Things to consider when booking a flight

Schedules, transfer status, using Miles, and more…When booking a flight, looking at certain details can pay off in convenience, as well as time and cash savings!

Passports, visas and other documents

If you are planning to travel abroad, the first step is to review the travel requirements of the country you’re visiting. Learn about passport requirements, visa applications, and vaccination requirements. You can visit the link for the travel requirements of various countries.

When to buy a plane ticket

After completing the first step – getting your travel requirements in order – it is time to look at ticket fares. In addition to purchasing a ticket in advance to avoid higher fares, you can find periodic fare reductions via various flight ticket campaigns.

How long before the flight should I buy a ticket?

If your flight is more than seven months away, you don’t need to rush to purchase a ticket. However, it may be beneficial to follow plane ticket campaigns, which we’ll discuss later. We can estimate that the ideal time to search for international flights is about four to five months before your intended departure date. For domestic flights, booking a reservation one or two months before your departure should be sufficient. Booking a flight later, rather than earlier, leaves you with fewer alternatives.

“The ticket prices change according to the date of booking or intensity of demand. For example, while a passenger traveling to Bodrum buys their ticket on average 10 days before their intended departure date, a passenger who will travel to the Far East makes their plans six to seven months earlier and performs the booking likewise. Our friends specialized in demand analysis foresee this situation and determine the ticket rates accordingly.”

In short: Avoid the popular periods of your destination

The autumn and winter months are the ideal time to watch the northern lights in Iceland so, naturally, the number of people who want to travel to the region rises during these periods, and ticket fares rise in line with demand. For instance, Istanbul-Bodrum plane ticket fares are at their highest levels in the summer months, while traveling to Bodrum in February may enable  you to buy a ticket at a lower fare. Another example: if you opt to visit Japan when it isn’t the cherry blossom season, you can enjoy a holiday with fewer tourists and your ticket fares may also be accordingly lower. 

Don’t miss out on flight ticket campaigns

Stay abreast of the flight ticket campaigns that airlines conduct periodically. You can enjoy great travel opportunities at very reasonable prices; as well, if you take regular trips for business or pleasure, you can purchase less expensive tickets during the campaign periods. You can click on the link for the current plane ticket campaigns offered by Turkish Airlines.

Which payment method is best when booking a flight?

As a Miles&Smiles member, you can collect Miles for every flight.  Readers who are not already Miles&Smiles members can easily complete the membership process via the link. Another rather effortless way to collect Miles – without having to fly – is to use credit cards that accumulate Miles. In addition to the advantage of earning Miles from your daily purchases, it is also possible to purchase a plane ticket in installments at no additional cost. The answer to the question in the title seems clear: Credit cards that accumulate miles are the most advantageous payment method when buying airline tickets.

What is the ideal layover time?

If your flight has more than one segment, an important point to consider is the layover time. The longer the time between flights, your journey can become more tiring . On the other hand, organizations such as Touristanbul transform your dull layover time into a novel experience.  If you have an international flight with a connection time between six and 24 hours in Istanbul, you can explore the city by taking advantage of our free Touristanbul service. In any case, you should ensure that your layover is long enough to make the next leg of your flight – but not so long that it becomes tedious. You may want to review the layouts of the airports to which you are traveling. Accordingly, 60- to 90-minute transfers on domestic flights may be ideal. For international flights, you can double this time.

What is your baggage allowance and which additional services do you want?

Most of us bring luggage when we travel. When booking a flight, pay attention to the baggage allowance permitted per your ticket, as well as the dimensions and weight for carry-on baggage and extra baggage allowance applications.