In the last post (covered here) we covered some basic principles of getting the best deal when you are traveling overseas, and to use the internet as a good starting point in sourcing out a great quote. In this post, I will cover some nitty gritty aspects of travel, which you may or may not have ever come across.

Some things to watch out for…Using my experience as an example, there are two main ways of flying to LA from Melbourne via the Pacific Ocean. Melbourne - LA, direct flight, OR Melbourne - Auckland - LA. When I received my quote from Flight Centre, the way it was set out looked like: Melbourne - LA - Central America. WRONG! It was Melbourne - Auckland - LA - Central America.

Is it really a direct flight?

This is where it gets a bit silly. Next to Melbourne - LA, it said “1 stop”, and next to LA - Central America, it said “Non-Stop”. I had previously overlooked this in my trip to Chennai a few years back. The ticket said: Melbourne - Dubai - Chennai, but it was actually: Melbourne - Dubai (1 stop via Singapore) - Chennai.

So read the itinerary carefully. I think it can be very misleading, and in my Dubai example - I only found out on the day of travel.

Baggage check in.
Always ensure baggage is checked in directly. In the case of connecting domestic flights generally you will need to clear customs at the first port of entry. For example: Port Vila - Brisbane (clear customs) - Melbourne, which means you will need to pick up your luggage. However, in international connections, your baggage must be checked in to your final destination. Having said this, always carry a pair of clothes in your hand luggage, as my brother recently found out when they LOST his luggage on route to Mexico.

The art of bargaining.
Expanding on my earlier post about “keeping the bargaining in your terms”. Never let the agent make the calls. This strategy works especially well when you are absolutely serious in buying the ticket then and there. This means, you will need to exhibit confidence about your research and not think twice. This way, prices can be readily slashed. This principle can be used for buying anything really. I used to buy some jewelery at the end of last year, and slashed a $1000 off the retail price! I told the lady, I will walk out if she doesn’t give it to me for the price I quoted. Simple!

P.S.: The above strategy comes with its risks so ensure you have a back up plan or are prepared to negotiate further.

Be fair and honest.
I firmly believe in this concept. Sure you can be firm, harsh and straight forward in your negotiating process. But always go back to the first person you dealt with and aim to buy the tickets or product from them. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of establishing a relationship with a retailer. For example, I know some people who buy airline tickets from the same person, and routinely obtain wholesale prices, and never pay the credit card surcharge.

The credit card surcharge!
This is part of your bargaining chip. Never pay credit card surcharge. The surcharge is what the credit card companies charge the retailer, and the retailer passes the costs to you (the consumer). I think this is unfair. The retailer should brunt this cost as we are giving them business. I frankly refuse to pay the surcharge, and when I bought my tickets recently go it surcharge free. I saved $60 bucks straight up using this method.

Remember, never pay the credit card surcharge. Always calculate this when buying tickets. When shopping online for tickets, ensures you check the prices on the last page (i.e.: upon confirmation of payment) to ensure no extra charges are being added (such as Tiger airways luxury tax highlighted earlier in my blog). Find out more about surcharges here.

Travel insurance.
This is how I played the system. I got as quote from HBA, and then decided to upgrade my credit card to one which includes Travel Insurance. That’s right, most credit cards come with built in awards, travel insurance, medical insurance, cancellation insurance, and lost baggage insurance. This can also include the family members who are travelling with the card holder.

The best thing is: 1) get a credit card which has awards and all types of insurance, 2) get additional card for your partner. Both you and your partner can go to different destinations, and still be covered. Ensure you check with the insurance provider for your credit card (which is usually NOT the bank itself, but someone like Zurich in the case of Commonwealth Bank), and ask them what the claim process is. For me, this worked out to be cheaper than getting travel insurance through HBA (about 300 bucks cheaper in fact).

In fact, did you also know if you buy a product using your credit card - sometimes your warranty is automatically extended without added cost! Do research people!

Frequent flyer program.
Always join up to a frequent flyer program. Why, because: 1) usually they are free, 2) accumulate points and then transfer amongst family members (Krisflyer allows this), 3) transfer your credit card awards to frequent flyer miles, 4) Did I mention it was free!.

Want to save more?
There is one other method of getting the best deal. If you are flying to a destination which involves a stop over, then you can buy two separate tickets. In my example: Melbourne - LA, one ticket. LA - Central America, second ticket. I could have saved about 200 bucks using this, but beware - this means you will have to pick up luggage, and re-checkin and if your plane is delayed you may find the 2nd airline will not refund all of your money. If you have huge amounts of transit time, then it might work out in your favour.

Summary
I hope this helps you make a better choice when booking holidays, or buying airline tickets. These are simple strategies which I use when booking tickets on the web, or through an agent. There are plenty of options out there, and they are not that hard to snitch out. If you have any further questions, I would be happy to help! Just drop me a line.