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.

Save on One-Way Flights

If you’ve ever tried to book a one-way international flight, you may have discovered it’s more expensive than buying a return ticket! This week our members reveal their strategies to beat the one-way price hike and save hundreds of dollars. Many airlines penalise passengers for booking one-way, rather than round-trip international tickets. But one-way bookings … Continued

Save Thousands on Round-the-World Flights!

A round-the-world trip is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. You’ll get to experience different cultures, taste new and exotic foods, speak different languages, meet new people, see sights not found anywhere else, and much, much more! If you’d like to travel around the world, the special round-the-world airfares offered by each of the three … Continued

Fly for just $27!

Did you know that it’s possible to fly for less than the cost of the taxi to the airport? One of the cheapest ways to fly in Australia is to use the little-known Jetstar Price Beat Guarantee. By taking advantage of this, you could fly from Sydney to Melbourne for as little as $27! As part … Continued

Online Booking Blunder

This week one member is less than impressed with the shocking service from online travel agent “BYOjet”. After paying for a flight, the member received a ticket for a flight 3 months after the date booked. But this was just the start of the problems. When the member tried to contact BYOjet, they were advised … Continued

Travel Agents: Pros & Cons

This week our members discuss the pros and cons of booking with a travel agent. While some find travel agents invaluable, others see little benefit and prefer to book their own travel online. There are numerous reasons to book with an agent. As well as offering specialised advice, travel agents often have access to cheaper airfares … Continued

Airfares to South America Hit Record Lows

If you’ve always wanted to visit South America, there has never been a better time! Flights between Australia and South America have traditionally been expensive. But, to the delight of travellers, this appears to be changing. In late 2015, Air New Zealand launched flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires. This effectively broke the monopoly of … Continued

Flights to Los Angeles for under $400 return!

Many lucky members snagged an extraordinary deal on flights to the USA last week! For a short time, Virgin Australia flights between Australia and Los Angeles were available for as low as USD254 ($355) return. The amazing fare was discovered by one of our members, who kindly informed other AFF members of their discovery on the … Continued

Airline Staff Travel: Perks & Pitfalls

It’s no secret that airline employees receive certain perks as part of their jobs. One such perk is discounted airline staff travel. Airline employees travelling for leisure can book tickets at a discount of up to 90%, and often they can also share this discount when travelling with friends and family. But are these benefits … Continued

Round-the-World Travel Tips

Flying around the world is certainly an exciting way to travel, and round-the-world flights may cost much less than you think! This week our members explain how to book a cost-effective trip around the world using either money or frequent flyer points. There are numerous ways to book round-the-world travel. The most flexible option using Qantas … Continued

Cheap Business Class Secrets Revealed!

This week our members reveal their strategies to score cheap Business class flights to Europe! Having originally looked at a Qantas fare to London of over $9,000, one member was recently able to save thousands by using our members’ handy tips and suggestions. The first recommendation is to plan ahead and wait for a sale. … Continued

Why Flight Change Fees are so Expensive

If you’ve ever had to change or cancel a flight booking, you’ll probably be aware of just how costly it can be. For domestic bookings, Virgin Australia charges $80 plus any fare difference for booking changes or cancellations made on Saver tickets. Qantas charges an even higher fee of $88. In some cases the cost … Continued

Avoid the One-way Flight “Tax”

If you’ve ever tried to book a one-way international flight, you’re probably aware that these tickets can be very expensive. Airlines often penalise passengers flying one-way in the form of higher prices and in many cases, a one-way international flight is more expensive than a return ticket on the same route! Cruise passengers often face … Continued