Tips to Boost your eBucks

[Hamish McPanji]

Just as a point of reference. You only get the discount on the actual flight, not on the tax they charge. Secondly if you book in a clever way via Expedia your flights are free when booking into the hotels they have agreements with. I have gone twice where my flights were free for my wife and I when we booked into one of their partner hotels. The hotel we stayed in was R1500 per night and was on Broadway. So it's not like they charged us more for the hotel to make up for the free flights. Expedia also has a reward system where you can earn points. I am currently on silver so I get free nights at certain hotels. Just thought I would share a good alternative.

Didn't they totally screw you on the exchange rate though? Am 3 nights away from gold rewards, and have like $120 sitting there for future bookings

 

[Rendier]

Didn't they totally screw you on the exchange rate though? Am 3 nights away from gold rewards, and have like $120 sitting there for future bookings

Well it's more the country that is screwing me lol, Expedia or rather FNB adds about 35 cents per $ above what the current exchange rate is when doing the transaction so I always just try and book when I see a drop in the exchange to cover those 35 cents per $.

 

[Rendier]

As an example...

Went through Ebucks Travel and chose the flight to NYC for me and my wife. We both get the discount. They only give you the discount on the base price, as we all know the tax is what really is the most and yet you don't get a discount on that.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Yup, buying from Emirates direct is often cheaper than ebucks because they use rack prices and not special offers that are on at the time. Emirates always have specials on...which are often very reasonable

 

[Rendier]

Yup, buying from Emirates direct is often cheaper than ebucks because they use rack prices and not special offers that are on at the time. Emirates always have specials on...which are often very reasonable

The thing is though, without any discount you can fly for R14,500 per person direct with SAA. This means no waiting at Dubai International for a couple of hours. So wasting my ebucks on a "40%" discount and still having to stop over in Dubai vs flying direct without using ebucks and only paying R3000 more per person. To me that is a no brainer. But obviously Expedia with their deals can give you that SAA flight for free :-D

View attachment 302896

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Ok, just booked from Joburg to Debben return on the Ebucks travel website. 2 passengers.

This is how the numbers crunched.

Normal Kulula website: R3299.00
Vitality Kulula Website: R2922.00

Am on level 5
Ebucks Website: R3299.00
Discount Amount: R949
Amount after discount: R2350

Payment split :
eBucks :10000 (required minimum)
ZAR : 1350

Altogether a very worthwhile exercise for me...shaved near a grand off the price and paid R1000 with fake money .

Looking to book my car using Avis again, its working out to less than R200 a day for a polo vivo on super cover

 

[Hamish McPanji]

The thing is though, without any discount you can fly for R14,500 per person direct with SAA. This means no waiting at Dubai International for a couple of hours. So wasting my ebucks on a "40%" discount and still having to stop over in Dubai vs flying direct without using ebucks and only paying R3000 more per person. To me that is a no brainer. But obviously Expedia with their deals can give you that SAA flight for free :-D

View attachment 302896

Check around though. I paid a really good fare on Expedia for ORTambo - Frankfurt - San Francisco - Las Vegas - Washington - OR Tambo. Cost me less than 18,000 with 7 night accommodation included. Was all on a united airlines booking code....even though 90% was flown on other airlines. The return was a direct flight on SAA with a united booking code

 

[abudabi]

To pay telkom via easypay, do I use the EFT reference number on their online invoice?

 

[APoc184]

To pay telkom via easypay, do I use the EFT reference number on their online invoice?

No. You must use the Easypay number.

The one between the arrows like this <<<<<<<<<<< 1234567890 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Stevi]

To pay telkom via easypay, do I use the EFT reference number on their online invoice?

Is this just to fulfill the "online shopping" criteria?
If so, just pay on their website with your cc

 

[abudabi]

No. You must use the Easypay number.

The one between the arrows like this <<<<<<<<<<< 1234567890 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks.. downloaded a pdf invoice and see this right at the bottom... like a footer. Not even a mention of easypay anywhere to indicate that it is your reference.

 

[abudabi]

Is this just to fulfill the "online shopping" criteria?
If so, just pay on their website with your cc

I have been... but seeing as I pay COJ via easypay... why do 2 seperate transactions when you can do everything once on easypay.

 

[SeRpEnT]

The thing is though, without any discount you can fly for R14,500 per person direct with SAA. This means no waiting at Dubai International for a couple of hours. So wasting my ebucks on a "40%" discount and still having to stop over in Dubai vs flying direct without using ebucks and only paying R3000 more per person. To me that is a no brainer. But obviously Expedia with their deals can give you that SAA flight for free :-D

View attachment 302896

Oh DO tell more...

 

[abudabi]

Oh crap....


I got a prepaid sim last month just for S&G.. and now I got an sms saying i can get R200 airtime for activating in contact on it.

Does that mean I'm losing my "Be registred for in contact" RL points ?!?!


EEK!

 

[zerocool2009]

Is this just to fulfill the "online shopping" criteria?
If so, just pay on their website with your cc

Online shopping earn more as a % than straight shopping when swiping your CC.

I know of the two basic accounts (Telkom and COJ), but there is a full list online

 

[Rendier]

Oh DO tell more...

Expedia has agreements with some hotels. So they obviously get such good rates that they can offer your flights for free. Just book your flights AND Hotel through them and some options will pop up where your flight is free if you choose to stay with certain hotels. Don't stress though, it's not the most expensive hotels. It's reasonably priced hotels and I think Expedia gets them at almost nothing so they share the cost of your flight to make it more attractive for you to purchase.

 

[Chris14]

Ok, just booked from Joburg to Debben return on the Ebucks travel website. 2 passengers.

This is how the numbers crunched.

Normal Kulula website: R3299.00
Vitality Kulula Website: R2922.00

Am on level 5
Ebucks Website: R3299.00
Discount Amount: R949
Amount after discount: R2350

Payment split :
eBucks :10000 (required minimum)
ZAR : 1350

Altogether a very worthwhile exercise for me...shaved near a grand off the price and paid R1000 with fake money .

Looking to book my car using Avis again, its working out to less than R200 a day for a polo vivo on super cover

I booked a return flight to JHB on BA for R1652.08 after 35% Vitality Discount.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

I booked a return flight to JHB on BA for R1652.08 after 35% Vitality Discount.

Am a lazy ass bitch. You need to work hard to get your vitality rate up. And am not wanting a discovery card either ....so happy with my 40% thank you

 

[Chris14]

I don't have a discovery card. I used my Vitality to book it and I'm already on the highest level (i.e. Diamond)

 

[Hamish McPanji]

I don't have a discovery card. I used my Vitality to book it and I'm already on the highest level (i.e. Diamond)

Still, 40% trumps 35%, and your booking fee was?