Azerbaijan Air Experience- Mumbai Baku

I had my first flight with Azerbaijan air recently, from Mumbai to Baku. This post shares a brief review.

Basics about Azerbaijan Airways

• Azerbaijan Air is a full service airline. Ticket price includes food and checked bag. But they don't give blankets, there is no entertainment screen, no business/first class option.
• Azerbaijan Airways is based in Baku and operates several flights to Europe and Asia. Besides flying to Baku, you may find Azerbaijan air a viable option for Georgia and few other destinations around central Asia and Europe
• Azerbaijan air does offer a few seats for free selection during ticket purchase. So you might be able to get your window seat without paying extra. However seat change during web check can cost you. 45$ for max leg room seat
• In India Azerbaijan Air flies only to Mumbai
• If not Azerbaijan Air's direct flight, flying to Baku would need one stop flight via Air Arabia or we've to use Indigo that flies Delhi Baku or fly any other airline flyin to Baku via their hubs 

Azerbaijan Air Ticket Booking Experience

I couldn't book directly on Azerbaijan Air official website due to payment issues. Had to book via Goibibo, costing me a few hundred rupees more. I booked Mumbai-Baku about 9 months in advance for about INR 34500. Later I saw one stop flight to Baku on Air Arabia sale for 22k, but it was too late. You can wait for Air Arabia sale for cheapest flight option to Baku. Mumbai Baku ticket price increased to 45k few months prior to travel.

Azerbaijan Air Bumbai -Baku flight - they tried to offload me

I arrived at airport ontime, got in line for check in but when my turn came, I was pulled aside. While I was wondering what went wrong, Azerbaijan air offical said seats are not assigned yet- I said I've done web checkin and seat has already been assigned. He then silently told me that their flight is overbooked and they are looking for 2 passengers to take a later flight.

I said you've only1 flight per day, later would mean next day. Then he said we'll send you via Dubai. That would mean I would lose whole day, waiting 3-4 hours for next flight to Dubai, then connection time and another flight to Baku. He didn't confirm if it is emirates. It could be flyDubai, Indigo, Spicejet or Air India as well, not so good airlines to fly.

As I refused, the official tried to intimidate me- asking how much funds I have, checking my visa and passport again n again for any fault, asking for my purpose of visit etc.

There was no mention of any compensation- airlines often give cash reward or other compensation while offloading booked passengers. Airlines often sell 2-3% extra seats hoping a few booked passengers won't show up or cancel/reschedule last minute and airline can make profit. But when everyone who booked shows up, airline will be forced to offload a few- if they offer decent compensation, some people may volunteer to cance/replan their trip- like if I was offered Emirates first class ticket or some 500 USD compensation I would have happily opted for alternate option. But here also airlines try to play a game and offload passengers without giving any compensation.

I held my gound and asked them to offload someone else. Eventually they obliged. 10-15 minutes wasted in this process. 

Azerbaijan Air inflight experience

• The full service airline gives a basic amenity kit that has eye cover, ear plugs and a 35mm earphone. No blankets, no entertainment, no magazine onboard.
• Azerbaijan Air flies A320 Neo to Mumbai- all economy. No premium economy no business class
• Food was decent. No menu was issued. I had pre booked veg meal and I was served the same.
• Flight was on time, didn't face any issues overall

Azerbaijan air had one fatal crash recently (December 2024) over Kazakstan- read more

Baku immigration was smooth. But at 7.45 AM, forex counters in Baku airport were not operational. I saw only 2 counters- one was on break, another had someone inside but he said they are "closed". Had to withdraw some local cash via ATM for immediate use. Later went to bank to exchange USD into AZN.

Took a bus to city center from airport for about 2 AZN (100 INR). If I had a smart card for bus it would have been cheaper but I paid cash.

Flight to USA is now cheaper

Flight tickets to USA were averaging 1 lakh rupee few months ago and one had to be lucky to spot a ticket around 80k INR return

Now the prices are down to 60-70k INR return.

Due to recent trade wars and other political reasons Canadian and Europeans are reducing travel to Europe so flights are going empty. There are new rules that require visitors staying more than 30 days to register themselves, risk of random inspection and arrest and deportation etc. So tourists are thinking twice.

Need to see how this fares going forward over next few months. Keep an eye. If you want to travel to USA and if you get a return ticket around 50k INR from India, it is a very good deal

BLR, COK-Kenya 24k return! Masai Mara fans can plan

Return ticket to Kenya is available for 24k on Indigo from Bengaluru, Kochi etc for various dates in next few months

This one stop flight from Indigo connects to Nairobi from Mumbai. But Mumbai-Nairobi return is expensive at 27-28k... Fly less but pay more!

July to October is good season to visit Kenya, for the famed Masai Mara migration season. Of course land package you've to book separately and will cost a few lakh per person easily.

Tickets to Nairobi for March 2026 cost 40k+ Indigo doesn't give any discount if you're booking 1 year in advance. Better wait and book closer to travel date.

 

Flyarystan suspends India flights

Fly Arystan has suspended flights to India. Fly Arystan used to operate Delhi Almaty flights

They had already suspended Mumbai Almaty flights. Now Fly Arystan website is not showing any Indian airport on their list. The low cost option to fly to central Asia is gone. Now we've to shell out 25-30k minimum to Indigo, FlyDubai or Air Astana to fly to Kazaksthan

I had flown Fly Arystan Delhi to Almaty in March 2024 for just 7400 INR, one of the cheapest international trips in recent times. The experience was fine.

Sad to see Fly Arystan stopping India flights. Hope they come back soon. 

Related: Almaty trip planning tips *

Mumbai-Mangaluru flight vs train vs bus!

I had to travel between Udupi & Mumbai (as my Baku flight was cheaper from Mumbai)

Train: I tried bookin train tickets 59 or 58 days in advance (booking opens only 2 months in advance now) but all the seats were already taken. I got waitlist 95 in one train (Mathysaganda express) and Pool Quota Waitlist 15 in another train with chair car. With 1 month to go, the probablity of confirmation is very slim.

Train was my preferred option but due to holiday season, bookings opening only 2 month advance, I couldn't get lucky. Tatkal is too late to wait and not reliable.

Next option was Bus- VRL, KSRTC and few other operators ply buses between Mumbai and Mangaluru- but a seat in AC bus costs 3000 INR + and takes 18-20 hours of journey. Bus operators have about 10-12 different pick up points all around Mumbai and half of day time will go in travel.

Flight- one stop flights via Hyd or BLR is available for 5k, direct flights 6k to 7k. Cost of traveling home from airport extra.  Flight fares shoot up to 12-13k if not booked in advance.

I finally booked an early morning Indigo flight- that goes to BLR first and then I've to change plane to land in Mangaluru. Hopefully all goes well. 

This is the hotel I stayed less than 1 km from Mumbai airport T2

What is your preferred mode of transportation for distances of about 1000 kms accessible by overnight bus or train? Do you prefer to save money or always prefer shortest mode of transport? Do share.

ANA Mumbai Tokyo 38k return sale

 ANA's 38k sale is back. Mumbai Tokyo 38k return available for about 38k. You can try Delhi as well