Flying internationally often means spending long hours in the air. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you choose the best airline for your requirements. If you are struggling to know where to start in finding the best airline for your needs, this article should help you.
Best International Airlines
We all want comfort as well as convenience when flying internationally. Unlike domestic flights, international airlines will offer certain facilities to make the journey as enjoyable as possible. With a network covering the Middle East, South East and Central Asia, Africa, Europe and the Indian subcontinent, passengers who want to fly from Dubai have several options, especially if they are looking for some well-priced luxury. Seats are offered as either economy or business class. If you are looking for a business class flight, you can expect VIP treatment on the ground in the form of priority services, faster flight check-in and access to business lounges. In the air, the well-spaced seats are made from soft Italian leather, and with built-in lumbar support, a generous recline and extendable leg rests, your flight will be taken in comfort. Meals on board are internationally inspired, and you can choose from a wide range of menu options that cater to allergies and religious requirements. The search facility for booking flights with FlyDubai is very simple – just select your destination, whether you are travelling one-way or need a return flight, how many passengers and what class. The date selection allows for some flexibility – you can see if flying on a slightly different day makes the journey cheaper on the results page. You can also book over the phone, or by going to a partner travel agent if you prefer to book in person.
From humble beginnings in 1919 to running 25 aircraft in Latin America to being entrusted with the Columbian delegation at the 1950 Olympics in Australia, the Avianca business has grown and developed to offer global travel opportunities and puts on 4,000 flights per week. Searching for flights is simple, with a straightforward planning portal that includes departure and arrival options, the dates you want to travel and how many passengers. Through the filters, you can decide if you want to make it a one-way or round trip, and you can even make group reservations, which is a great option if you are headed on a work function. Once you have booked your flights, you can upgrade with the click of a button to business class. Frequent fliers can take advantage of reward miles with the LifeMiles scheme, and Avianca also offers a credit card to earn even more miles.
Possibly best known for their luxury business and first-class services, all passengers can enjoy a comfortable, relaxing experience during their flight. With cabins designed to allow for lower pressure and higher humidity, many travelers find that they suffer less from jet lag. Little touches like hot towels and a welcome drink will help you to settle in your seat and enjoy the experience.
With a menu provided in affiliation with a top Viennese restaurant, extensive in-flight entertainment options and comfortable seats, which can be reserved up to a year before departure, a long-haul flight needn’t feel like a chore.
Operating transatlantic flights, the airline offers all passengers pre-flight drinks and refreshing hot towels. Recent improvements also mean that passengers can enjoy an enhanced dining experience with new menus across all classes.
Passengers can enjoy top-quality food, friendly customer service and comfortable seating. Those traveling business class are also able to make use of airport lounges and sleep rooms.
Best known for providing the world’s longest non-stop route between New York and Changi Airport, they are industry leaders when it comes to providing reliable, comfortable flights. They are continually upgrading their offerings across classes, with recent additions including a farm-to-plane catering program and wellness service.
Operating out of Dubai, Emirates has a reputation for providing the ultimate in luxury air travel. Whether you are an economy or first-class passenger, you will be welcomed on board by attentive staff who are happy to help with anything you need. The in-flight entertainment system also offers 1,800 channels to choose from and Wi-Fi connectivity.
It is probably most well known for its colorful Hello Kitty aeroplanes, which makes the airline popular with plane spotters and children alike. Passengers particularly enjoy the spacious Premium Economy options and the Michelin-chef-inspired menu.
Passengers on long-haul flights can enjoy a three-course meal and a light snack before landing. The generous baggage allowance means that you don’t have to worry about packing light.
Passengers can enjoy in-flight entertainment, refreshments and comfortable seating.
Their popular stop-over program allows individuals to take advantage of vouchers for four and five-star hotels. Passengers also enjoy the excellent menu, as well as helpful and attentive staff.
Rather than looking at each individual airline, which is time-consuming, comparison sites offer a range of prices from a variety of airlines. They are easy to use, and you can see the results almost instantly. Most comparison sites will only require you to enter your starting location, your destination and the date you want to travel. They will also show you options for return flights and enable you to choose whether you fly via another location. It is worth noting, however, that comparison websites don’t always have access to prices for the entire market. Some airlines will choose to only be featured on specific sites. It is therefore a good idea to use more than one site. Here are some of the best flight comparison websites: Boasting a powerful search engine as well as a secure mobile app that makes finding and booking flights simple and easy, OneTravel is an uncomplicated way to book international travel on the go. The mobile app is secure and easy to navigate, with native accessibility for both Android and iOS, and includes payment options. To find the perfect flight, you can choose your departure and destination by specific airport or city. Flight options include one way or round trip, and you can also set up a multi-city flight plan if you are exploring. The dates that you can choose are shown in a pop-out calendar. As most airlines have different options depending on age, the passenger choice includes age, specifically for children, infants and babies. When you click ‘search’, the OneTravel algorithms look through all the available flights that match your criteria, producing easy to read results that start with the cheapest options. The prices shown are per person and include all taxes and fees, but you can filter and sort your results based on other options like the shortest flight, a preferred airline, and how many stops or layovers there are.
Pros
With both a website and a mobile app available, CheapOair allows passengers to book flights, hotels, car hire, and even packages and activities using a simple search function. The results returned are listed in price order, and you will also see recommendations for potentially cheaper dates and airports or flights that are shorter or faster as well. The prices shown are all in, including fees and taxes per person. If you are not ready to fly just yet, you can sign up for price alerts to be notified of any last-minute deals or exclusive discounts to certain locations. CheapOair also offers a reward scheme for booking through its site, and a credit card backed by VISA that earns reward points on travel, dining and other purchases.
Cons
Tickets are non-refundable.
Originally established in 1989, CheapAir has sold more than five million airfares and uses a proprietary shopping engine to search for the best deals available online, including last minute and first-class options. The search engine itself has similar options to other sites – you can select the basic information like departure and arrival point (by airport or city) and whether you are looking for a one-way or round-trip ticket. There is also an option to find multi-city travel tickets too. Once you have selected your preferred dates, you can choose the number of travellers and the class – including economy, premium economy, business and first-class. The results are loaded with the cheapest options first, but you can refine the choices by other class options, airlines and whether there are any stops. The results also show you what amenities are available on the flight.
Pros
Many payment options – not only does it offer a monthly payment system, but it also began accepting bitcoin as payment for flights back in 2013, and it now accepts Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Dash, as well as fiat currency.
As well as using comparison websites, there is a range of other things you can do to get the best possible deal.
Check the Flight in a Different Currency
This may seem unlikely to work, but it really does. If your currency is strong compared to others, try searching for flights in a weaker currency. Airlines will often price flights based on the affordability of that country. By comparing the currencies, you can save yourself some money on your tickets.
Book Early
Many airlines will allow you to book your flights months in advance. It is always best to start looking as soon as you can as the prices are likely to increase if the flight is in high demand.
Look Out for Sales
Airlines will offer sales throughout the year, although this is most common in January when people start thinking about their summer holidays. Booking your flights during a sale can mean that you are able to find a significant discount compared to the standard price.
Be Flexible About When You Travel
Certain days and times are cheaper to fly than others. For example, it is generally more expensive to fly on a Saturday than it is on a Tuesday. Evening flights also tend to be slightly cheaper than morning flights. Being flexible about exactly when you travel can mean that you are able to choose a cheaper flight.
Don’t Fly Direct
It is often cheaper to book flights that go via another location. This may mean a layover or time spent waiting for your connecting flight. However, it will give you the option of switching airlines and saving potentially hundreds of dollars.
Consider Using Smaller Airports
Many smaller airports will have flights coming in and out from budget airlines. These airports may not be the most modern or closest to your destination. However, they will be a lot cheaper than flights to more well-known airports. It is worth seeing whether there is a smaller airport near to where you want to go. You may need to pay for a taxi, but you will potentially save money on your flight.
Search Incognito
You may have noticed that repeated searches show increasing prices. This isn’t a coincidence. The cookies on your browser will notice when a flight or destination is searched for repeatedly, and this will lead to price increases in an attempt to get you to book quickly before it increases again. Searching via incognito or private-browsing mode will avoid this happening as your information is not tracked in the same way it would be through your usual browsing mode.
Final Thoughts
International travel can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. By using some of the tips and tricks in this article, you should be able to find a deal that frees up some holiday spending money and allows you to relax, knowing you booked your flights at the best possible price.
