| Tips for looking for flights 16:57 - Sep 6 with 2746 views | Coastalblue |
I know we've got a few regular travellers on here, any tips on looking for flights?
Heading to Africa next year (October) and intending to start looking for flights soon, am aware there's a risk of prices being influenced by previous searches. Any tips from the hive mind? |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 17:03 - Sep 6 with 2036 views | stonojnr |
for African destinations, I thought its always recommended to fly via Amsterdam |  | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 17:05 - Sep 6 with 2032 views | Zx1988 |
If you're worried about searches influencing prices, then conduct your searches in Incognito Mode. | |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 17:12 - Sep 6 with 1979 views | J2BLUE |
I'd start with an airport. |  | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 17:15 - Sep 6 with 1972 views | Wacko |
Use a flight comparison or AI who will search for you. When you’re ready, book direct from the airline | |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 18:05 - Sep 6 with 1819 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
Always found “Skyscanner” to be very good |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 18:09 - Sep 6 with 1816 views | Perublue |
| Tips for looking for flights on 18:05 - Sep 6 by Cheltenham_Blue |
Always found “Skyscanner” to be very good |
In the last decade that’s been my site of choice…… long long ago 2001ish it was Priceline … not sure it even exists now but the bargains on hotels too were incredible. [Post edited 6 Sep 18:10]
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| Tips for looking for flights on 18:14 - Sep 6 with 1781 views | acj |
| Tips for looking for flights on 18:05 - Sep 6 by Cheltenham_Blue |
Always found “Skyscanner” to be very good |
Skyscanner and Kayak are the two sites I always check when looking for flights.
As someone says above, make sure to search in incognito mode on chrome. Also, if you have a vpn, it’s worth changing your location to see if that changes the prices you’re seeing - sometimes they offer cheaper prices for people searching from other countries (a quirk of dynamic pricing models). |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 18:28 - Sep 6 with 1735 views | Benters |
| Tips for looking for flights on 17:12 - Sep 6 by J2BLUE |
I'd start with an airport. |
Gatwick is very good for parking. |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 18:44 - Sep 6 with 1708 views | earlsgreenblue |
Ok so it’ll cost a few quid more, but, do not book directly with the airline, I’ll expand.
I booked with Emirates out of Stansted via Dubai in to Colombo Sri Lanka, originally with a 3 hour layover, months after the airline cancelled the 2nd leg & offered an alternative resulting in a 14hr layover, there was a more friendly flight but they wanted another £300 for the privilege. The company I use fought my case, they refunded everything & I re booked with another airline but the same booking agent.
I will not book direct with the airlines again for exactly this reason. | | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 19:13 - Sep 6 with 1653 views | noggin |
| Tips for looking for flights on 18:44 - Sep 6 by earlsgreenblue |
Ok so it’ll cost a few quid more, but, do not book directly with the airline, I’ll expand.
I booked with Emirates out of Stansted via Dubai in to Colombo Sri Lanka, originally with a 3 hour layover, months after the airline cancelled the 2nd leg & offered an alternative resulting in a 14hr layover, there was a more friendly flight but they wanted another £300 for the privilege. The company I use fought my case, they refunded everything & I re booked with another airline but the same booking agent.
I will not book direct with the airlines again for exactly this reason. |
Hmm, I don't doubt your experience but mine has been completely different. Maybe it would help if you could name said agent. |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 19:18 - Sep 6 with 1642 views | Bluespeed225 |
I’m waiting on the Black Friday sale, November 27th for BA, to book for flight for next June. I’m sure all airlines will join in, but could be worth a look. | | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 19:41 - Sep 6 with 1588 views | Keno |
In generally find looking up is the best way |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 22:03 - Sep 6 with 1385 views | ElderGrizzly |
It’s a myth that searches influence prices.
My best tip, is book direct with the airline. Not a third party site like Expedia. Then if it goes wrong, they look after you.
Assuming Iran calms down, use Qatar or Emirates for Africa destinations.
Use Google Flights to do the initial search which will then send give you the option to go to the official airline site. |  | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:26 - Sep 6 with 1348 views | earlsgreenblue |
| Tips for looking for flights on 19:13 - Sep 6 by noggin |
Hmm, I don't doubt your experience but mine has been completely different. Maybe it would help if you could name said agent. |
Flight centre, pm me for the agents name & number, I’ve got Kolkata flights with them Feb 27 & excellent service, of course, do your research & pricing so you know what is the price to pay versus airline direct, but with the safety net. | | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:29 - Sep 6 with 1346 views | earlsgreenblue |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:03 - Sep 6 by ElderGrizzly |
It’s a myth that searches influence prices.
My best tip, is book direct with the airline. Not a third party site like Expedia. Then if it goes wrong, they look after you.
Assuming Iran calms down, use Qatar or Emirates for Africa destinations.
Use Google Flights to do the initial search which will then send give you the option to go to the official airline site. |
Exactly the opposite, do not book directly, the airlines don’t give a stuff, use an agent, but be selective, pm me for a name & number, I got caught, but only once. | | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:58 - Sep 6 with 1270 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:29 - Sep 6 by earlsgreenblue |
Exactly the opposite, do not book directly, the airlines don’t give a stuff, use an agent, but be selective, pm me for a name & number, I got caught, but only once. |
I fly anywhere between 80 and 100 times a year for work.
Our advice is always book direct, as the airlines will not help if booked with an agent.
Of course some agents will be better than others and might help, but if you are cancelled on at 10pm in the US, the agent is unlikely to help you as not considered an out of hours emergency by most. The airline will and is legally obliged to.
Just my experience though [Post edited 6 Sep 22:59]
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| Tips for looking for flights on 23:53 - Sep 6 with 1195 views | WeWereZombies |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:58 - Sep 6 by ElderGrizzly |
I fly anywhere between 80 and 100 times a year for work.
Our advice is always book direct, as the airlines will not help if booked with an agent.
Of course some agents will be better than others and might help, but if you are cancelled on at 10pm in the US, the agent is unlikely to help you as not considered an out of hours emergency by most. The airline will and is legally obliged to.
Just my experience though [Post edited 6 Sep 22:59]
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Perhaps the frequency of your flying influences the treatment you get from an airline though (and it might mean the chance of an upgrade from economy to first class is better too.)
On your previous post, maybe Qatar and Emirates are better flight experiences but if you have to change planes in Qatar or Dubai that detracts from the comparison with a direct flight from Heathrow to, say, Jo'burg with British Airways or South African Airways.
On agents, I have had good experiences with Trip.com, both on pricing and on freebies like a VIP lounge pass - but their manic marketing techniques drive me up the wall. |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 00:39 - Sep 7 with 1153 views | ParisBlue |
| Tips for looking for flights on 23:53 - Sep 6 by WeWereZombies |
Perhaps the frequency of your flying influences the treatment you get from an airline though (and it might mean the chance of an upgrade from economy to first class is better too.)
On your previous post, maybe Qatar and Emirates are better flight experiences but if you have to change planes in Qatar or Dubai that detracts from the comparison with a direct flight from Heathrow to, say, Jo'burg with British Airways or South African Airways.
On agents, I have had good experiences with Trip.com, both on pricing and on freebies like a VIP lounge pass - but their manic marketing techniques drive me up the wall. |
Having flown to South Africa many times, I've always gone via dubai with Emirates, much better overall experience than flying direct.
I'd second booking direct with the airline, not a third party. If anything goes wrong you'll have much more luck dealing with the airline direct (I once got a free business class return flight to dubai after Emirates bumped me and re-routed me via Air France) [Post edited 7 Sep 0:40]
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| Tips for looking for fights on 07:58 - Sep 7 with 959 views | Pendejo |
Have edited title & first paragraph to how I read it before putting on specs.
"I know we've got a few regular travellers on here, any tips on looking for fights?"
So, saw travellers & fights, ultimately disappointed with thread. |  |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 08:02 - Sep 7 with 948 views | noggin |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:26 - Sep 6 by earlsgreenblue |
Flight centre, pm me for the agents name & number, I’ve got Kolkata flights with them Feb 27 & excellent service, of course, do your research & pricing so you know what is the price to pay versus airline direct, but with the safety net. |
I'll be in India then. What are your plans? | |
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| Tips for looking for flights on 08:43 - Sep 7 with 867 views | shady |
| Tips for looking for flights on 22:26 - Sep 6 by earlsgreenblue |
Flight centre, pm me for the agents name & number, I’ve got Kolkata flights with them Feb 27 & excellent service, of course, do your research & pricing so you know what is the price to pay versus airline direct, but with the safety net. |
Oh My
Sounds like Kolkata will finally be the place
I hope to be living there by then. It's beautiful; the City of Joy.
(some flights to arrange first as have to nip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup and their visas are problematic as need to show my flight bookings beforehand)
... as this is really a flights thread...does anyone know how to book flights to show these visa folks and then if visa is tricky then i don't lose my money.
I normally book flights just a couple of days before departure as need to see the racing odds first |  | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 08:46 - Sep 7 with 860 views | Durovigutum |
Jacks flight club
Google flights. |  | | |
| Tips for looking for flights on 09:18 - Sep 7 with 800 views | noggin |
| Tips for looking for flights on 08:43 - Sep 7 by shady |
Oh My
Sounds like Kolkata will finally be the place
I hope to be living there by then. It's beautiful; the City of Joy.
(some flights to arrange first as have to nip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup and their visas are problematic as need to show my flight bookings beforehand)
... as this is really a flights thread...does anyone know how to book flights to show these visa folks and then if visa is tricky then i don't lose my money.
I normally book flights just a couple of days before departure as need to see the racing odds first |
I booked my e-visa through VisaHQ as I was struggling with the official site. They were very efficient and I received my visa within a few days. I didn't have to show proof of flights.
Edit: Just noticed you're talking about Australia visa, not India. [Post edited 7 Sep 9:20]
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