New guy advice needed for longhaul flights
Jun 20, 2015, 9:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 2
New guy advice needed for longhaul flights
Good Afternoon everyone!
I am a student looking to go somewhere "unconventional" on vacation. My girlfriend and I were looking at Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka or somewhere like that. I'm not a frequent flyer, I usually go on holiday every year and have been to Thailand, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA, Cyprus & Turkey - some multiple times. Being a student, I don't believe I am eligible for Credit Cards with high amounts of Miles, so I don't think I can find cheap flights that way.
Does anyone have any wood ways to find cheap flights for long haul flights. I have tried all the aggregators, then compared them, tried working through a VPN/private browsing. I have been trying to 'travel hack' flights for a good few months now, but I can't seem to fight a really good deal.
I am looking at using Darjeelin or FlightFox next, to see if they can provide something. Would anyone recommend that?
Can anyone give me advice on how to find cheeper prices than the aggregators show?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I am a student looking to go somewhere "unconventional" on vacation. My girlfriend and I were looking at Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka or somewhere like that. I'm not a frequent flyer, I usually go on holiday every year and have been to Thailand, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA, Cyprus & Turkey - some multiple times. Being a student, I don't believe I am eligible for Credit Cards with high amounts of Miles, so I don't think I can find cheap flights that way.
Does anyone have any wood ways to find cheap flights for long haul flights. I have tried all the aggregators, then compared them, tried working through a VPN/private browsing. I have been trying to 'travel hack' flights for a good few months now, but I can't seem to fight a really good deal.
I am looking at using Darjeelin or FlightFox next, to see if they can provide something. Would anyone recommend that?
Can anyone give me advice on how to find cheeper prices than the aggregators show?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Last edited by EmailKid; Jun 20, 2015 at 9:32 pm Reason: More descriptive title
Jun 20, 2015, 12:02 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
If you've tried the likes of Kayak and Google Flights, Expedia, etc, then there's not much we can do for you. It might help a bit if you were clear on where you wanted to go, rather than just 'unconventional'. Also, what is your budget; what do you consider expensive?
Welcome to FT, FlyingCalum!
Welcome to FT, FlyingCalum!
Jun 20, 2015, 12:11 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,585
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
First piece of advice: FT has a Budget Travel forum.
Second piece of advice: Always use descriptive thread titles. "New guy advice needed" does not give anyone a clue as to the type of advice you are seeking.
Good luck!
First piece of advice: FT has a Budget Travel forum.
Second piece of advice: Always use descriptive thread titles. "New guy advice needed" does not give anyone a clue as to the type of advice you are seeking.
Good luck!
Jun 20, 2015, 1:43 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 2
Sorry everyone.
I don't really have many specifics to be honest. I'm just trying to find the best places to look for flights. The dates can be flexible, so I don't want to request someone helps me with something specific, then it turns out to be useless because I have to change the dates etc.
I just thought that because folk on here travel a lot, you would have some tips and hints on how to get reduced travel.
I don't really have many specifics to be honest. I'm just trying to find the best places to look for flights. The dates can be flexible, so I don't want to request someone helps me with something specific, then it turns out to be useless because I have to change the dates etc.
I just thought that because folk on here travel a lot, you would have some tips and hints on how to get reduced travel.
Jun 20, 2015, 2:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Unfortunately Flyertalk is not a travel agency. If you have a question "Where should I go?", make that your query. As for finding a cheap fare to anywhere in the world at nonspecific times, check out the.Mileage Run deals forum, the budget travel forum, and the online booking sites forum. There really isn't any magic that allows people on Flyertalk to find cheap flights anywhere in the world on any dates.
Jun 20, 2015, 2:33 pm
#6
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
Do you have access to any miles? If you're US based- there are tons of credit cards with mileage bonuses you can earn. Not sure if they'll approve students or not. Worth a try.
You might also look at consolidator fares, which are frequently cheaper than the published fares. Might need to ask a travel agent for those.
Also, it's probably a matter of managing your expectations. There have been many good sales to Asia from the U.S. this year, but a good price is still ~$800. The Mileage Run Deals section here is a good way to keep track of fares.
Come back when you have a more specific query and maybe we can help. There is a sub-forum especially for it. And keep all this in perspective. You've already been to more countries as a young person than many people from older generations may have their entire lives!
You might also look at consolidator fares, which are frequently cheaper than the published fares. Might need to ask a travel agent for those.
Also, it's probably a matter of managing your expectations. There have been many good sales to Asia from the U.S. this year, but a good price is still ~$800. The Mileage Run Deals section here is a good way to keep track of fares.
Come back when you have a more specific query and maybe we can help. There is a sub-forum especially for it. And keep all this in perspective. You've already been to more countries as a young person than many people from older generations may have their entire lives!
Last edited by TravelerMSY; Jun 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Jun 20, 2015, 8:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
New guy advice needed!
Omaha is a pretty unconventional place, plus they have a great zoo!
Jun 20, 2015, 9:35 pm
#9
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
If you're US based- there are tons of credit cards with mileage bonuses you can earn. Not sure if they'll approve students or not. Worth a try.
You might also look at consolidator fares, which are frequently cheaper than the published fares. Might need to ask a travel agent for those.
You might also look at consolidator fares, which are frequently cheaper than the published fares. Might need to ask a travel agent for those.
For consolidator fares try bucket shops or Sunday papers.
Also, don't know how Glasgow is for fares, but some big hub may have cheap fares and it MAY be cheaper to buy two roundtrip tickets.
Now fixed.
Jun 23, 2015, 2:15 am
#10
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Welcome, FlyingCalum.
Have you had a look at the Mileage Run Deals forum?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/
There's a lot of alerts in there about long-haul flights, particularly from Scandinavia. If you're happy to take a slightly roundabout route, you can get some great deals on flights like Gothenburg - London - India - London - Glasgow, for example.
There's also a lot of decent fares from Edinburgh (if you can bear to take yourself over that side) on Qatar Airways.
For trips to SE Asia, have a look at flights to the big gateways (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, etc) and then have a look at Air Asia as a way to get to your final destination.
You could also find a cheap flight from GLA/EDI to the UAE, and continue from there on Air Arabia from Sharjah (or one of the - actually very decent - Indian LCCs, like Indigo or SpiceJet).
Have you had a look at the Mileage Run Deals forum?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/
There's a lot of alerts in there about long-haul flights, particularly from Scandinavia. If you're happy to take a slightly roundabout route, you can get some great deals on flights like Gothenburg - London - India - London - Glasgow, for example.
There's also a lot of decent fares from Edinburgh (if you can bear to take yourself over that side
) on Qatar Airways.For trips to SE Asia, have a look at flights to the big gateways (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, etc) and then have a look at Air Asia as a way to get to your final destination.
You could also find a cheap flight from GLA/EDI to the UAE, and continue from there on Air Arabia from Sharjah (or one of the - actually very decent - Indian LCCs, like Indigo or SpiceJet).
Jun 24, 2015, 2:42 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 1,077
Does anyone have any wood ways to find cheap flights for long haul flights. I have tried all the aggregators, then compared them, tried working through a VPN/private browsing. I have been trying to 'travel hack' flights for a good few months now, but I can't seem to fight a really good deal.
Jun 24, 2015, 9:36 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
One 'trick': search for flights bound to the hub of the region you're looking at, not the final destination itself.
e.g. BKK for Asia has the highest competition and basically any large airline flies to it.
From there onward start your search for LCC carriers directed to your destination.
A classic is EU-BKK-(Fly Scoot)--> Australia
Or Air Asia via KUL onto many regional cities.
This is always important to keep in mind, since you're purchasing a ticket with a fare tailored on the "market" of the origin/destination.
The more this market is a niche, the more you generally pay for the convenience.
It is always worth to recalibrate at least one between O/D to see what happens.
If you play it right, allow plenty of time for connection (remember separate tickets don't give you right of rebooking) the savings are often significant.
e.g. BKK for Asia has the highest competition and basically any large airline flies to it.
From there onward start your search for LCC carriers directed to your destination.
A classic is EU-BKK-(Fly Scoot)--> Australia
Or Air Asia via KUL onto many regional cities.
This is always important to keep in mind, since you're purchasing a ticket with a fare tailored on the "market" of the origin/destination.
The more this market is a niche, the more you generally pay for the convenience.
It is always worth to recalibrate at least one between O/D to see what happens.
If you play it right, allow plenty of time for connection (remember separate tickets don't give you right of rebooking) the savings are often significant.
Jun 25, 2015, 12:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Xiamen
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 81
I second farci's suggestion about Skyscanner. I've been in your situation before - have a mental list of places I'd like to see, but no idea which one to go to for my next trip. What I love about Skyscanner is that it has a function I haven't really seen anywhere else. (You do need to have a general idea of when you want to go, though, since it needs dates.)
Go to the Skyscanner website, put your departure airport, and for arrival select "Everywhere". Input your dates (this is really just a rough guide of what prices are, to get an idea, nothing that can't be changed later) and Search.
It will pull up a list of countries - if someone has searched those airports and dates already, it will list the price. If not, you can run the search yourself - opening a new tab for each country (and then city) you're interested in and let it do all the legwork.
Back in 2011 I used this search to great effect. I went down the list selecting any country that sounded interesting. One of the ones I selected was Russia. It pulled up flights roundtrip IAH-DME for about $800 on Singapore Air. It's unlikely I would have found that on my own since I might not have thought to check Moscow if I had to manually search every city I had interest in. My dates changed some from my original plans but I still had that same price when I booked the tickets. And it helped me "eliminate" more expensive cities where I knew it was out of my budget.
Hope that helps!
Go to the Skyscanner website, put your departure airport, and for arrival select "Everywhere". Input your dates (this is really just a rough guide of what prices are, to get an idea, nothing that can't be changed later) and Search.
It will pull up a list of countries - if someone has searched those airports and dates already, it will list the price. If not, you can run the search yourself - opening a new tab for each country (and then city) you're interested in and let it do all the legwork.
Back in 2011 I used this search to great effect. I went down the list selecting any country that sounded interesting. One of the ones I selected was Russia. It pulled up flights roundtrip IAH-DME for about $800 on Singapore Air. It's unlikely I would have found that on my own since I might not have thought to check Moscow if I had to manually search every city I had interest in. My dates changed some from my original plans but I still had that same price when I booked the tickets. And it helped me "eliminate" more expensive cities where I knew it was out of my budget.
Hope that helps!
Last edited by undergrace; Jun 25, 2015 at 12:49 pm