Japan Airlines is operating an additional daily flight between Tokyo Narita and Delhi, India, starting today, Jan. 17, 2025. To go along with the addition of this flight, the airline is offering a promotion to those living in Japan to take one of these flights, which might seem more like an endurance test from hell.
The promo involves flights JL749 and JL740, with the following schedules:
- JL749: Tokyo Narita (NRT) 20:15 departure, Delhi (DEL) 03:00 arrival (+1)
- JL740: Delhi (DEL) 04:35 departure, Tokyo Narita (NRT) 15:10 arrival
Given these flights, the promo by Japan Airlines is a day trip from Tokyo to Delhi and the country’s Taj Mahal, spanning the weekend, and does not include any overnight hotel stay at any point in the trip (0 nights, 3 days). The carrier is advertising it as a quick weekend trip *without the need to take time off from work*.
The airline has the following plan:
- (Friday, 20:15): Depart Tokyo Narita on flight JL749.
- (Saturday, 03:00): Arrival at Delhi (DEL).
- Get picked up by a driver (has to be arranged by yourself), start a 3.5 hour drive to the Taj Mahal area.
- (Saturday, 08:00): Arrival at Taj Mahal. 7 hours to explore the area, including other sites nearby.
- (Saturday, 16:00): Get driven back to Delhi, a 4-5 hour drive.
- Kill more time here with a dinner in the immediate Delhi area.
- (Saturday, 23:30): Arrive at Delhi Airport (DEL).
- Kill more time here until the 04:35 flight.
- (Sunday, 04:35): Depart Delhi (DEL) on flight JL740.
- (Sunday, 15:10): Arrival at Tokyo Narita (NRT).
In total, the time exploring India (not including driving times and airport wait times) is about 12 hours, and the total travel time (including drives to/from Taj Mahal) is about 28 hours.
The cost, however, is 62,000 JPY (about $390 USD) round-trip (could be more depending on the date), which is quite cheap. Given the weak Japanese yen and the overall lack of Japanese traveling overseas, this deal could be lucrative to some in today’s economic environment.
That said, this is still a lot of traveling for a minimal amount of time actually exploring. I realize that international day trips (weekend trips) aren’t uncommon, particularly for business travelers. But I think this is quite the itinerary to target a budget/leisure traveler, with Japan Airlines advertising the part where you don’t have to take any days off from work. I’d be pretty tired if I did this trip while working immediately before and after.
I’m not against the idea of a weekend trip to an international country; I’d just look at a country closer to Japan. A weekend trip to South Korea or China? Yes. India? Maybe a little too far.
Featured image by the author.
