Cheapest flights Vancouver to Delhi

Current cash fares

Live · updated 0m ago

Round-trip economy estimates.

Economy (round-trip)

$995 – $1500

Typical: ~$995

Business (round-trip)

$3,000 – $6,000

Typical: ~$3,800

Cheapest airlines on this route

Air India (nonstop)Air Canada (via YYZ)Cathay Pacific (via HKG)Korean Air (via ICN)Japan Airlines (via NRT)

Search flights →

Use your points instead

Ranked by economy miles required (one-way). Transfer partners shown for each program.

Best value

Turkish Miles&Smiles

low availability

Economy (one-way)

34,000

miles · ~2.6¢/mile

Business (one-way)

52,500

miles · ~$28 fees

Route: YVR → IST → DEL (with connection in US or Europe)

Transfer from:

Capital One Canada (1:1)

✓ Lowest miles of any program — 34k one-way even from Vancouver

⚠ No direct YVR→IST flight. Requires connection (usually via a US gateway or European hub). Long travel day.

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)

moderate availability

Economy (one-way)

35,000

miles · ~2.6¢/mile

Business (one-way)

95,000

miles · ~$80 fees

Route: YVR → CDG/AMS → DEL

Transfer from:

Amex MR Canada (1:1)

✓ Economy — Amex MR Canada holders. Check monthly promos.

⚠ Long routing from West Coast (YVR → Europe → India). Consider Asian carriers instead.

Alaska Mileage Plan

low availability

Economy (one-way)

35,000

miles · ~2.6¢/mile

Business (one-way)

60,000

miles · ~$55 fees

Route: YVR → NRT/HKG → DEL (JAL or Cathay as oneworld partners)

Transfer from:

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 + 5k bonus per 60k)

✓ Business class via JAL or Cathay — superb product at 60k miles

⚠ Very limited transfer partners. Best if you earn Alaska miles directly (AS credit card or flying Alaska/oneworld). YVR is an Alaska hub.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

moderate availability

Economy (one-way)

42,000

miles · ~2.1¢/mile

Business (one-way)

75,000

miles · ~$60 fees

Route: YVR → HKG → DEL (Cathay Pacific)

Transfer from:

Amex MR Canada (1:1 to Asia Miles)RBC Avion (via Avios, then oneworld)

✓ West Coast advantage — Pacific routing is shorter from YVR than going via Europe/Middle East. Cathay Business is world-class.

⚠ Availability to India can be tight. Hong Kong stopover allowed and worth doing.

Air Canada Aeroplan

good availability

Economy (one-way)

55,000

miles · ~1.6¢/mile

Business (one-way)

90,000

miles · ~$55 fees

Route: YVR → DEL (Air India nonstop or Air Canada via YYZ)

Transfer from:

Amex MR Canada (1:1)TD Aeroplan Visa (earn direct)CIBC Aventura (1:1 to Aeroplan)American Express Cobalt (1:1)

✓ Most flexible for Canadians. Book Air India nonstop for no fuel surcharges.

⚠ Air Canada-operated flights dynamic. YVR→YYZ→DEL connection adds 6+ hrs vs nonstop.

Routing tricks to save more

Flying via a cheaper hub first can save $80–150 per person. Here are the best options from Vancouver.

Fly to Seattle, catch cheaper US-origin fare

Save ~$250

1.YVR → SEA ($20-40 BoltBus or drive)

2.SEA → DEL (via connection, ~$600-750 USD)

Total estimate $650/person

Seattle is 2.5hrs from Vancouver. Same cross-border trick as Toronto→Buffalo. US fares are often $200-350 cheaper than Canadian equivalents.

Route via Tokyo or Hong Kong (Asian carriers)

Save ~$200

1.YVR → NRT (Air Canada/JAL ~CAD$500-700)

2.NRT → DEL (JAL/Air India ~$300-400 USD)

Total estimate $700/person

Pacific routing from YVR is actually shorter than going west to Europe. JAL and Cathay offer excellent service and sometimes cheaper fares than Air India nonstop.

Best time to fly

When you fly matters as much as how you book. Fares on India routes spike 2–3× around major Indian holidays.

Avoid — peak pricing

Diwali window

Oct 15 – Nov 10

Fares spike 2-3x normal fares

Book 6+ months ahead if you must travel this period

Christmas / New Year

Dec 20 – Jan 5

Fares spike 2x normal fares

Most expensive window of the year

Summer school break start

May 20 – Jun 10

Fares spike 1.5-2x normal fares

Families traveling with kids spike demand

Holi week

Mar 10 – Mar 20 (varies)

Fares spike 1.3-1.5x

Smaller spike than Diwali but noticeable

Best windows — lowest fares

January–February

Jan 10 – Feb 28

Lowest fares of the year. Post-New Year demand drops sharply.

Pre-Diwali sweet spot

Sep 1 – Oct 10

Good availability, pre-peak pricing.

Post-Diwali dip

Nov 15 – Dec 15

Short window between Diwali and Christmas rush.

Monsoon season

Jun 15 – Aug 31

Cheapest after Jan-Feb. Heat and rain deter tourists but NRIs visiting family still travel.

Frequently asked

Which credit card points are best for flying to India?▼

For Canadians, Amex MR Canada transfers to Aeroplan (1:1) for nonstop flights to India with no fuel surcharges on Air India. Capital One Canada transfers to Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1) for just 34,000 miles one-way — the cheapest option.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Vancouver to Delhi?▼

January–February is consistently the cheapest period of the year. The September 1–October 10 window is the best pre-Diwali sweet spot. Avoid October 15–November 10 (Diwali), December 20–January 5 (Christmas/New Year), and May 20–June 10 (summer school break) — fares spike 2–3× during these windows.

How far in advance should I book?▼

For economy during off-peak season, 6–8 weeks ahead is usually sufficient. For Diwali or Christmas travel, book 5–6 months in advance. Award seats for peak season can disappear 10–11 months out — set a fare alert and act early.

Does the Pakistan airspace closure affect my flight?▼

Yes, if you're flying Air India. Their North America–India routes are currently 3–6 hours longer and may include a refueling stop in Vienna or Copenhagen. Other airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Turkish, Etihad) are largely unaffected as they route via Gulf hubs anyway.

🔔

Get alerts for Vancouver → Delhi

Tell us your target price. We'll notify you the moment fares drop — before Diwali seats vanish.