Advice on international flight bookings

[K T]

Howzit myBB'ers,

I'm looking at the possibility (able to afford it/spend that kind of money) of sending my daughter over to Zurich at the end of her varsity year on 28 November to visit a friend that is on a Rotary Exchange there. She would stay with her friend's host family so accommodation is not an issue.

I have never travelled internationally and am looking for some advice, hints and tips. Who are the best people to go through, internet or travel agent? What are the do's and don'ts?

I've had a quick look around on Travelstart.co.za and can get a flight for R6000 with Turkish Airlines (not too sure about that one) or for just under R7000 with Swiss Air (makes sense to me). I've also had a look on the eBucks site and can get a flight with Emirates for R6000, but that involves a 3 hour stopover at Dubai each way, maybe a good thing for a first-timer, maybe not.

If I'm not mistaken, Discovery's Vitality program also offers discount flights, so I still need to check there.

Any comments?

TIA

[abzo]

I usually use sites like Skyscanner.net to find the cheapest flights then visit the website of the carrier to get a quote before taking the quotation to the travel agents to beat it.

IMO a 3 hour stopover in Dubai is too short and not really worth it.

[K T]

IMO a 3 hour stopover in Dubai is too short and not really worth it.

Thanx abzo, but I don't mean from a site-seeing/shopping point of view, I mean she will be able to say she's been there, seen the people/culture, even if it was just in the airport.

[Jola]

Thanx abzo, but I don't mean from a site-seeing/shopping point of view, I mean she will be able to say she's been there, seen the people/culture, even if it was just in the airport.

It's a big airport, and is interesting, but not much to see of the people/culture.

But I would do it just for the R1000 saving - except that a cup of coffee wil cost you R100 at the airport.

You can't really buy anything at that airport, it is just too expensive - but nice for window shopping !

[abzo]

Thanx abzo, but I don't mean from a site-seeing/shopping point of view, I mean she will be able to say she's been there, seen the people/culture, even if it was just in the airport.

As long as you give her the R1000 to treat herself at the airport

[lived666]

nothing wrong with turkish airlines, but have a look at etihad, great savings, good track record and a newish airline...

[mjkelly]

Call and get quotes from Flightcentre and STA Travel. Then try sky scanner.

You will most likely easily beat all of these with the Discovery benefit on Emirates. Emirates is a great airline, and has the best luggage allowance on economy. Their layover times are often in the early hours of the morning though, but that's kind of exciting if travelling for the first time. Head over to Seat Guru to see the best seats to reserve when online booking opens.

If you find any deals on Air France, they fly very nice A380's to Paris. Book a window seat on the upstairs economy, great space and only one neighbour. There are also a few airlines to avoid, like SAA and Lufthansa. I generally have not been impressed by any Star Alliance airlines. Be careful of low cost carriers in Europe, they have numerous added fees and weird restrictions with regards to hand luggage. Sometimes the itineraries from travel agencies include a leg on one of these, but don't tell you.

I'm also guessing your daughter has a foreign passport since you haven't brought up visas?

Don't buy foreign currencies at airports, the rates are horrible.

[K T]

Thanx mjkelly, great reply.

My daughter has an SA passport but I didn't want to overstep the boundaries of my thread title So she probably will need a visa.

[abzo]

It's your thread. Overstep as much as you like. You'll need a schengen visa. Was about €60 last year.

Switzerland Embassy , South Africa

225 Veale Street, Parc Nouveau, New Muckleneuk
PO Box 2508
0181
Pretoria
South Africa
Phone:
+27-12-4520660
Fax:
+27-12-3466605
Email:
vertretung@pre.rep.admin.ch, trade@pre.rep.admin.ch
Website URL:
www.swissembassy.co.za, www.eda.admin.ch/pretoria

[DJ...]

I love Emirates. They are a great airline in my books and the stopover in Dubai for 3 hours is nothing. Dubai airport is massive and is one huge shopping mall - she will love it...

[mjkelly]

Thanx mjkelly, great reply.

My daughter has an SA passport but I didn't want to overstep the boundaries of my thread title So she probably will need a visa.

No prob.

On the visa front, you normally have to provide an itinerary to get the visa. If you are staying with friends you need:

"A signed letter of invitation from the host in Switzerland containing his/her address, phone
number as well as a copy of the host’s passport and residence permit (if the host is not Swiss)"

Also on the travel insurance front (which is also a requirement), assuming your daughter is also with Discovery, just give them a call and ask for a letter verifying their international cover and the amount of cover etc. Really simple, they have done it for me many times, and this is sufficient cover for a visa.

There are a few other requirements, all listed on the website. If you have any questions just ask.

[gregmcc]

Last year and this year etihad and emirates were both the cheapest on flights to the UK. I flew on both of very, both excellent.

The flights with the longer stop overs are normally cheaper so you have to weigh up time/cost.

[Paperweight]

I know this forum loves Skyscanner but I always find cheaper prices on Kayak.com. Don't use Kayak for local flights though.

[bokka1]

I always use http://www.pnptravel.co.za/ to check cheap prices.

[K T]

So, I reckon I'm going to go with http://www.pnptravel.co.za/ (R6559 + R349 for Traveler Support) instead of directly through Emirates, because the Traveler Support makes me feel a little better about sending my daughter "out into the world" on her own.

Does anybody have any experience/opinion on PnP Travel, who seem to be just a front to FlightSite?

Or is the R349 a waste of money, just book directly through Emirates for R6548'ish?