Booking from the UK for someone in India
You do not need to be in India to buy the ticket. We book flights starting in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar and every other Indian city, paid for in pounds in the UK, and send the e-ticket to you and to your parents. Our team can then speak to them directly, in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu or English, to go through the journey.
Booking from here also means ATOL protection on flights booked with us, and a UK office to call if something changes, rather than an agent you have never met.
The main routes into the UK
The same airlines that fly from the UK to India fly back again.
| From | Usual options | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | Air India non-stop to Gatwick, or one stop via the Gulf or Mumbai | The only non-stop from Gujarat |
| Delhi and Mumbai | Non-stops to Heathrow with Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic | The widest choice of times |
| Amritsar | Air India non-stop to Birmingham, or one stop via Delhi or Doha | Birmingham suits the Midlands |
| Other cities | One stop via the Gulf, or a domestic flight to Delhi or Mumbai | Keep it all on one ticket |
Bringing parents to the UK?
Tell us where your family is and when you want to go. We check every airline and we’ll beat any quote*.
UK visitor visa: start here
Indian passport holders need a visa to visit the UK. For most family visits this is the Standard Visitor visa, which usually allows a stay of up to six months. Your parents apply online, then attend a visa application centre to give fingerprints, a photo and their documents.
According to the UK government, the earliest you can apply is three months before travelling, and a decision usually comes within three weeks. Frequent visitors can apply for a long-term visitor visa lasting two, five or ten years, although each visit is still limited to six months.
Check the official GOV.UK guidance for the documents your parents will need, such as details of where they will stay and who is paying for the trip. We do not handle visa applications, but we can time the booking around them.
Our tip: Do not buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted. Ask us for a fare you can hold or change.
One way or return?
For a visit, a return ticket is usually the right choice. It is often better value than two one-ways, and it shows the airline and the immigration officer that your parents plan to go home. If the return date may change, choose a fare that allows changes.
One-way tickets suit people moving to the UK, or families who are not sure how long a stay will be. We will compare both before you decide.
Help at the airport for older parents
We can book wheelchair assistance at the Indian airport, at any connecting airport and on arrival in the UK, so your parents are met at the aircraft door and helped through immigration and baggage reclaim. We also request seats near the front and special meals if needed.
For parents flying alone, a non-stop or a single connection in daylight is much easier than two changes. See our page on assisted travel for elderly passengers for everything we arrange.
Arriving in the UK
At UK immigration, your parents show their passport with the visa. It helps to carry a printed copy of the return ticket, the address where they are staying, and a contact phone number for you. Meet them in the arrivals hall, as only passengers can go airside.
Remember that UK food rules are strict. There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy and some other foods into Great Britain, so check the official guidance before your parents pack sweets and snacks.
Choosing the UK airport
If the family lives in the Midlands, Birmingham can be far more convenient than Heathrow, especially for the Air India non-stop from Amritsar. For the North, Manchester has one-stop flights via the Gulf from most Indian cities. For Gujarat to London, the non-stop lands at Gatwick rather than Heathrow.
Tell us where your parents are flying from and where you live, and we will suggest the airport that keeps the whole journey shortest for them and for you.
Insurance for visiting parents
Visitors to the UK can be charged for NHS hospital treatment, so visitor travel insurance is important, especially for older parents. Check that the policy covers the whole stay and any existing medical conditions.
Our travel insurance guide explains what to look for, and the same principles apply to visitors coming to the UK.
Planning the dates
Many parents come for a long summer with grandchildren, for a new baby, or for a wedding or graduation. Summer and Christmas are the busiest times on the routes from India, because they match the UK school holidays and the Indian festival season, so book early for those months.
If your parents are flexible, travelling in the quieter months of spring or autumn can save a good deal and means emptier flights. Leave a few spare days between the visa decision and the flight, in case the passport takes longer to come back.
Think about the return date too. A visitor visa allows up to six months per visit, so we check that the return flight falls well inside the visa, with some margin for delays.
Questions people ask
Which UK airport should my parents fly into?
The one closest to you. Birmingham suits the Midlands, Manchester the North, and Gatwick or Heathrow London and the South East, depending on the route.
Can I book flights from India for my parents while I am in the UK?
Yes. We book flights from any Indian city, paid for in the UK, and send the tickets to you and your parents.
Do my parents need a visa to visit the UK?
Yes, if they travel on Indian passports. Most family visits use the Standard Visitor visa, applied for online before travel.
How early can they apply for a UK visitor visa?
The earliest is three months before travelling, and a decision usually comes within three weeks, according to GOV.UK.
How long can parents stay in the UK on a visitor visa?
Usually up to six months per visit, including on long-term visitor visas.
Is there a non-stop flight from Ahmedabad to London?
Yes. Air India flies non-stop from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on several days a week.
Can you arrange wheelchair help for my parents?
Yes, at the Indian airport, any connecting airport and on arrival in the UK.
Should I buy the ticket before the visa is granted?
It is safer to wait, or to choose a fare you can change. Ask us for options.
