The thought of travelling always buzzes you with excitement, but planning a travel can be sometimes dreary. It can be time-consuming at the best, and utterly chaotic at the worst. A horde of travel apps have made our life easier, but still things can go wrong for the smartest of the travellers. Here we give a roundup of the most common mistakes while booking flights and doable tips to avoid them.
Passport expiry time
Not checking your passport expiry date before sealing your international travel with a flight ticket is a big mistake. In most countries, your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry.
Hidden costs
Some flights may seem cheap, but there can be more to it than meets the eyes. Sometimes airlines have ancillary costs such as extra charge for baggage (where baggage allowance is considerably low) or seat selection. So when you calculate the flight fare, do not miss out on the hidden costs.
Flexibility with airports
Most of the destinations have multiple airports that operate flights to your city. Sometimes being flexible about the airports can save you tons of money. So don’t limit yourself to one airport in your destination. Instead, look for flights connecting your city to other airports in your destination. This may sometimes work out cheaper.
Layover time
Be sure to factor in the layover time while booking a flight. Sometimes layover time can be too short that you may end up missing your connecting flight if the flight from your origin is delayed. On the other hand, you don't want to be left with too much time on your hands to loiter around in the airport.
In-flight experience
If the flight fares of the airlines are close, do not jump to make a booking on the cheapest flight. Instead, spend enough time researching on their in-flight experience. Flight’s seat pitch and meal service are important factors for a comfortable flight. Also, in-flight entertainment can be a saving grace in long-haul flights, especially when travelling with kids. A flight with seat-back screens score above overhead screens. That said, having an overheard screen is better than having none.
By Neetu George