fly in style (without splashing out)
TRANSCRIPT
Fly in style without splashing outCiaran McNulty & Marek Matulka
CostSpending as little as possible
LHR-JFK£419.55
LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00
LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00UK government fees: £114.65US government fees: £41.90
LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00UK government fees: £114.65US government fees: £41.90BA fuel surcharge: £163.00
Pricing is demand-driven
● Scheduled 10-12 months in advance● Aircraft positioning crucial to operations● Inconvenient for the airline to cancel
Airlines hide pricing
Google flights
https://flights.google.com
● Very fast ● Great for direct flights● Includes nearly all economy
airlines● Can’t search ranges / multiple
destinations
ITA Matrix (owned by Google)
https://matrix.itasoftware.com
● Slow(er)● Very wide searches● No budget airlines● HUGELY powerful extra options
Example:LHR-LAX in July?
Codeshares: Same flight; different airline
Finding more deals
ConvenienceVary travel time and route
LHR-SIN direct for Easter
LHR-SIN with a layover for Easter
Don’t fly from the UK!
● Different pricing models in different markets● Tax/Duty differences● Exchange rate differences● On sale at different times● Public holidays at different times
DUB (Dublin)
● 1 hour from London Gatwick, Heathrow, City● English-speaking● US customs pre-clearance
AMS (Amsterdam)
● KLM Hub● 5-6 flights/day to major UK Cities● ~ 1hr flight time
LHR-LAX in Julyfrom £984
All prices in economy. - 2 weeks - travel with BA or OW
DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £774
All prices in economy.
Pros: - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB
Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
Positioning flights
Unlinked tickets:
● LON -> DUB ● DUB -> LAX
● Give a buffer between your positioning flight and the main fare (night before?)
● or try going back-to-back● Make sure your travel insurance
handles missed departures!
DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £774
All prices in economy.
Pros: - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB
Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £874
All prices in business.
Pros: - Instant £100 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB - Business not Economy!
Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required
DUB-LAX-LHR in July
Dropping last legs
● Go hand baggage only● or make sure there’s an overnight before the last leg● or make sure there’s an airport change● or just make a fuss and get your bags back
● Don’t book via a travel agent
Read the Fare Rules
Adding stops
Transfers
● Defined as <24h● Limited number allowed ● Normally free
Stopovers
● Defined as >24h ● Normally chargeable ● Sometimes free
Adding Transfers DUB->LAX->HNL->LAS->LHR
Adding Stopovers FRA-LHR-SIN-BKK-HKG-LHR-FRA
Adding Stopovers FRA-LHR-SIN-BKK-HKG-LHR-FRA
Adding Stopovers CPH-LHR-JFK-LHR-CPH
ComfortHave the most enjoyable experience while flying
Free upgrades
Free upgrades
Paid upgrade
POUGsPromotional Online Upgrades
- check emails from the airline
- check MMB often
Cost?
- ET to CE - £59-139- WT to WT+ - £85-250- WT+ to CW - £400-599- CW to F - £400-599
AUGsAirport Upgrades
- usually offered at check-in desk
- more expensive than POUGs
Cost?
- ET to CE - £75-150- WT to WT+ - £229- WT+ to CW - £400-800- CW to F - £599
Upgrade with miles
British Airways Executive Club
Avios
- awarded based on miles flown- class bonuses (up to 300%)- tier bonuses (up to 100%)- can be used to spend on flights,
car hire, hotels, etc.
Tier Points
- fixed amount per flight segment- different to different classes- reset every year- collect to get / retain status
LCY-AMS
Example avios and tier points earning table.
LHR-SIN
Example avios and tier points earning table.
- oneworld alliance- airline partners- hotels- credit cards- tesco- shopping at avios.com
Collecting avios
Spending avios
8000 avios + £35 will get you...
13000 avios + £35 will get you...
17000 avios + £35 will get you...
Standard RedemptionsAvios + applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges
Upgrades with Avios
Status
Blue - collect avios - spend avios
Bronze - 25% bonus avios - free advance (7 days) seat selection - business class check-in - priority boarding
Silver - 50% bonus avios - free advance seat selection - lounge access + guest - additional checked bag when flying economy - overweight baggage fee waived
Gold - 100% bonus avios - free advance seat selection (including front row seats)
- First Class lounge access + guest - extra bag in all classes - Arrivals lounge access (no guest)
- Additional redemption availability
Status progress
Free to join 2 BA flights
+
300 tier points or 25 flights
4 BA flights
+
600 tier points or 50 flights
4 BA flights
+
1500 tier points
Airline alliances
oneworld - 15 members; 155 countries / 1010 airports served
Star Alliance - 27 members; 193 countries / 1321 airport served
Sky Team - 20 members; 171 countries / 1052 airports served
Seat Selection
Seat Guru
- Covers all airlines
The BA Source
- Very detailed on BA flights
ex-EU business cheaperthan UK economy
LHR-SXM£836.41in coach
Tier points earned: 100Avios earned: 5883
MAD-SXM£868.60in Business Class
Tier points earned: 420Avios earned: 14709
MAD-SXM£889.97in Business Class
Tier points earned: 360Avios earned: 14064
LHR-SXM£2,599.31in Business Class
Tier points earned: 400Avios earned: 15298
LHR-SXM£891.07in Business Class
Tier points earned: 420Avios earned: 14065
LHR-SXMearning 420 TPs
Tier Point runs
LHR-LAXearning 280 TPs
LHR-LAXearning 560 TPs
LHR-LASearning 280 TPs
LHR-LASearning 860 TPs
LHR-HNLearning 700 TPs
LHR-HNLearning 1120 TPs
CPH-HNLearning 1360 TPs
LAX-PTYearning 980 TPs
Summary
Thanks!