Bengaluru to Paris Flight costs Rs 25,838, less than Prayagraj at Rs 27,817 for Diwali? Viral fare comparison has internet divided

For many Indians living away from home, Diwali travel brings a familiar dilemma: spend a fortune on a flight home or skip family celebrations. A viral airfare comparison has made that choice look even more surprising, showing a one-way ticket from Bengaluru to Paris costing less than a flight to Prayagraj. The screenshots, shared by Amit Rajput on social media, compare fares for November 5. The post jokes: “So either you go home or go to Paris for Diwali.” The comparison has struck a chord as domestic flight prices rise ahead of the festive rush.

Flying to Paris from Bengaluru costs less in India

The airfare screenshots show a one-way IndiGo journey from Bengaluru to Prayagraj, with a stop in Hyderabad, priced at Rs 27,817 under the Saver fare. In comparison, an Etihad Airways flight from Bengaluru to Paris, connecting through Abu Dhabi, is shown at Rs 25,838 under Economy Basic.

The booking app’s final displayed amounts after discounts and cashback are Rs 27,006 for Prayagraj and Rs 24,037 for Paris. That makes the Paris itinerary nearly Rs 3,000 cheaper than the domestic journey. However, the two fares come with different conditions. The Etihad Economy Basic ticket is marked non-refundable and allows hand baggage only. Its total travel time is about 19 hours, including a long stopover in Abu Dhabi. The IndiGo journey takes around four hours and 50 minutes, including its Hyderabad connection. The screenshot is a snapshot of fares available on a particular app at a particular time. Prices can change with availability, booking conditions and demand, so the comparison should not be treated as a fixed fare difference.

Take a look below:

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Why Are Diwali Flight Tickets So Expensive?

The post taps into a wider trend of rising domestic airfares during India’s festive season. As people travel back to their hometowns for Diwali and Chhath, demand on routes connecting major cities with smaller towns can rise sharply. A September report by NDTV found that one-way fares on some regional routes had risen two to three times during the festive period. It cited Bengaluru-Jharsuguda fares climbing from around Rs 4,200 to Rs 16,200.

Citing fare data, the report said that average one-way prices for travel between September 1 and November 10 had risen 68% year-on-year on Delhi-Hyderabad and 51% on Mumbai-Kolkata. The report also pointed to fewer flight options and higher aviation fuel costs as factors adding pressure to fares.

Reminder Of The Cost Of Going Home

The Paris-Prayagraj comparison is not a like-for-like travel deal: the international journey is much longer and comes with stricter baggage and refund conditions. But it highlights how festival demand can make some domestic routes unexpectedly expensive. For travellers, the practical lesson is to compare dates, routes and fare conditions before booking. For many, though, the decision is less about the price tag than the destination. Paris may be cheaper on the screen but home is still home.