With the low cost fares that are available in the market today people are researching the alternatives for their own add on flights. This can save you money in the short term however will it be in your best interest long term?

Why you ask? Well here are a few reasons and explanations. If you are booked on lets say a PE Johannesburg to London flight, you are booked all the way through on one ticket. This means you have a contract with those airlines to get you from point A to point B as you were ticketed. So if there is any deviation along the way or a delay caused by either airline, then it is the airlines responsibility to get you to point B and handle any delays or deviations that may happen. This includes delays. Now if you were booked on PE to Johannesburg on a low cost carrier and had a delay, you have 2 separate contracts and would need to take it up with the different airlines to have the issue sorted. Often the airline can turn around and say tough you should have travel insurance. This theory goes round the world and should be remembered when doing different ad ons at your destination in Europe of the USA or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Another point to note on the issue of separate domestic tickets is that when you connect to the USA where they use the piece concept. If you are booked through on one ticket then your whole ticket will be the piece concept including the domestic legs. If you however used separate domestic add ons then your local domestic tickets will be at the kilo rate which is generally 20 kilos. See the complications and extra charges that can arise?

Book smart!

Yup it is now official this has been posetd on the UK embassy website:

http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/visas-for-the-uk/

New Visa requirements for South African nationals visiting the UK

With effect from Tuesday 03 March, South African passport holders will require a visa in order to visit or transit the United Kingdom. However, until mid-2009, South African nationals who have previously travelled to the UK on their current passport will be exempt from the visa requirement. This decision follows a global review of the UK’s pre-entry immigration controls and reflects the UK government’s commitment to strengthen its borders.

For full details visit www.vfs-uk-za.com or call 082 234 4450

UK visa needed by South African travelling to the UK.

Well it has happend it has been talked about for over a year and it is now coming true. It is been reported that from the 03 March 2009. The most informative article that I have found that confirms this is here:

The Times

This means that if you plan on going to, from or via the UK you will need to get a visa. This visa will cost you currently in the region of ZAR1000 exluding processing fees. It will be intersting to see how the visa process will be handled with VFS here in South Africa and the British High Commision. We have seen fiascos with change with the UK before and prepare to brace yourself for another one if the history is anything to go by.

Questions and emails remain unanswered so as soon as we get some answers and more info on the price, validility, what is needed to apply, can you apply in person or must you apply at VFS, can you use a courier service etc we will publish it here.

Today lets look at something which effects all the travellers that ever purchase a ticket. This is date changing and restrictions on tickets. Note to self though if you work through an agent you can expect to pay a service fee for them to change the ticket. You must be aware that the ticket you purchase does have restrictions. We have discussed refunds before however lets touch on it again which looking at conditions of the flight tickets. Here are some fare rules as examples:

here is one of the most restrictive tickets that you can get:

CANCELLATIONS

ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED IN CASE OF REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

Here is a less restrictive ticket:

ORIGINATING SOUTH AFRICA -
CANCELLATIONS

BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE 50 PERCENT.
NOTE -
CHARGE 50 PERCENT OF THE FARE PAID.

AFTER DEPARTURE
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
NOTE -
REBOOKING PERMITTED – CHARGE ZAR 300.00

Here is an example of a non restrictive ticket:

CANCELLATIONS

ANY TIME
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED.
NOTE -
FULL REFUND LESS ADMINISTRATION FEE.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.

These are some examples of the restrictions you can expect to see on the ticket. Just for reference these examples are taken from SAA on the JHB ACC route. The fare difference between the most restrictive and the less restrictive is ZAR8320. Be aware of what you are purchasing and generally you are getting what you pay for. Here is a TIP. If you need a changeable ticket advise this to your agent and ask for the rules of the ticket prior to making payment and issuing the ticket because if the ticket is non refundable changes etc CANNOT be done at a later stage.