Travel-and-Leisure
Buying an Airline Ticket to Europe
The airline ticket is probably going to be the biggest single expense of your trip in and out of Europe, especially if you are coming from Australia or New Zealand. The worst thing you can do is buy your ticket up at the last minute. Although there are some great deals on short notice, you are more likely to get a cheaper flight if you booked well in advance and you can also choose your seat in the flight. If you were still unsure about leaving, than buying a ticket early is a great boost. Once you have a ticket, it feels like there's no turning back.
The airline ticket is probably going to be the biggest single expense of your trip in and out of Europe, especially if you are coming from Australia or New Zealand. The worst thing you can do is buy your ticket up at the last minute. Although there are some great deals on short notice, you are more likely to get a cheaper flight if you booked well in advance and you can also choose your seat in the flight. If you were still unsure about leaving, than buying a ticket early is a great boost. Once you have a ticket, it feels like there's no turning back.
Depending on your standard of comfort and your budget, there is always an airline that can cater to you. Just remember that with airlines, you always get what you pay for. If you opt for cheap airlines, you are more likely to ride on older planes with greater safety risks and likelier delays. However, it's good to know that there are already a lot of very airlines that cater to the middle market. Before you buy a ticket, it is advisable to do some research first. Ask about several airlines from a travel agency, or talk to people who have recently come from Europe. Check for frequent-flier programs, booking options, discounts for pre-booking and the cancellation policies of each airline. You can check the Web for information, as most major airlines have their schedules, prices and policies on the Internet.
If you think you will be flying in connected flights, make sure that the airlines that you are riding have certain partnership agreements that make it easier for you to travel between borders. Most airlines offer frequent-flier programs that can give you free flights or other benefits like seat upgrades. Your rewards are based on the number of kilometers that you flew with that airline or with its partners, or you can gather points by using affiliated travel services like hotels or car rentals. It would make sense for you to choose your home country's carrier plane so you can use the free miles for future domestic flights. Just remember that frequent-flier flights have limited seats and are not available during peak seasons like Christmas.
Check your ticket restrictions. You may be subject to cancellation penalties, unexpected refunds policies, seasonal limits and stopover limits. If you have a discounted ticket, the conditions attached can even become more restrictive.
You can also get a discount return ticket if Europe is the only continent you plan to visit. If you fly to one destination, but have to return home from another, an open-jaw taken is your best option to save backtracking time. Open-jaw tickets are more expensive than regular return tickets if they can let you see more of a region especially when the distance between your starting and endpoints is great. If you're not sure about your return date, you can purchase a one-way ticket. It can cost more than half of a return ticket, but can be a very liberating option. However, many countries will not give you a visa unless they see that you are flying with a return ticket. You will have to show your travel route as well as proof that you have enough cash to keep you afloat the entire time. If you have a two-year Commonwealth working visa, a one-way ticket can be of great help to you.
If you plan to travel to more than one continent, your best option is to get an RTW ticket. This is a ticket that gives you unlimited time, usually a year, to go around the globe in one direction with a predetermined number of stopovers. There are a lot of RTW combinations, so if you want to visit more places in less travel time, this kind of ticket is usually much cheaper than trying to buy individual tickets as you go.
You can get ticket discounts if you travel with a group. Other airlines offer discounts for teachers, students and holders of youth cards.
Avoid buying secondhand tickets that are usually worthless and do not match your identification. Immigration officials will most likely stop you from getting on that flight anyway. Once you have a clear idea of your travel plans and the amount of time can afford to be away, purchase your airline ticket directly from an airline company, from selected travel agents, or through reputable travel magazines.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Europe Vacation |
Michael Russell
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