Travel Tips
Breaking Up Is Not Hard To Do...
How To Save On Your International Journey: Part 2
Posted by: Alex Snead (Director and Founder of Jetabroad.com)
In the previous article we talked about how to save on international journeys by breaking up the fare using gateway destinations, which are common stopping points for many airlines. If you missed that tip you can find it here.
This time we're looking at another way to save money - always a popular topic - using 'codeshare' flights. You may have already experienced a codeshare when you have booked tickets with one airline and found yourself flying with another carrier. Codeshare agreements between airlines enable the carriers involved to book seats on one another's flights. A carrier may have these types of agreements in place with several other airlines.
You can realise several benefits from flying on codeshare flights. Firstly, you have access to more connections - so if an airline you're flying with doesn't go to, say, Boston, one of its codeshare partners probably does. Codesharing generally also allows you to earn your frequent flyer points and have access to all your regular lounges, even though you're flying with a different airline from the one shown on your ticket.
With codesharing, you are able to fly seamlessly on single-ticket pricing from one destination to another, checking your bags right through, even though your first carrier may not fly to the end point.
It's possible to benefit from codeshare services - and prices - even if you travel on exactly the same flight, even in the same seat, as long as you are booked with a codeshare partner. Here's a real example...
Example: Codeshare Sydney to New York City
Booking an all American Airlines itinerary (using the American codeshare service between Sydney and Los Angeles) will cost $2374.62 return (lowest economy airfare, 19-26 February 2006).
Flying Qantas to Los Angeles - then using American Airlines flight numbers to/from New York - the same seat will cost you $1819.62.
Better yet, using an all Qantas itinerary - using the Qantas codeshare services between Los Angeles and New York - the same seat will cost you $1800.52.
The crazy thing is that you will sit in the same seat, earn the same number of points, and depart and arrive at exactly the same time! The only difference is that your domestic US boarding passes have 'Qantas' written on them instead of 'American Airlines'... and you save between $19 and $574!
And you can't be sure that one airline will always be cheaper than another on any given route. Two weeks ago, an all-American Airlines ticket to New York would have been the lowest cost option: almost $200 less than flying with an all-Qantas ticket.
Sadly, all too often, unwitting passengers assume that they are benefiting from a codeshare arrangement while they actually pay more for the same trip.
So how do you make sure that you're always getting the right seat at the right price? It's easy! Here at Jetabroad, we do all the hard work for you. Every time you search for a flight with us, we will identify all the best options including codeshare flights. You don't even have to think about it!
At Jetabroad, we are committed to finding the very best flight options for you every time you visit us. We will continue to use our knowledge of the travel industry to help you find the best way to reach your destination, no matter where you fly.