When planning to fly to a few places, it used to be that it was simply a matter of finding the single airfare that was flexible enough to get you to all the places that you wanted. There used to only be a few to choose from. Today, with the increase in budget airlines and travel websites, there are many more resources that we can use to find the best airfares.
Individual Airline Websites for Multi Stop Itineraries
A good place to start is by checking individual airline websites. Most airfares can’t be found any cheaper than what they are on the airline websites. Most airlines have their own websites, many of which include the ability to book online. Check if a part of or your entire itinerary can be accommodated by a major airline.
Budget carriers give you the option of purchasing only what you will use. For example, checked baggage, seating requests and preferential boarding are all options that can be relinquished in favour of a cheap airfare.
Larger carriers also have codeshare flights with other airlines that can sometimes be booked online with the primary carrier. For example, it may be possible to book a flight to Zurich on the Malaysian airlines website even though Malaysian airlines themselves, don’t service this destination.
Use a Travel Website for Multi Stop Itineraries
It’s not only airline websites that have proven popular for online bookings. Travel websites have become popular because of their mix and match capabilities.
As a travel consultant, I regularly check travel websites such as www.expedia.com and www.webjet.com as a quick way of checking that what I am offering my clients, is the same if not cheaper than what they can find online. The one downside of these websites is that they don’t always include the cheaper budget airlines.
Other websites that are particularly useful for finding cheap airfares are:-
www.skyscanner.net. You can’t book on this website but it will tell you the cheapest costs for any given route and a link to the website that is offering the airfare,
www.whichbudget.com. Similarly, you can’t book on this website but it tells you which airlines, both budget and full service airlines, which service your particular route. This website is particularly useful for intra-Europe travel.
Using a Travel Agent for Multi Stop Itineraries
A good travel agent can do all of the above for you plus they have distinct advantages. The main advantage is not having to do the legwork yourself, especially when you are travelling to a few different places.
Using a travel agent to research multi stop itineraries has the following advantages:-
- They won’t give you options that involve overnighting anywhere or that involve transiting at an airport for twelve hours – unless you want those,
- They can hold seats without having to confirm and pay straight away,
- They can sometimes get permission from airlines for you to fly a route that may not always be authorised on a particular airfare,
- It is easier and quicker to reach your travel agent than it is to reach the airline, especially if an airline’s call centre is based in a country where English is not (or doesn’t sound like it is) the first language,
- If something goes wrong whilst you are away, they can work towards a solution with the airline on your behalf.
Tools for Finding the Best Airfare for Multi Stop Itineraries
As airfares are getting cheaper, the places to find them are growing more numerous. Use travel websites to help point you in the right direction. Once you know which airlines service the routes you require, check their websites for the cheapest airfares. And if you have more important things to do than compare apples with apples, employ a travel agent to do it.
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