activated before landing means you're connected from the moment you exit immigration at JFK, EWR, or LAX — no roaming charges, no airport SIM counter queue.
For context on what the full cost of a USA trip from India looks like beyond flights — including accommodation, food, local transport, and the $185 visa fee — as well as how this compares to other international options for Indian budget travellers, our Cheapest International Destinations from India guide covers the broader international planning picture.
One search from Delhi, Mumbai, or any Indian city to New York, LA, or Chicago — your cheapest India–USA fare is below.
Check Live Flight Prices
Booking in USD through FlyFlick? No GST applies on international flights booked via foreign platforms — you're not paying Indian service tax here. To avoid your bank's forex markup, use a zero-forex card like Niyo or Scapia. Note: a 5% TCS applies on foreign currency payments but is fully refundable when you file your ITR.
Air India's Delhi–San Francisco (SFO) nonstop is one of the longest routes in the airline's network at approximately 16 hours westbound — it offers the fastest total journey time for Indian travellers headed to the US West Coast, avoiding the 4–6 hour Gulf hub layover that competing carriers add.
Bottom Line
October is the cheapest month to fly from India to the USA in 2026. November 1–15 is nearly as competitive — and significantly overlooked by Indian travellers who see the word "November" and assume Thanksgiving prices apply to the whole month. They don't. The Thanksgiving price surge is almost entirely in the final two weeks of November, and the weeks before it are among the best-value India USA windows of the year.
The US visa appointment situation is more urgent than any fare discussion. If you haven't started that process, that's the conversation to have before this one. Once you have a realistic appointment date, the October or early November window with Air India nonstop or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul delivers the best fare-to-journey-time ratio available on this route from India.
Search smart. Book before Thursday.
Your India–USA Travel Checklist
🛡️ VisitorsCoverage — Medical coverage up to $1,000,000; American healthcare without cover is financially catastrophic. 🛡️ EKTA — Budget secondary travel insurance from $0.99/day at ektatraveling.com.
✈️ FlyFlick Flight Search — Virtual Interlining finds SAS/Finnair/Turkish fares MakeMyTrip doesn't build; UPI and NetBanking accepted. ✈️ Compensair — Claim up to €600 for delays; file from your phone.
📱 Saily — USA 5G eSIM from $1.99/day; activate before landing at JFK or LAX. 📱 Yesim — Unlimited US data for trips of 30+ days. 📱 Airalo — 200+ country plans from $1.50/day; widest coverage for multi-country trips.
🛂 US B1/B2 Visa — Apply for consulate appointment now; current wait 400–600 days at Delhi. Apply at ceac.state.gov. 🛂 Book October or November 1–15 — These are the cheapest windows; November 16–30 is Thanksgiving pricing. 🛂 Fly Thursday — Cheapest departure day for India–USA according to ARC data; avoid Sunday.
Apply for the visa first. Then search the fare.
