A traveller looking at the details on their flight at an airport. Picture: Unsplash
When it comes to international travel, paying for your trip in rands can be a sobering experience.
As a South African traveller, finding a good deal or discount can make all the difference in your wallet in terms of where you can go, what you can experience and how long you can stay.
The Travel Corporation (TTC) said that taking advantage of travel perks could also be a way to travel a more direct route to get there or stay in more luxurious accommodation – even if you’re on a limited budget.
If you’re planning your next bucket list overseas adventure, here are five hacks for getting the best travel perks for your trip:
Play the upgrade game
TTC said the “holy grail” of travel – the unexpected flight upgrade – was not as unreachable as people thought.
If you didn’t want to pay for an upgrade, your best chance of getting upgraded to a higher-class cabin on your flight was to become a member of that airline’s frequent flyer programme.
“After this, choose a time to fly that’s not likely to be full, both in terms of the time of year and the time of the day. While this can be hard to predict, an airline can tell you ahead of time which flights are likely to have lighter loads, which can also mean lower fares.
“You’re also more likely to be upgraded if you’re travelling alone and, of course, don’t forget to politely ask for an upgrade rather than waiting for it to be offered to you.”
Join a referral programme
TTC said some travel brands offered referral programmes under which you got rewards or discounts on your next stay if you referred guests who booked with them.
An example of that was its Global Tour Rewards Guest Referral Programme where past guests could refer their family and friends to specific tours to brands such as Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar or Contiki tours and then receive a R1 500 travel credit for each guest referred.
“The bonus is that there’s no cap on the number of travel credits you as a past guest can earn, so the more people you refer, the more credits you’ll get.
“A bonus is that with their Rand Price Guarantee, once you've paid your deposit, your trip price will not change despite currency fluctuations.”
Maximise the convenience of your credit card
The travel rewards company said most credit cards offered travel-related perks, including travel insurance, airport lounge access and easy access to forex, while some let you earn points every time you spent on your card.
The points could be used for a future trip, whether it was cash back on bookings, hotel points or air miles.
“Some airlines, such as British Airways, Emirates and Air France, offer their own credit cards that earn you many more miles than if you book a flight using your regular credit card.”
Join brand loyalty programmes
Whether an airline frequent flyer programme or a loyalty programme with an international hotel chain, your loyalty could translate into significant discounts on future travel.
“Some hotel booking engines also offer their own rewards programmes that you can use for any hotel you book through them.
“For instance, Booking.com’s Genius loyalty programme allows you to accumulate points with each booking, enabling you to enjoy discounts on future accommodation and car hire, or even score free upgrades or breakfasts during your stay,” TTC said.
Work with a travel professional
While the internet had empowered travellers to do their own research, there could be value in using a travel professional such as a travel agent or concierge, TTC said.
“Some travel agencies may be able to get you preferred rates for flights, while others may have partnerships with hotels that can get you perks such as free breakfast, late checkouts or room upgrades on your booking.
“Expert travel concierges can also be helpful if you’re a time-starved traveller who wants someone else to take care of the booking details and itinerary. They can also be on hand to help with any logistical snags you may encounter while you’re on your trip.”
While getting travel perks might require research and forward planning, the rewards could be worth it.
“By planning your trip strategically, in terms of who you fly with, where you stay and how you pay for it, you can lay the groundwork for some satisfying travel perks when you travel again in future,” said TTC.