Planning & Booking
A great trip starts with smart planning and careful booking. From finding the best deals to navigating frequent flyer programs, this section covers everything you need to make your travel dreams a reality.
Check below for articles and advice on planning and booking your next trip, and chat to our community for more info.
Imagine spending a full day or night in an exciting city like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai or Tokyo – for no cost at all! By taking advantage of a small but significant loophole, our members have been able to enjoy the sights and sounds of all of these cities, and many more, for free. The … Continued
One crafty member hopes to surprise a lucky loved one with an overseas holiday to a secret destination. They know the surprise will be appreciated, but ponder the risk of inadvertently blowing their cover. Countless opportunities exist for the secret to be let out. Overheard phone calls and misplaced tickets are just the start of … Continued
One member is furious that online travel agent Expedia downgraded their business class ticket to economy without explanation. Having booked a business class trip to Europe, Expedia now says the member will need to pay $1,200 to “upgrade” the ticket back to business class. When our member then threatened to cancel the ticket, Expedia demanded … Continued
The introduction of “low-cost carriers” has seen a dramatic drop in the price of airfares, making it possible to fly long distances for just a few hundred dollars, or short distances for less than the cost of the cab to the airport! But when it comes to cheap flights to Europe, there have traditionally been … Continued
Our members reminisce about the year that was and ramp up their 2015 travel goals. Some members commit the ultimate frequent flyer faux pas and admit that high on their list of priorities for 2015 is to fly less! Air travel Safety also features high on our member’s wish-lists with some members revealing their noble … Continued
Post Travel Expo regret has hit one member hard this week. Our member spontaneously purchased an economy flight from Sydney to LA with friends and is now regretting the decision. The prospect of 14 hours in economy is enough to drive our member to drink! The current attitude is putting the “WHY” into Y-class. Our … Continued
For some time, many of our savvy members have been aware of the excellent value on offer when flying Fiji Air Business Class to the USA. While it does require a stopover or transit in both directions, often you can enjoy the trip in Business Class comfort at excep-tional pricing. When faced with the choice … Continued
Like many services, travel is often a case of supply and demand. If there are cheap fares on offer for a flight, chances are it’s not a popular flight. If fares are high, you can be sure there are not many seats on offer. To complicate things, airlines may lower the price even further at … Continued
When it comes to the big trips, getting the right airfare can get tricky. The easiest way is to use a single airline to book the entire journey. Often that airline will have codeshares on the flights it does not operate. Should a delay occur, having it on the one ticket will often give you … Continued
Stuff happens! Especially when it comes to expensive overseas travel arrangements. Some call it Murphy’s Law, the principle that if something can go wrong it will. On that basis, most people will purchase travel insurance to make sure they are covered. As our government says on its smart traveller website, if you cannot afford Travel … Continued
One member seeks the advice of our booking-savvy members to determine the cheapest way to book flights and accommodation. Our member has had experience with sites such as Expedia and agents such as Flight Centre and wants to get the low-down on the best deals. Rule 1 of booking success, according to our members, is … Continued
One of our members this week asks a question that would have probably not got too much interest a month ago. Sadly with the downing of the Malaysian Airlines over the Ukraine in recent weeks, the question has very much become a topical one. So, I’m looking at doing a round trip from Berlin to … Continued