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Resources for Cheap Flights
Once
you've got your cheap flight tickets, you might think about spending some
of those savings on something luxurious, such as cruises, including river
cruises.
There
has never been a better time, or easier methods to find low cost carriers
for major routes globally. Also, it is now easier than ever to find the
lowest fares for full service airlines as well with the help of new online
tools.
The
entire industry is developing at a rapid pace, but the information here
should help you on your way to lifelong savings with budget airlines and
smart shopping for airline tickets.
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Budget Airlines vs
Traditional Carriers
The rise of the no-frills budget airline, fuelled by European Union
deregulation and the Internet, is the biggest thing to happen to travel in
this country over the last decade., And the knock-on effect means that
there are bargains to be found with the traditional airlines as well.
Established carriers were first bemused then
scared and finally forced into a reaction by the budget airlines. By
shopping around and being prepared to be flexible, today’s traveller can
find prices to match and even beat some of the ‘budget’ prices available
elsewhere. British Airways slashed prices on many routes, in particular to
short-haul European destinations that weekend tourists have targeted in
the past decade.
The advantages of flying with the likes of British Airways rather than a
budget airline aren’t limited to pre-booking your seat or free snacks. If
your flight is cancelled or delayed, the established airlines will have
plans and policies in place to see you switched to another flight, or
placed in a hotel if necessary. They will get you home eventually. Not so
with the ‘budgets.’. You’re on your own – and you’ll have to pay.
One huge advantage the traditional airlines have over the newer ‘budget’
carriers is the airports they fly to. Oslo’s main airport at Gardermoen is
29 miles north of the city; Torp airport (served by the budget end of the
market) is 76 miles of mostly single-lane road to the south. That can make
a crucial difference in terms of cost and - if your visit is a short one -
of time.
The internet has played its part as well. Booking online is cheaper for
the airline. The pressure of the market means they pass those savings on
to the consumer. It also allows us, the customer, to track down and to
compare prices before making a purchase.
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Finding the
Cheap Tickets
Every flight operated by every airline will have passengers who have paid
different prices for the same service, thanks to a combination of special
offers, discounts and ways to pay.
Making last minute bookings can save you money, however, that won’t always
produce the saving you are looking for, and other companies recommend
booking well in advance to get the best price. The budget airlines tend to
advertise (and sell) the cheapest seats first; latecomers are left to pay
more. That is less of a concern with established airlines.
Flexibility is the key. Flights
leaving or arriving at unsocial, off-peak hours will usually cost less.
Some days of the week are more popular (and therefore expensive) than
others. Most of these savings will be pointed out if you buy the tickets
yourself using the internet.
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Buying Online
Each
airline has its own website and online booking. If you know who you want
to travel with (perhaps they are the only airline flying to your
destination) go ahead and make the booking direct with them.
On routes where there is a choice, someone else has done the hard work of
gathering all the different prices and options for you. A number of
websites allow you to select your points of departure and arrival on the
dates you wish to travel and deliver the results for you, offering you a
range of airlines to choose from.
Be prepared for lots of choice on the popular routes – and be ready as
well to see a huge difference in prices!
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How to Buy Online
As
with any online purchase, take a moment to ensure your transaction is safe.
Always make sure the site's server is secure: look for the locked padlock
symbol on your browser, usually at the bottom of the page. This means that
hackers shouldn’t be accessing your bank account as you sun yourself on
the beach.
Membership of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) and ATOL flight
protection are further reassurances. If booking with foreign airlines, try
to establish what protection they offer.
The process of buying tickets is exactly the same as if you were buying
over the telephone. Select the exact flight you want, the number and type
of tickets, confirm passenger and payment details… and you are done.
It is worth printing a copy of the confirmation page. Also, you should
receive email confirmation of the purchase, including all details and
notice of your ATOL protection. What you may not receive is a ticket.
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Ticketless Flying
Depending on your carrier, and how soon it is before you fly, you may
receive a booking number or voucher rather than the promise of a
traditional ticket. Your details will be held electronically by the
airline and that booking number, together with the card you used to buy
the flight and proof of identity (i.e. passport) will be sufficient.
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Where from?
If
cost is a paramount concern, be ready to compare prices not just at your
local airport but a little farther afield. However, the cost of travelling
to and from a distant airport must be taken into account. This is true of
your destination as well.
For the significant proportion of the UK who will fly to and from one of
the airports ringing London, a useful facility when comparing flight
prices online is the facility to search all London airports at the same
time, rather than going through them one by one.
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Where to?
If you can spell your destination, the iInternet will help you reach it.
Constructing multi-stop journeys becomes possible when you have mastered
the many websites out there, and you can book hotels, meals and
entertainment before you set out as well.
A welcome development has been the rise in low-cost
flights within
the UK as well. Newquay in Cornwall is a short,
cheap hop from
Stansted – or a long, frustrating drive by road. At weekends football fans
are now flying to games that were once out of reach because they were at
the other end of the country.
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