FLY SMART

A wrong booking decision could set you back by a tremendous margin, especially if you are planning a family holiday. Check out these tips to make sure that your memorable vacation remains light on the pocket.

When checking flight ticket rates and deals online, use the incognito mode to avoid dynamic pricing.

If lack of funds is delaying your booking, use the HFF (hold for free) option to reserve seats without any immediate payment and pay at a later, pre-selected date.

Opt for low-cost airports closer to the destination for cheaper flights. For instance, flights to Thailand that cost Rs 17,000-19,000 from Delhi or Mumbai will cost Rs 9,000 from Kolkata.

Set price alerts using apps and web options such as Google Flights or Kayak.

Compare the prices you get from travel aggregators with those offered by the airlines.

Fly on weekdays – it is always cheaper than weekends. For example, a Wednesday flight from Mumbai to Dubai will cost Rs 15,000-17,000 per person. But on a Saturday, the same carrier will charge you Rs 5,0007,000 more. You get the cheapest tickets on Wednesday and Thursday nights, say frequent flyers.

Check for special offers with credit/debit card issuer.

Split your group. The reason: Airlines keep a few tickets in the lower-cost range. If you are booking for five people, check the availability and rates for the entire group. Then split the group into two and three, and book the tickets at a lower cost.

Payments made through select digital wallets can earn you discount/cashback.

Go for cancellation protection, offered by some aggregators such as Yatra. It will waive off the airline’s and the aggregator’s cancellation fees for a nominal charge in case you have to cancel your trip.

With the competition hotting up, OTAs offer special deals. Here is a good one from Yatra. “If you book with Yatra and then find a cheaper fair online for an identical itinerary before your travel date, we will refund the excess amount in your eCash account with lifetime validity,” explains Shringi.

Before opting for travel insurance, look at the complimentary covers that come with credit cards or forex deals.

Collect your traveller miles to bag discounts later.

Watch out for flight-and-hotel packages, which could be cheaper than just one leg of booking.