Why Should I Book Indirect Flights
Indirect Flights are growing in popularity due to a number of reasons. Not only are they cheaper than direct flights but also offer exciting opportunities like checking out new airports, flying with different carriers, and more duty free shopping. Date : Thursday, January 13, 2011
Indirect flights have their own fan following. The biggest draw behind booking an indirect flight is the money one gets to save on travel because these are cheap. Other perks include a wider array of airlines to choose from, a chance to fly with different airlines on a single trip and opportunity to explore the stopover airport or destination. With so many benefits, indirect flights are growing in popularity and more and more people go online to search indirect flights while finalising travel plans. Here is a detailed look into the benefits of indirect flights.
Phenomenal Cost Savings
It is a well known fact that indirect flights usually work out to be much cheaper than direct flights. More breaks or connections translate as higher savings on air travel bookings, a reason that prompts many travellers to make their airline bookings over a number of legs. Many travellers such as those on round the world trip or back packers would not even mind including more than one stop over in their itineraries.
More Flight Choices and More Savings
Travellers who split up their journey into different legs and book each leg separately can select from amongst different carriers serving different legs of their travel. This means, one can zero down upon the cheap fares by comparing the different ticket prices. Cutting costs by making indirect flight bookings is a global trend and numerous indirect flight choices can be found on most long haul routes.
Experience Flying with New Airlines
A direct flight restricts one to a particular airline. For instance, booking a direct Emirates flight from Dubai to Hong Kong, be it a direct non-stop flight or a hopping one at Bangkok will give just the limited opportunity to the traveller to experience only Emirate’s in-flight and ground service. On the other hand, those flying Emirates from Dubai to Bangkok and connecting with Thai Airways from Bangkok to Hong Kong would not only experience the warm Emirati generosity but also get to experience the rich Thai hospitality on their journey onboard as well as on the ground.
Many frequent travellers apart from saving a fortune over a period of time by booking indirect flights also develop a huge knowledgebase on the services and facilities offered by different airlines as well as about various global destinations. This knowledge and information about the airlines and destinations makes these travellers into out-and-out air travel consultants which enables them to make the best possible choices for their future journeys as well as negotiate better deals with the travel agents. After all knowledge is power.
Checking out Different Airports and Destinations
Many people love flying. If you are one of them but travel less, then you can utilise your rare chance to travel by booking an indirect connecting flight through a popular stopover destination such as Dubai or India and get the opportunity to discover these destinations enroute the final destination. The length of the stopover could range from a few hours spent at the lavish airports to a couple of days exploring the entire destination. However make sure that you meet the necessary entry requirements relating to transit visa and other immigration regulations for these destinations.
For example, people on long haul flights to Sydney from London can book a two night stopover at any of the charming Far East destinations of Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong.
Shopping Prospects at the Connecting Airport
By choosing an exotic airport for the stopover, one gets the chance to indulge in some gratifying retail therapy. A case in point is the Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3. Anyone who takes an indirect flight with Emirates Airlines with a stopover in Dubai is in for mega world of shopping at the swanky Terminal 3, which is totally dedicated to Emirates Airlines. One can easily spend hours at the terminal sifting through the numerous shopping stores here selling countless exotic products ranging from confectionery items and cosmetics to electronic goods and jewellery.
Besides Dubai, there are quite a few other choices for some marvellous airport shopping before boarding a connecting flight. All that one needs to do is a little careful research and consult an expert travel agent.
Charm of flying Airbus A380
Many travellers who wish to experience the luxury and comfort of flying aboard Airbus A380 also resort to booking connecting flights. There are currently a handful of A380 aircrafts with only five airlines globally. These limited planes are deployed on select long haul routes of these airlines and may not be available if one chooses to book direct flights. For example, those travelling from UK to Sydney can book Qantas flights with a connection at Singapore from where the airliner operates A380 flight to Sydney.
