Taking Flight On India Air Passes

If India is in your 1990 travel plans, you might consider some air passes being offered by Indian Airlines, a domestic carrier. Its 21-day “Discover India” pass, for example, allows unlimited flights throughout the country for $400.

The airline also has regional seven-day “India Wonderfare” passes, one for each of four regions--north, south, east and west. Each pass, priced at $200, allows unlimited travel within its region.

A condition of both the national and regional passes is that you can’t return to any city you’ve already flown to unless it’s for a connecting flight. You have a year from the date of purchase in which to start using each pass, which are all on a consecutive-day basis.

The passes can be bought in the United States or in India, but must be paid for in U.S. dollars.

Indian Railways offers an Indrail pass for seven to 90 days, which allows unlimited rail travel.

The Indrail pass is available with three classes of service: Air-conditioned with sleeper, air-conditioned with seat, and non-air-conditioned, second-class. On this basis, the pass costs $190, $95 and $45 for seven days; $230, $115 and $55 for 15 days; $280, $140 and $65 for 21 days; $350, $175 and $75 for 30 days; $520, $260 and $120 for 60 days, and $690, $345 and $150 for 90 days.

Children under 5 travel free, while those 5 to 12 years are entitled to a child’s pass, which costs about half the adult fare.

You can buy these rail passes in the United States or in India. If bought in India, you still have to pay in U.S. currency.

For more information on travel to India, contact travel agents or the Government of India Tourist Office, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204, Los Angeles 90010, (213) 380-8855.