fly in style (without splashing out)

Fly in style without splashing outCiaran McNulty & Marek Matulka

CostSpending as little as possible

LHR-JFK£419.55

LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00

LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00UK government fees: £114.65US government fees: £41.90

LHR-JFK£419.55BA ticket cost: £100.00UK government fees: £114.65US government fees: £41.90BA fuel surcharge: £163.00

Pricing is demand-driven

● Scheduled 10-12 months in advance● Aircraft positioning crucial to operations● Inconvenient for the airline to cancel

Airlines hide pricing

Google flights

https://flights.google.com

● Very fast ● Great for direct flights● Includes nearly all economy

airlines● Can’t search ranges / multiple

destinations

ITA Matrix (owned by Google)

https://matrix.itasoftware.com

● Slow(er)● Very wide searches● No budget airlines● HUGELY powerful extra options

Example:LHR-LAX in July?

Codeshares: Same flight; different airline

Finding more deals

ConvenienceVary travel time and route

LHR-SIN direct for Easter

LHR-SIN with a layover for Easter

Don’t fly from the UK!

● Different pricing models in different markets● Tax/Duty differences● Exchange rate differences● On sale at different times● Public holidays at different times

DUB (Dublin)

● 1 hour from London Gatwick, Heathrow, City● English-speaking● US customs pre-clearance

AMS (Amsterdam)

● KLM Hub● 5-6 flights/day to major UK Cities● ~ 1hr flight time

LHR-LAX in Julyfrom £984

All prices in economy. - 2 weeks - travel with BA or OW

DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £774

All prices in economy.

Pros: - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB

Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required

Positioning flights

Unlinked tickets:

● LON -> DUB ● DUB -> LAX

● Give a buffer between your positioning flight and the main fare (night before?)

● or try going back-to-back● Make sure your travel insurance

handles missed departures!

DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £774

All prices in economy.

Pros: - Instant £200 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB

Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required

DUB-LAX in Julyfrom £874

All prices in business.

Pros: - Instant £100 saving per person - US Immigration passed at DUB - Business not Economy!

Cons: - Needs to pay for travel to DUB - Overnight accommodation may be required

DUB-LAX-LHR in July

Dropping last legs

● Go hand baggage only● or make sure there’s an overnight before the last leg● or make sure there’s an airport change● or just make a fuss and get your bags back

● Don’t book via a travel agent

Read the Fare Rules

Adding stops

Transfers

● Defined as <24h● Limited number allowed ● Normally free

Stopovers

● Defined as >24h ● Normally chargeable ● Sometimes free

Adding Transfers DUB->LAX->HNL->LAS->LHR

Adding Stopovers FRA-LHR-SIN-BKK-HKG-LHR-FRA

Adding Stopovers FRA-LHR-SIN-BKK-HKG-LHR-FRA

Adding Stopovers CPH-LHR-JFK-LHR-CPH

ComfortHave the most enjoyable experience while flying

Free upgrades

Free upgrades

Paid upgrade

POUGsPromotional Online Upgrades

- check emails from the airline

- check MMB often

Cost?

- ET to CE - £59-139- WT to WT+ - £85-250- WT+ to CW - £400-599- CW to F - £400-599

AUGsAirport Upgrades

- usually offered at check-in desk

- more expensive than POUGs

Cost?

- ET to CE - £75-150- WT to WT+ - £229- WT+ to CW - £400-800- CW to F - £599

Upgrade with miles

British Airways Executive Club

Avios

- awarded based on miles flown- class bonuses (up to 300%)- tier bonuses (up to 100%)- can be used to spend on flights,

car hire, hotels, etc.

Tier Points

- fixed amount per flight segment- different to different classes- reset every year- collect to get / retain status

LCY-AMS

Example avios and tier points earning table.

LHR-SIN

Example avios and tier points earning table.

- oneworld alliance- airline partners- hotels- credit cards- tesco- shopping at avios.com

Collecting avios

Spending avios

8000 avios + £35 will get you...

13000 avios + £35 will get you...

17000 avios + £35 will get you...

Standard RedemptionsAvios + applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges

Upgrades with Avios

Status

Blue - collect avios - spend avios

Bronze - 25% bonus avios - free advance (7 days) seat selection - business class check-in - priority boarding

Silver - 50% bonus avios - free advance seat selection - lounge access + guest - additional checked bag when flying economy - overweight baggage fee waived

Gold - 100% bonus avios - free advance seat selection (including front row seats)

- First Class lounge access + guest - extra bag in all classes - Arrivals lounge access (no guest)

- Additional redemption availability

Status progress

Free to join 2 BA flights

+

300 tier points or 25 flights

4 BA flights

+

600 tier points or 50 flights

4 BA flights

+

1500 tier points

Airline alliances

oneworld - 15 members; 155 countries / 1010 airports served

Star Alliance - 27 members; 193 countries / 1321 airport served

Sky Team - 20 members; 171 countries / 1052 airports served

Seat Selection

Seat Guru

- Covers all airlines

The BA Source

- Very detailed on BA flights

ex-EU business cheaperthan UK economy

LHR-SXM£836.41in coach

Tier points earned: 100Avios earned: 5883

MAD-SXM£868.60in Business Class

Tier points earned: 420Avios earned: 14709

MAD-SXM£889.97in Business Class

Tier points earned: 360Avios earned: 14064

LHR-SXM£2,599.31in Business Class

Tier points earned: 400Avios earned: 15298

LHR-SXM£891.07in Business Class

Tier points earned: 420Avios earned: 14065

LHR-SXMearning 420 TPs

Tier Point runs

LHR-LAXearning 280 TPs

LHR-LAXearning 560 TPs

LHR-LASearning 280 TPs

LHR-LASearning 860 TPs

LHR-HNLearning 700 TPs

LHR-HNLearning 1120 TPs

CPH-HNLearning 1360 TPs

LAX-PTYearning 980 TPs

Summary

Thanks!