“Do people still use travel agents?” This is the question I am often asked when meeting new people and we are discussing our professions. It’s hard not to be offended or feel as if they have just compared 15 years of travel experience to owning a local video store – obsolete, but I understand where they are coming from. You can book just about any travel requirement online and often at a cheaper price.
Airfare is probably the easiest travel requirement to book online. Airline websites are simple to use and sophisticated online booking engines are able to give you the cheapest price in seconds. Why then it is that we see so many complaints on hello peter from travellers who are unhappy with parts of the online sales process? I personally have received several calls over the years from travellers who need help with a booking they made online for one reason or another.
I believe the current problem with intuitive technology is that it is impersonal and bias. Current artificial intelligence does not incorporate personal needs such as the reason for your travel, your age or personal preferences. Online airfare agents and airlines can manipulate the options reflected to increase sales to a particular flight pairing or destination that suits them.
You enter your destination and dates and it gives you options – which is fine for a short local flight to Durbs but if you are planning a trip with the family to Disney World, you may want your options to be personalised to your needs.
The other issue with booking airfare online I find is that most holiday makers prefer to spend as little money as possible on the flight. More often than not the viewpoint is that the flight is merely a way to get from A to B. The problem with focusing solely on the price is that you may overlook important aspects of air travel that can seriously affect your whole travel experience.
When things go smoothly you may give yourself a pat on the back for saving some moolla by booking the lowest airfare but, unfortunately, it is when the proverbial poo hits the fan that you wish you had spent more money upfront.
Do you know what to look out for before you book and pay for your air ticket in order to alleviate any possible risks? Are you aware of all the options available to you? Here are a few tips to booking airfare online.
1-Check your connection time
If your routing requires multiple flights that connect at one or more airports, the time scheduled in between the flights is called the connecting time. Most airfare booking systems will automatically pair flights together to your final destination incorporating a minimum connecting time which is calculated based on aircraft schedules and the least amount of time airlines and airports feel you need to get to your next flight. Time is money and you may be allocated as little as 35 minutes for this cross over.
Although airlines assist you to rebook your connection should you not be able to make the original time due to a delay this may not be convenient for you. Missing a connection may require you to overnight at your connecting airport causing you to miss out on your first nights accommodation on your holiday. If I was going to the Maldives for example, I would be pretty bleak.
Also even if you are happy with the notion of doing the 100 metre dash to make the next leg of your journey within the airlines 35 minutes, remember your luggage needs to do the same dash and the chances are, you may make your flight but your bags may not.
Rather play it safe and look at realistic connecting times if possible even if the price is slightly more.
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2-Check your routing
The routing is basically the itinerary you are travelling in order to get to your final destination.
The cheapest routes often have the most connections or the longest journey time. Always check if there is a faster (more convenient) route and if so, what is the price difference?
The saving in time and energy may be worth the added cost to fly direct or with less connections. Remember the more connections, the greater the risk of missed connections or your bags going missing.
On the other hand, if the direct flight is a particularly long flight, perhaps you may want to stop halfway to break the journey and stretch your legs; or better yet – include a stopover and spend a night or two in a new destination.
Transiting via another country may require you to obtain a transit visa.
For an example, if you fly via London to Paris on a South African passport, you will need a transit visa for the United Kingdom even if you have a Schengen visa for France. However if you fly via London to the New York, you do not need a transit visa for the United Kingdom if you have a valid visa for the United States.
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3-Check the rules of the air ticket
The rule of thumb is generally the cheaper the air ticket, the more restrictive the penalties are.
Many special deals have strict rules about changing dates or times and can be non refundable. You never know what life may throw at you, especially when booking in advance. Find out what the price difference is to take a ticket with less restrictions and make an educated decision.
Insurance is available to cover cancellation fees but only in case of an emergency and getting your dream job may not be considered an emergency.
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Should you want an expert to handle your travel arrangements, contact The Escape Artist today.
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