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Flying in style without splashing out

Marek Matulka
January 07, 2016
210

Flying in style without splashing out

Co-presented with Ciaran McNulty at the Inviqa's enlightening lunch.

How to fly in style without splashing out. With so many competing airlines and travel agents, it is hard to find flights at the right price, or the right level of comfort and convenience. Ciaran and Marek will show us how to "exploit" the system to get the best deals, travel in style, and maximise your benefits.

Marek Matulka

January 07, 2016
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Transcript

  1. LHR-JFK £419.55 BA ticket cost: £100.00 UK government fees: £114.65

    US government fees: £41.90 BA fuel surcharge: £163.00
  2. Pricing is demand-driven • Scheduled 10-12 months in advance •

    Aircraft positioning crucial to operations • Inconvenient for the airline to cancel
  3. Google flights https://flights.google.com • Very fast • Great for direct

    flights • Includes nearly all economy airlines • Can’t search ranges / multiple destinations
  4. ITA Matrix (owned by Google) https://matrix.itasoftware.com • Slow(er) • Very

    wide searches • No budget airlines • HUGELY powerful extra options
  5. Don’t fly from the UK! • Different pricing models in

    different markets • Tax/Duty differences • Exchange rate differences • On sale at different times • Public holidays at different times
  6. DUB (Dublin) • 1 hour from London Gatwick, Heathrow, City

    • English-speaking • US customs pre-clearance
  7. DUB-LAX in July from £774 All prices in economy. Pros:

    - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
  8. Positioning flights Unlinked tickets: • LON -> DUB • DUB

    -> LAX • Give a buffer between your positioning flight and the main fare (night before?) • or try going back-to-back • Make sure your travel insurance handles missed departures!
  9. DUB-LAX in July from £774 All prices in economy. Pros:

    - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
  10. DUB-LAX in July from £874 All prices in business. Pros:

    - Instant £100 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB - Business not Economy! Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
  11. Dropping last legs • Go hand baggage only • or

    make sure there’s an overnight before the last leg • or make sure there’s an airport change • or just make a fuss and get your bags back • Don’t book via a travel agent
  12. Adding stops Transfers • Defined as <24h • Limited number

    allowed • Normally free Stopovers • Defined as >24h • Normally chargeable • Sometimes free
  13. POUGs Promotional Online Upgrades - check emails from the airline

    - check MMB often Cost? - ET to CE - £59-139 - WT to WT+ - £85-250 - WT+ to CW - £400-599 - CW to F - £400-599
  14. AUGs Airport Upgrades - usually offered at check-in desk -

    more expensive than POUGs Cost? - ET to CE - £75-150 - WT to WT+ - £229 - WT+ to CW - £400-800 - CW to F - £599
  15. British Airways Executive Club Avios - awarded based on miles

    flown - class bonuses (up to 300%) - tier bonuses (up to 100%) - can be used to spend on flights, car hire, hotels, etc. Tier Points - fixed amount per flight segment - different to different classes - reset every year - collect to get / retain status
  16. - oneworld alliance - airline partners - hotels - credit

    cards - tesco - shopping at avios.com Collecting avios
  17. Blue - collect avios - spend avios Bronze - 25%

    bonus avios - free advance (7 days) seat selection - business class check-in - priority boarding
  18. Silver - 50% bonus avios - free advance seat selection

    - lounge access + guest - additional checked bag when flying economy - overweight baggage fee waived Gold - 100% bonus avios - free advance seat selection (including front row seats) - First Class lounge access + guest - extra bag in all classes - Arrivals lounge access (no guest) - Additional redemption availability
  19. Status progress Free to join 2 BA flights + 300

    tier points or 25 flights 4 BA flights + 600 tier points or 50 flights 4 BA flights + 1500 tier points
  20. Seat Selection Seat Guru - Covers all airlines The BA

    Source - Very detailed on BA flights