10 Tips for Finding Cheap Airfare

1. Buy Early
Especially during peak travel periods, making reservations late in the game can cost you a lot of money. Airline ticket prices typically go up 21 days, 14 days, 7 days and 3 days before flying, so if you're planning ahead, try to make the call before these deadlines. And if you're traveling internationally, you'll want to book even earlier -- from three to six months in advance -- for the best deals. However, sometimes you can get lucky if you wait, which brings us to:

2. Buy Late
Often you can buy tickets at the very last minute for a great price, if the airlines have failed to fill their planes. Many airlines offer weekly newsletters that feature their best last-minute deals. If you can stand the suspense, and if you are flexible with your itinerary, you can find fantastic money-savers to very attractive travel destinations.

3. Shop Around
No matter how good it sounds, you should never book the first fare you see. Start your search by checking a few of the major online travel providers. This will give you a preliminary idea of which airline flies your particular itinerary, what the going rate is and what restrictions might apply. Armed with this information, you can head directly to the appropriate airlines website to see if the same flights are any cheaper (some airlines guarantee to offer the lowest possible fares on their own Web sites). While you're there, check to see if the airline is running any sales or promotions to your destination. If you don't see anything in your preferred price range, don't be afraid to bide your time and watch the fares for a bit. Most major booking sites have alert features that will e-mail you when your fare drops to a price you're willing to pay.

4. Know When to Buy
The hardest part of booking a flight is knowing when to stop tracking fares and make that final purchase.  please keep in mind that most airlines launch fare sales on Tuesdays and Wednesdays -- so if you decide to buy on a Monday, you may be gnashing your teeth on Tuesday when your destination goes on sale.

5. Be Flexible
If you live close to more than one airport, check out the fares from all of the airports near you. Many online fare searching engines will ask you if you are willing to depart from or arrive in more than one city. Yes! Also, experiment with different travel dates; shifting your itinerary by a week or even a few days can make a significant difference in fares. You'll usually find the best deals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

6. Don't Forget the Discounters
The discount airlines can save you a bundle, but they're not always easy to find. don't forget to check the international discounter airlines as well.

7. Use Your Frequent Flier Miles
Why pay a fare at all when you can use your frequent flier miles? Although redeeming miles has gotten more difficult in recent years, it's still a good option to consider, particularly if you're booking early; airlines designate a very limited number of seats on each flight as eligible for award travel, and these seats go quickly.

8. Get a Refund When Fares Go Down
If fares go down after you've purchased your ticket, ask for a refund! You may not always get one, but policies vary by airline -- and many do not publicize the fact that they will refund you the difference if prices go down. It can't hurt to ask.

9. Consider an Air Pass
In order to promote tourism in their countries, many national airlines offer air passes at reduced rates for tourists. If you're planning to do extensive travel in one country or region, an air pass might be your most cost-effective option. Qantas offers the Aussie Airpasses for travel throughout Australia, while Cathay Pacific has a similar product for flights throughout Asia.

10. Check for Deals and Discounts
Don't forget to check our airfares promotion which normally will send to you via email. Also you can connect with us by facebook, twitter and blog.

Packing an airplane or travel busy bag for a child

Traveling with small children can be an interesting experience – especially if its a long flight between Asia and Europe or North America. Hence Debbie, the blogger behind the DeliciousBaby (making travel with kids fun) blog, has recently written a very helpful post about packing an airplane or travel busy bag. Debbie begins by describing the ideal airplane or travel toy as being:

• Quiet
• Compact
• Small pieces are easy to contain so that they don't end up on the floor, and loosing a piece doesn't destroy the play value of the entire toy
• Not so precious that you would mind loosing it
• Not fragile
• Preferably no batteries (or if there are batteries, make sure they are fresh)
• Engaging. Self contained crafts are especially great, but be wary of crafts that might make a mess or contain smelly glues or paints.
• Can be played with independently or with a parent

She also points out that the perfect travel toy does not have to be “expensive and intricately designed” and that you should have a good mix that will allow your child to engage in different types of play (she has also posted a helpful list of suggested items along with where you may obtain them). In addition, she notes that parents should:

• Wait to bring out your busy bag until you've exhausted all the "built-in" entertainment.
• Try not to open the busy bag in the airport terminal. As exhausted as you might be, the terminal is the place for your child to stretch their legs and, if possible, run.
• Dole out the items one by one, making sure that play is exhausted before starting another
• Consider wrapping each item. Young children are so thrilled with unwrapping "gifts" that they won't mind if you wrap something they already own.

So should you be traveling in the near future with small children, Debbie’s post and her blog in general will prove to be a valuable resource.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/11/packing-airplane-or-travel-busy-bag-for.html

The world's oddest airport attractions

The November 2009 issue of Travel & Leisure (T+L) recently had an article about the world’s strangest airport attractions. Some of the odder airport activities include killing time on a Sony PlayStation 3 at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport and getting your teeth cleaned at the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.

In Asia, three airports had “strange” attractions that made the list:

• Inhale cinnamon-scented oxygen at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (Terminal 1, Oxygen Lounge Juko). Travelers may hook themselves up to self-serve tanks that pump exotically flavored oxygen for either a 10-minute (600 yen/$6) or a 20-minute (1,200 yen/$12.50) sessions.
• Experience a “4-D” movie at the Hong Kong International Airport (Terminal 2, 4D Extreme Screen). Travelers will view Asia’s largest 4-D projection screen in a 360-seat theater where films come with 3-D glasses and special effects such as wind, fog, water spray and bubbles.
• Admire butterflies at the Singapore Changi International Airport (Terminal 3, Butterfly Garden). Travelers will find 47 species of butterflies that roam freely among hanging plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants. Plus the Butterfly Garden has a butterfly breeding and feeding area.

In addition, frequent road warriors may also be interested in checking out T+L’s smart guides to the world’s top airports.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/11/world-oddest-airport-attractions.html

2009 Business Travel Awards: Top 10 best international airports

Conde Nash Traveler has recently released their twelfth annual business travel survey which included a section ranking the best international airports around the world. Frequent travelers to or around Asia will not be surprised to learn that Singapore’s Changi came out on top in all survey categories followed by Hong Kong International (Chek Lap Kok). Other Asian airports making it into the top 10 included Seoul’s Incheon and Tokyo’s Narita.

Top 10 Best International Airports

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/2009-business-travel-awards-top-10-best.html

2009 Business Travel Awards: Transpacific routes & business class

Conde Nash Traveler has recently released their twelfth annual business travel survey which included a section about transpacific routes and business class seats for major airlines (Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Quatas, Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and EVA Air) servicing the Asia Pacific region. To no one’s surprise, Singapore Airlines came out on top with an overall score of 89.7 and held the lead in all categories surveyed.

Transpacific Routes & Business Class

 

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/2009-business-travel-awards.html

Airline tickets: And your real name is?

Is your (official) name Joseph, Joe or Jose? Moreover and if you have more than one name, what name do you use when you book airline tickets and does that name exactly match the name on your passport, other official forms of ID or credit card? In the near future, you better have your name straight when you book airline tickets.

As an article (I See You Have a Ticket, but Is That Your Name?) in the New York Times recently pointed out, the name on the ID you use at the airport security checkpoint will soon need to precisely match the name on your airline ticket under a new USA initiative called Secure Flight. This initiative will take effect for domestic passengers in the USA early next year and for international passengers by the end of 2010. However, some airlines such as American Airlines have already begun requiring customers to make reservations with their name exactly as it appears on the government-issue ID they will use for travel (along with their gender and date of birth).

While these rules may not affect passengers traveling on non-USA based airlines outside of the USA, they are definitively a sign of the times. In other words, if you have multiple names on all of your official IDs and travel frequently, now might be the time to decide just what your real name is.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/airline-tickets-and-your-real-name-is.html

The top 10 rules of the road for air travel

Travel can be both exhilarating and a real pain at the same time – especially if you travel frequently and internationally. Scott McCartney, the author of "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity and Wallet Intact" has come up with the top 10 rules of the road or basic principles for air travel that are meant to help travelers avoid problems and better enjoy their business trips or vacations. These rules or principles are:

1. Travel is difficult.

2. Book smartly.

3. Plan for trouble.

4. Learn something.

5. Enjoy perks that pay.

6. Stay loyal.

7. Never check anything you cannot live without.

8. Play the upgrade game.

9. Ask nicely.

10. Be kind to your fellow traveler.

Scott also outlined these rules or principles in a Wall Street Journal article earlier this year that is also well worth reading.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/top-10-rules-of-road-for-air-travel.html

Free Shopping Voucher up to THB 3,000

FREE Central Department Store Shopping Voucher* up to THB 3,000 can be yours by simply purchasing KLM tickets online to Europe at www.klm.co.th during October 12th - November 30th, 2009 for departure during December 1st, 2009 - January 15th, 2010!

1 Business Class ticket will receive a Shopping Voucher worth THB 3,000
1 Economy Class ticket will receive a Shopping Voucher worth THB 1,500

Buy online for the best price guaranteed fares so don't leave it too late to make your booking.

Economy Class to Europe starts from THB 33,875**

Business Class to Europe starts from THB 100,805**

*Terms and conditions apply.

**Taxes and surcharges included.

Buy online now

Top 25 business travel blunders

The reality of business travel recently inspired Embassy Suites to run its first "My Business Travel Blunder" essay contest. The serviced apartment group had invited business travelers to share their biggest business trip blunders and within just 4 weeks, they had over 500 entries for a chance to win airfare for four plus five nights at the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk. The top 25 entries were evaluated on three criteria (humor, uniqueness, and relevance to business travel) and they are included in a slideshow on Business Week’s website plus (along with a video segment) and some of these top entries included:

• The wife who called her husband's boss by a none-too-flattering nickname her husband has for him.
• The businessman who ended up wearing a stranger's suit to the job interview after the airline delivered him the wrong luggage.
• The woman business traveler who thought that a well-known CEO was leering at her until she realized that her blouse had come undone.

However, the overall winner of the contest? Someone referred to only as pant-less from New Jersey.

Lesson learned: Remember to bring an extra pair of pants on your next business trip!

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/top-25-business-travel-blunders.html

Asia's best travel brands: Airlines & airports

Smarttravelasia.com, an independent online travel magazine dedicated to Asia, has just released the results of its 2009 Best Travel Brands readers’ poll and you may or may not agree with all of the results.

Here are some of the top picks for airlines and airport related categories as reported on CNNgo.com - which also noted that Singapore and Hong Kong, the two major English speaking destinations in Asia, were generally rated in top place (a readers' bias perhaps?):

Best World Wide Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Airports Worldwide

1. Singapore Changi Airport

2. Hong Kong International Airport

3. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Best Business Class World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Cabin Service World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Budget Airlines Asia

1. AirAsia

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/asia-best-travel-brands.html

How to speed through airport security

Like it or not, longer lines at airport security checks is a fact of life in the post 9/11 world. However, airport security need not slow you down if you are well prepared for it in advance.

Hence, a recent article from ForbesTraveler.com entitled 10 Tips to Speed your Security Check along with an accompanied slideshow are well worth reading by any business traveler who does not want to experience unnecessary hassles and delays the next time they are at the airport. Although some of the tips are USA specific, many of the general tips mentioned are relevant to frequent travelers to and within the Asia Pacific region. These tips include:

• Emptying Your Pockets Early – Waiting in line is a good time to start emptying your pockets and placing the contents into your carryon bag or a handy shopping bag. After all, some of the contents in your pocket won’t be needed until after you have already landed at your destination.
• Pick the Right Time to Travel – Business travelers need to speed through security and hence, you will experience less hassles when traveling on a Monday or another work day than you will on the weekends when more infrequent travelers are traveling.
• Find the Fastest Checkpoints – Some airports have implemented multiline security programs where travelers are divided according to whether or not they are traveling with families or how frequently they travel. However, if you are in a real hurry, the line with the frequent travelers or the shortest line may not be your best option. Hence, ask an attendant which line is faster and consult either the airport website or the TSA website (if traveling from a USA airport).
• Checked-in Luggage – Some airports in the USA are requiring travelers to escort their checked baggage through additional security screening. Hence and if you are just on a short-term trip, pack everything into a carry-on bag.
• Appropriate Dress – A clean-cut business traveler will likely clear security faster than someone resembling a backpacker while conservative dress is probably the best option when visiting certain Asian countries in particular. In addition, wear coats and shoes that are both comfortable and easy to remove during security checks.
• Always be Friendly – Never give security personnel a reason to pull you aside and give you extra treatment by being unfriendly. This is especially important for Westerners visiting Asian countries as inadvertently offending someone or not being friendly could lead to more than just a delay at the security checkpoint.
• Boarding Passes and Passports – Always keep your important identification papers within easy reach and remember, while not all countries require visitors to have a passport valid for three to six months after an arrival date, a security official might – especially one having a bad day.
• Careful What You Pack – Always check with the airport, your airline or the relevant security agency website for the latest information as to what you can and cannot take on board an airplane. After all, just because you were able to take that 100 ml container of liquid on board your last flight does not mean you can take it with you the next time you fly. Moreover, security procedures may be more strict depending upon the airport you are in, the airline you are flying and your destination (like the USA).

Keeping the above useful tips in mind the next time you fly will allow you to speed through rather than be slowed down by airport security.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/08/how-to-speed-through-airport-security.html

“What a shame!” Swine Flu comes from America video

In case you have not flown to or around China lately, you may find this Civil Aviation Administration of China's swine flu warning video both helpful and absolutely hilarious! The cutesy jingle with the cartoon reminds passengers that:

Swine influenza comes from America… spreads around the world… its true name is A(H1N1)… what a shame!

Actually and according to the Wall Street Journal’s China Journal blog, the Chinese lyrics make a broad reference to the American continents and uses the word “mei zhou” rather than the word “mei guo” (for the USA itself) but the the English subtitles simply say America. Either way, passengers are sure to get the picture!

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/09/what-shame-swine-flu-comes-from-america.html

Asia’s most on-time airports

Business travelers who travel frequently around the world will already know that some airports in some contries have better reputations than other airports in other countries for on-time arrivals and departures. Hence, a recent article on ForbesTraveller.com (along with a slideshow) which ranked the world’s most on-time airports may confirm what many frequent travelers already know. Moreover and probably to no-one’s surprise, 6 out of the top 10 best airports for punctuality were in Asia. These airports included:

• Haneda Airport (Japan) – For the second year in a row (On-time flight average: 91.4%), Japan’s Haneda Airport took the top spot for on-time arrivals with 88.6% of its flights arrive on-time and 94.3% of its flights depart on-time.
• Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Indonesia) – Jumping from sixth place to second place (On-time flight average: 86.7%), Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had 84.2% of its flights arrive on-time and 89.2% of its flights depart on-time.
• Narita International (Japan) – In third place (On-time flight average: 86%), Narita International had 84.8% of its flights arrive on-time and 87.1% of its flights depart on-time.
• Incheon International Airport (South Korea) – In forth place (On-time flight average: 84.85), Seoul’s Incheon International Airport had 86.8% of its flights arrive on-time and 82.8% of its flights depart on-time.
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thailand) – In fifth place (On-time flight average: 84.4%), Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport had 82.9% of its flights arrive on-time and 86% of its flights depart on-time.
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia) – In sixth place (On-time flight average: 83.6%), Kuala Lumpur International Airport had 81.5% of its flights arrive on-time and 86.1% of its flights depart on-time.

Incidentally, while the Hong Kong International Airport improved its performance from an on-time average of 79.7% last year to an on-time average of 82.25% this year, it was knocked out of the number 10 spot by the the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Nevertheless, the on-time flight performance of several of Asia’s major airports gives frequent travelers to and within the region something to cheer about.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/09/asias-most-on-time-airports.html

How to fly first class at coach prices (or get that seat upgrade)

With the current state of the global economy, even business travelers must be cost conscious. Hence, a short five minute video narrated by Rick Brown, the owner of RickBrownTravels.com (www.FirstClassTravelTips.com) explains several method he uses to research first class travel at coach prices – namely ITA Software’s Fare Shopping Engine. Even better, the example he uses involves a flight from Asia to North America (from Bangkok to Vancouver) and although the trip he booked comes with an 11 hour layover in Seoul, he points out that first class passengers have use of the first class lounge and other amenities to keep them occupied and relaxed throughout the long layover.

In addition, CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg (who also has his own website packed with useful travel tips) has also created a short video about getting seat upgrades from airlines. As Peter explains, passengers should dress for success – in other words, not in flip flops, torn jeans and wearing a backpack! Furthermore, its the questions you ask along with your demeanor (be nice to the counter agent!) that may ultimately get you an upgrade – sometimes without even asking for one. In addition, flights in the middle of the week or during the middle of the day that are less crowded will further increase your odds of a better seat.

From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/09/how-to-fly-first-class-at-coach-prices.html