JETSETTERS are saving hundreds of dollars surfing the net for the cheapest flights.
But some travellers are getting caught in a web of excessive fees on top of airline surcharges, a review warns.
A consumer road test has found that for domestic trips, comparison sites are often best used to check costs, but not necessarily to buy, because of steep booking, cancellation and flight change fees.
However for overseas flights, sites offered savings of hundreds of dollars, or up to 25 per cent, even when booking.
The Choice research reveals passengers dealing with some sites are being slugged up to $50 to book online, up to $110 to change flights, and up to $500 to cancel.
It rated jetabroad.com.au, zuji.com.au and wotflight.com (to/from New Zealand only) as top picks in a snapshot survey of international economy return flights to the UK, US and across the Tasman.
Spokeswoman Ingrid Just said travellers could save hundreds of dollars by expanding searches beyond best-known flight comparison sites.
''Don't treat any site as a one-stop shop, even those that compare the greatest number of carriers won't necessarily quote the lowest price,'' a Choice report advises.
''Flight comparison sites are a great starting point - they're a fast and convenient way to compare flights across dozens of airlines, as well as alert you to sale fares.
''But given their sometimes exorbitant fees and charges, they're not always the most cost-effective way to book your ticket.
''They also won't necessarily compare all fares on the market, and the fares they advertise to entice traffic may not be available as soon as you start searching.''
Choice suggests plugging in different flight combinations, carriers and dates; scouring airline sites directly as well as comparison sites; considering breaking up journeys with an overnight stay then using a different airline for the next leg; and checking whether quoted prices include basic insurance.
The consumer body compared costs for identical overseas flights on the same dates. It noted quotes can depend on a range of factors including availability and airline sales, and may vary from day to day.
Sites were assessed on price, charges and user-friendliness.
Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au
Comments
* Weigh In
* Corrections?
No comments:
Post a Comment