When is a direct flight indirect?

When is a direct flight indirect?

That's vexing Ajmer Chahal. He bought a ticket from Heathrow to the golden city of Amritsar in
north-west India, choosing Air India because "they were the only airline who flew direct".

So what actually happened?

The Boeing 777 flew from Heathrow to Delhi. At the Indian capital, he had to change planes, to a
narrow-bodied Airbus, for the final one-hour hop.

Ajmer is furious.

"My tickets just say Heathrow to Amritsar. I feel ripped off."

According to the schedules, Air India flight 116 departs from London Heathrow daily at 1.30pm, arriving at Amritsar just before sunrise at 5.35am next day. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, Ajmer unwittingly discovered that "direct" does not mean "non-stop".

Air New Zealand flies from Heathrow "direct" to Auckland every day but has to refuel in Hong Kong or Los Angeles. And BA and Virgin Atlantic can profitably serve smaller Caribbean islands direct from Gatwick only as add-on hops from bigger destinations such as Antigua.

Some airlines - including Air India - stretch the term "direct" to cover any journey to which they assign a single flight number. Even though Ajmer had to land, clear immigration, pick up baggage and check in again, AI116 is officially "direct".

The lesson: online, check to see if the giveaway code "A/C change" appears. Or, if you still prefer to buy travel from a human being - ask if there are stops along the way.