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Once you know when and where you are travelling to, and have a rough of travel dates start your shopping around. Often you'll secure the best price with much time to go before your departure date, and also by booking online.
Try your shopping around in: |
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- Newspaper travel sections
- Guidebooks and their websites
- Your destination's tourist board website
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| The Terminal Information section of this guides advises which airlines fly from Glasgow. |
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Before Booking A Flight... |
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| Ticket prices can change all the time, and some airlines might be able to price match. So start your shopping around as soon as you think about travelling. |
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If you get offered a great deal straight away seriously consider booking it. If you would prefer to carry on shopping around see if you can put a deposit down on it so you don't lose it.
To save money have a good think about the dates you need to travel, by going a day or so earlier or later can save you lots. Also smaller airports can be cheaper and out-of-hours flights too. |
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| If you want to ring travel agents and airlines for quotes call early or later in the day so they are less busy and can do a proper search for you. And don't be afraid to ask about deals that aren't yet advertised. |
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| Nested Tickets |
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Nested tickets can save travellers money on flights too.
Nested tickets only work when a regular midweek fare is over twice the price of an excursion fare (includes a Saturday stopover) to the same destination.
For example, you have been quoted £150 for a flight from Heathrow to Belfast return going out on a Monday and coming back on the Friday of the same week but you can find a return that requires you to stay for a weekend and is priced £75 or less, it is worth buying a nested ticket.
Buy a £75 excursion return ticket leaving on Monday and coming back late in the next week. Then buy another £75 excursion return ticket with the outgoing flight from Belfast on the Friday of your return to Heathrow. The return journey of this second ticket should be dated early in the next week.
By doing this you basically get two return flights for the price of one! If you nest the tickets with consideration of future travel dates in mind you can make use of all the tickets and save money. It is a little confusing but if you do the research then you are bound to get a cheaper deal. |
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| Split Tickets |
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Or consider purchasing split tickets. Split tickets mean you break up your flight buy changing at an interim airport and changing flights as opposed to flying direct.
Ask your travel agent to look into both options for you. |
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| Budget Airlines |
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With low cost budget airlines you need to book your flight as early as you can. If booking via these channels and your flight date is soon the prices can be very steep so you might want to check with a traditional carrier also.
And remember, even though a flight advertised at £1 still needs airport taxes adding so it might end up costing, say £20. And don't forget that these flights are one way, not return. |
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| Book online to save more money. |
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Delays & Increase Legroom ... |
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| Try and get some extra leg room, and try and get a flight that might just escape a delay... |
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- Tour operators with their own airlines like Thomson often let passengers pre-book seats for a fee.
Supplements are also bookable to give you better in-flight meals and a bit more legroom.
www.thomson.co.uk
- Ask what type of plane you'll be flying on and then go online to see if there are seat plans on the airline website. If so see if you can pre-book the seats you want.
- Flights that leave either first thing or last thing in the day are less likely to be delayed - although no guarantee. are the first or last to leave an airport on that day. Also avoid code-sharing tickets. This is when two airlines are taking you to your destination.
- Ask about the plane's seat pitch in the class you are travelling. This means the distance between your seat and the one in front of it - your legroom. Experts say 31 inches (79cm) should be the minimum for a 6ft (1.83m) person on a long flight.
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the best way to secure an upgrade to get bumped onto another flight when the passenger calculations go wrong and they have more passengers than seats on a flight.
If you volunteer to be bumped you can ask on the condition that you get an upgrade. If available they will often agree.
If the delay is more than several hours you're likely to get travel vouchers, cash for use in the airport departure lounge.
If the wait is less than a few hours you'll be offered a phone card, food voucher, temporary pass to the executive lounge or, a room at an airport hotel. |
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Travel Agents Bookings ... |
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Travel agents get a commission from airlines when they sell you a seat, so with this in mind push for a great deal as the travel agent will want their commission.
When getting a quote get firm details on airlines and hotels, not vague promises that don't follow through. Also check any special deals offered aren't subject to expensive or limiting small print. |
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| Booking Direct - get a better deal |
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- If a union member, or working for a large company see if you can book flights through them with the privileges they benefit from.
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- Brochure prices can be bettered by booking the flight and accommodation directly.
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- Carrying small items of luggage for official Couriers can save money on a flight, but be warned you must be very flexible and as a rule only backpackers use this money saving option.
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- City breaks in Europe are ideal to book direct and save money. Use the Internet for a huge amount of sites offering European accommodation.
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For online bookings visit like Expedia who provide lists of airlines and where they are going and when - it saves much searching the Internet yourself.
Do though, when booking via an online site make sure your flight is covered by Atol (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing). And check for the site's padlock symbol to confirm the site is secure.
Confirmation of bookings online are via an email. This email will also confirm your Atol cover.
Priceline.co.uk lets browsers bid on flights that airlines auction at around 20-30% less. But don't bid a very low rate as you'll instantly be refused. However, it's worth remembering that these flights often have severe restrictions so check the small print !
www.ukfrenzy.co.uk monitors the Internet for any special offers and coupon deals that can change or new deals be added daily.
Or check out some of the travel newsgroups to see if any browers have spotted a good deal. Go to groups.google.com and start by searching for "rec.travel" or "rec.travel.air". Members of such groups also offer great advice on resorts and locations. |
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Travel Agents and Fare Searchers ... |
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| try contacting these travel agents for a good flight deal. |
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| Or try these airlines direct for a flight quotation online. |
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