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Why Price Shouldn’t be the Main Factor when Booking International Flights
When prepping for an international adventure, the flight is often one of the most costly and trickiest details of the planning process. Consequently, one misstep could be the difference between a hassle-free journey or one that is fraught with delays, cancellations, or serious additional expenses. Here are my secrets to booking international flights:
Flexibility
If possible, try to plan your getaway around the flight. First, check a search engine such as Google Flights, or your favorite airline website to get the best price. As a loyal United customer, I use their calendar to find deals.
Next, I fill in the necessary information which includes:
- Checking the Flexible Dates Box
2. Filling in the From and To fields – i.e., I’m flying out of Chicago O’hare and going to Sofia Bulgaria.
3. Select the month and number of days. Note: I want to spend eight nights, therefore I choose 9 Days since a day is lost traveling from the USA to Europe.
4. Finally, hit the Find Flights button to view prices.
The result is a calendar that lists the price if you depart on that day. For example, the most expensive time to fly to Bulgaria is during the first week of August. However, on the 15th, the price drops to $680. Luckily, the 15th works for me. Therefore, I’ll click on that day to get departure flight options.
Consider all Criteria when Booking International Flights
Price is important. However, there are other criteria to consider when booking international flights. Here is what I look for before I hit the Select button:
First and foremost, I always fly Economy, never Basic Economy for two reasons:
- If you fly Basic Economy, only one personal item is allowed on board free of charge. I never check bags and need at least a carry-on for an eight-night trip. Because of this, I will pay a higher price for an Economy ticket.
- Many loyalty programs either exclude or reduce rewards for Basic Economy fares. Since I’m part of United’s loyalty program, I want every ticket to get the maximum miles.
Equally important is the number of stops and connection times. If you can, avoid flights that have two or more connections. Itineraries that have more than one stop significantly increase your chances of experiencing delays and cancellations. In addition, connection times should be at least three hours for international flights. Often, major European airports are huge and confusing with long lines at passport checkpoints. Schedule enough time to handle delays to keep stress and surprise expenses to a minimum.
Lastly, early arrivals are best. Often, a long regional train ride is necessary to get to your final destination. Arriving late will likely take away any chance of exploring your vacation spot before dark. As a result, venues may be closed which limits opportunities or delays them until the next day.
Details, Details, Details, Check that Tab Carefully
After glancing at all options, the top one looks perfect. It checks all criteria boxes, including one connection that’s at least three hours and an early afternoon arrival. However, the airline, Air Baltic, is unfamiliar to me. What will happen if I miss this connection? Also, I don’t see any later flights from Zurich airport to Bulgaria. Most importantly, how long would I have to wait for the next connection?
The second option is great, however, click on “Details”. Connection time in Frankfurt is two hours, a bit tight for this huge intimating airport. These conditions make catching the flight difficult and stressful.
The third option is ideal. First, there is a four-hour connection in Frankfurt. That’s plenty of time to navigate through this monster of an airport. If I miss this connection, later flights to Sofia are available. Though the first option is less expensive, the extra $18 to get to Sofia in a timely, stress-free manner is worth it.
Return Flight
The same criteria apply to the return flight as to the departure flight: no more than one stop, early arrival time, and three-plus hour connection time. Again, details are key. At first glance, the top option seems like the obvious choice. However, this is an overnight layover that would require spending money on a hotel and, an extra night for a pet sitter. By selecting the top option, I’d be spending more money than saving it.
The second option is perfect because it meets all the criteria. Plus, later flights are available if, for some reason, this connection is missed.
Travel Insurance is a Must when Booking International Flights
Travel insurance can be a lifesaver if unexpected delays, missed connections, or other unforeseen events occur. For instance, my delayed flight from Detroit to Paris caused me to miss my connecting flight to Belgrade. Luckily, I had travel insurance and didn’t pay a dime for booking a later flight. Be careful, don’t assume the airline covers extra costs, even if it is their fault. Do yourself a favor, and get insurance, especially if it’s not part of your credit card benefits.
Bon Voyage!
To sum up, there are many details to consider when booking international flights other than price. If you prefer a smooth, stress-free journey, you may have to pay a little more, but it’s worth the extra money. After all, who wants to start their vacation a stressed-out mess?
Smart Solo Travel in Europe 