Tag: air travel

10 Surprising Ways to Save Money on Airline Travel

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Air travel is not as complicated as many people think. You might not realize that not everyone on board has paid the same price for the same ticket, some have paid way cheaper rates than most. But why would that be the case? It’s easy – they have learned the tricks to save money when booking travel. While experience may be an added advantage, it’s not a necessity. You can still keep more money in your pocket with the right information.

1. Use the 24 hours allowance

Many airlines allow passengers a 24-hour window to make changes to their bookings. This is one rule you can use to your advantage. After making your reservation, keep tabs on the price of the ticket, and if you notice that the fare has dropped, you can call the airline to cancel your booking. Immediately rebook with the new airfare. This, in most cases, should be penalty-free.

2. The last minute deals

If your travel is flexible enough, you should consider the “last-minute trip”. Most airlines will cut their airfares when the bookings are light, and the planes have a lot of free seats. In many instances, they will send alerts on Tuesday for Friday trips with their return trips on Monday or Tuesday. You will end up saving a lot on your fares, but you must be keen and ready to go at a moments notice. You also need to ensure that you are signed up for such alerts.

3. Keep tabs on social media

Airlines are known to post some of the best deals on their social media platforms. The catch is that such deals are time-sensitive and only the quick and ready people will get the chance. Such sites include Facebook and Twitter but can also include others so check the airline website for details and links. So, ensure you follow some of the major airlines on their social platforms and have their notifications on. You never know when you will get the deal.

4. Mix and match

Flying two different airlines for your to-and-fro trips can save you some money. Many airlines offer cheaper rates for one-way flights compared to the round flights. As such, you could buy a one-way ticket to your destination, and use another airline for the return trip. Also, you can choose to depart from a different airport from the one you flew to.

5. Be loyal to one carrier

If you are a frequent flyer, then you want to use the benefits that come with being loyal to one airline of your choice. Get a membership to their frequent flyer programs, and you may stand a chance of getting upgraded. Besides, you should sign up for the credit cards tied to the airline and enjoy the added point boost. If the use of such cards can earn you points and other rewards, be sure to accumulate them and redeem for miles among other gifts.

6. Stay informed

Information is vital for many things and getting better deals for your next air travel is one of them. Many sites post the airfare deals of the week, and most of them have a feature for free alerts, mainly to your email address. So, when planning your trip, remember to sign up for such sites to enjoy the information they have to share. And the best part is that most of them will only send you updates when the deals are worth it.

7. Get compensated if you can

Did you know that you are eligible for compensation when your airline delays or cancels your flight? Well, now you know. However, for your claim to be justified, the cause of the delay of cancellation should be within the control of the airline. Any cause beyond their power will not be compensated. Just make sure that you have your documents with you all the time, even after delays and cancellations. A service flight compensation app will help you in making a compensation claim in such situations.

8. Begin your search in the morning

They say the early bird catches the worm. Early morning deals are, in many instances, the best for many major airlines. You might be lucky to find a massive drop in prices in the morning, although it does not apply across the board. Some will release their discounted rates later in the day.

9. Book well in advance

Now, this is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Research shows that booking early is good, but it should not be too early. The best time is about six weeks before your desired departure date. Earlier than that can lock you out of deals and so would booking late. Another thing about timing is the ideal day to reserve your flight. The best days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

10. Travel in the off-peak seasons

Demand and supply affect the prices of airfare. This means that the months of the year when demand is high such as during school breaks and holidays, the rate will be high and the chance of reducing will be lowest. However, when the demand is low, such as in January, February, and September, you can get better flight ticket deals and save a lot.

See?  It’s actually pretty easy to find deals on airline travel. No rocket science. Just a few strategies that may help you pay two to three times less than the person sitting next to you on the plane.

How To Claim Airport Delay Compensation

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Whether you’re heading off on holiday or you’re travelling for business, the last thing you want to be faced with is an airport delay. Not only are airport delays a huge inconvenience that leave you stranded and stressed at an airport, but they also cause a number of problems elsewhere; for example, you may find yourself needing to pay for an entirely new flight or forking out for somewhere to stay overnight. Luckily, if you are unfortunate enough to suffer an airport delay, you could be entitled to claim flight delay compensation.

Can You Claim Flight Delay Compensation?

Flight delay compensation can be claimed by those who have their flight delayed or cancelled. Of course, you won’t be able to claim compensation if the flight is delayed for a short amount of time, but longer waits can result in you being eligible to claim compensation. The amount of compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific delay; the length of the delay, extra costs encountered and inconvenience are all taken into account. In short, the longer the delay the larger the compensation.

There are different situations when you will be eligible for compensation, but the airline must be at fault. Flight compensation can be claimed if the flight was delayed or cancelled due to technical and mechanical faults, as well as poor weather conditions and strike action in some circumstances. The easiest way to know for sure is to speak to a legal team or flight delay specialist; they’ll take a look at the specifics and will know if you have a case worth pursuing.

No Win No Fee Airport Delay Compensation

A lot of people are put off claiming airport delay compensation as they assume there’s a financial risk involved, but that isn’t the case. With No Win No Fee claims being an option, airport delay compensation can be claimed without the risk. In a No Win No Fee Flight Delay claim, the professionals handling the case do not take a fee upfront. Instead, they only take a percentage of the compensation if the case is successful. So, rather than paying for their service out of your own savings, the cost is recovered through the awarded compensation.

Travel Tips: Should You Fly or Drive to your Vacation Spot?

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There are countless considerations and decisions before taking your family on your next vacation. A fun, successful vacation may seem like a spontaneous event, but it requires weeks or months of planning, saving and preparing. You must decide on the best destination everyone will enjoy, how long to stay, where to stay, what to do and countless other factors within the larger overall picture.

As you and your family begin preparation for the next trip, you will almost certainly begin to consider the same age-old question that has challenged travellers for decades: Should we fly or drive to our destination?

Good arguments can be made for both sides, and the decision may be different for different families, depending on their specific needs and circumstances. To help you answer this question and get the most out of your next summer vacation, here are a few of the most important benefits for each mode of transportation.

Reasons to Drive

This option almost always has a lower initial cost than flying, and frugal families will be heavily influenced by this factor. Driving also presents a unique opportunity for a family road trip. When done correctly, these road trips can become just as exciting and memorable as the actual vacation destination.

However, this is where you will need to seriously think about your individual situation. Will you truly enjoy the prospect of being in one car with your family for several hours? Are you still going to be in the mood for an all-day sightseeing tour after many hours in a vehicle? If your children are older, road trips can be a blast, but parents with young children can quickly regret this choice once carsickness, arguments and repeated Disney songs begin to take their toll.

You will also need to consider the length of the trip when thinking of driving. Will you be able to reach your destination in one day of driving, or will it be necessary to stop for one or more nights at a hotel. Make sure you figure in lodging, gas and meals into your road trip budget, as these can quickly add up. You should also make sure your vehicle is in good order in terms of mechanical functioning, road legality and car insurance.

Reasons to Fly

The biggest benefits of flying over driving are immediately obvious and quite advantageous. You can reach your vacation destination in a fraction of the time, and with less headache. However, you will pay for this time and convenience, as airline tickets for an entire family will take a significant toll on your wallet.

If you are only concerned with reaching your destination as quickly as possible, and you are not intrigued by the idea of a family road trip, flying will provide the best option if you are able to fit the cost into your budget. But the costs do not stop at the ticket price, as you must also consider the price of baggage fees, airport parking and a rental car upon arrival.

These additional fees can actually be the deciding factor for frugally-minded travellers. If you are uncertain about the overall cost difference, there are helpful travel calculators online that can help you estimate the difference of flying vs. driving.

Another benefit is the fact that air travel is proven to be significantly safer than driving long distances. The National Safety Council estimates that the odds of accident in a motor vehicle at 1 in 98, as opposed to a 1 in 7,178 chance in air travel.

Your Decision

In the end, the choice will depend upon your own specific needs. For those who are concerned mostly with the cost, driving will clearly be the best choice. Even with the cost of gas, lodging and meals, driving will allow you to reach your destination at a fraction of the cost of flying. It will also present you and your family the unique opportunity to bond on a memorable road trip.

If the destination is more important than the journey, flying will be the best option– assuming it fits into your budget. Plane tickets, baggage fees, rental cars and other costs will add up, but there is simply no comparison for convenience and time-saving.