While "airfare price wars" and travel agent expertise, and online flight booking platforms can be valuable tools, there are additional strategies to significantly reduce flight costs.
Here's an updated, or you could call it a ‘current guide’ for travel advisors and budget-conscious travellers:
a) Beyond the Basics That you already know:
>Midnight Magic (Unreliable): Airline fare updates are no longer tied to specific times. However, some airlines might still offer flash sales or last-minute deals in the wee hours. Advise your clients to consider setting price alerts for their desired routes, or do this for them while planning their travel.
>Consider Alternative Airports: Checking where there are nearby airports for their destinations can still be a money saver. Recommend using flight search engines with multi-city search options to compare prices across airports in the region.
>Early Bird or Last-Minute Deals: As always been the case: Early booking for advance purchase discounts remains a sensible strategy. However, last-minute deals are less common in today's dynamic pricing environment. Recommend a mix of strategies: monitor prices with alerts and be flexible with travel dates when possible.
>Fly Midweek: While midweek travel can be cheaper, it's not a guaranteed savings tactic. Advise your clients to research specific routes and compare prices across all days of the week. (*Know in and out of season flight price differences in these cases too).
b) Creative Ticketing:
>One-Way & Split Tickets (Research this Carefully): One-way tickets or "split ticketing" can be cheaper, but come with complexities like potential baggage fees and missed connections. Advise your clients to weigh up the risks and rewards before booking this way. Explore options using multi-city search tools and consult with airlines about potential baggage fees.
>Open-Jaw Tickets: Open-jaw tickets, where arrival and departure cities differ, can be useful for multi-destination trips. Explore these options with online booking tools, flight supplier partners, and airlines to find the most cost-effective solution.
c) Leveraging Todays Technology:
>Modern Flight Search Engines: Several flight search engines like Google Flights, Kayak, and Hopper offer advanced search features and price tracking. Advise clients to utilize these tools for real-time comparisons and price alerts.
>Code-Share Flights: Code-share flights use the same flight number for multiple airlines. Advise your clients to research the operating carrier, as they often offer the most competitive price. Booking tools often display this information, but double-checking with the airline is recommended.
d) Staying Informed All The Time:
>Airline Newsletters & Social Media: As a travel advisor and also great to encourage your regular repeat business clients; Sign up for top airline company’s newsletters and follow them on social media for promotions and flash sales.
>Travel Industry News & Alerts: Travel advisors should stay updated with industry publications and newsletters to learn about special offers and seasonal discounts.
Remember these points:
While these strategies can help reduce flight costs, flexibility and proactive research are key. Staying abreast of changes in flight requirements, pricing structures and routes is crucial.
Travel advisors can be valuable assets by leveraging their knowledge and access to industry resources: namely accommodations, flights tours, adventure travel and activities, to find the best deals for their clients.
