Flying out somewhere? Before you attempt to book your international flight tickets online, check out these pointers to avoid making certain common mistakes that may complicate your journey.
Let’s go over the things that you usually do when you decide to travel by air. You set a date, pack your things, plan your route and book the flights. But do you stop to consider whether there is a better time to book the flight, whether you overlooked a detail that may delay your journey or whether there is a way to get more out of the money that you are spending on flying? Isn’t it better to learn from the mistakes that other flyers commonly make than learning from your own unpleasant experience? Here are some things to make a note of:
Booking at the Last Minute
Airlines usually offer the best prices for booking a seat on their flights 45-60 days before the travel date. Delaying your bookings can impact the prices by a huge extent. However, there is a small catch here. For international destinations that require a visa to board the flight, booking tickets at the very last minute (approx 12-24 hours before the flight) could actually help you get the lowest prices. However, it may depend entirely on the availability of seats until the last moment. Hence, it may be prudent to plan your travel in advance and book tickets timely.
Entering the Wrong Passenger Details
Spelling mistakes, wrong date of birth, forgetting to renew an identity card on time, etc., will put you through unnecessary security examinations and delay your journey. While filling in the details of passenger identity at the booking portal, make sure to put in information that matches the identity proof of the passenger.
Not Being Clear about Baggage Allowance Rules
The baggage allowances for domestic and international flights are different. Exceeding this limit will cause you to pay extra. The allowance is clearly mentioned on the airline websites. If you find yourself exceeding the allowance, check to see if there is a way to pay for extra baggage while booking the flight rather than at the airport. Pre-booking offers many advantages and makes checking in easier.
Choosing the Wrong Connecting Flight
While booking a connecting flight, go for flights from partner airlines so that you are compensated in case a delay in the first flight causes you to miss the second. Also, watch out for the time you are getting to change flights and whether you need to check-in your baggage again. Unless you account for these things, you may not make it to the next flight on time. Also, check for transit visa rules if the stopover you are making at is an international location. Changing airlines may sometimes require to you change terminals for which you may need a day-visa or a transit visa.
Not Earning Air Miles
Flight tickets can be an expensive component of your travel budget. Hence, it is important to be prudent when booking tickets. One of the biggest mistakes, new and non-frequent travellers make is not making use of the air miles program. International tickets can be expensive and earning air miles while you book flight tickets can help you bring down the cost of your travel by a huge extent. Joining these programs is usually free of cost, and you can redeem the points for your return journey or other privileges such as booking hotels, cabin up-gradation, etc.
Technology has given us faster ways of travel and convenient ways of booking such transport. One of the reasons why people prefer travelling by air over travelling by road, is the smooth and systematic flow of things that air journeys offer. Speed and comfort are what you pay for when you choose to book your flight tickets online. If you take care of these minute details and pay attention to the fine print, then nothing can stop you from getting the best of everything you signed up for.
