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!

Lost baggage:

Generally it is aprox ZAR160 per kilogram across the board except for Mango who offers ZAR2500 per passenger.

Weight Limits:

The most you are allowed is 25 Kilograms with 1time however the norm is 20Kilos. Hand luggage is 5 Kilos on 1 time and goes up to 8 Kilograms with SAA.

Excess bagage charges:

The cost for excess baggage ranges from ZAR20 per kilo on 1Time and up to ZAR28 a kilo on South African airways.

Final word on baggage: Be sure that you leave the checkin counter with your baggage tag do not give this to anyone else and do not loose it as this is proof that the airline has your bags and where it will be transporting them to.

Well here are a few links for you to book direct with the airlines:

• www.kulula.com
• www.1time.co.za
• www.flymango.co.za

If you would like to run a search on various options try either of the following:

• www.travel247.co.za
• www.travelclub.co.za
• www.cheapfares.co.za

Booking with airlines is sometimes not the best policy, pay the extra service fee and get the backup service from a great travel agent, it is worth it for peace of mind.