The aviation industry is a vital part of the economy of any country. The growth in this sector does not only add up to gross domestic product (GDP), but also signifies change in lifestyle. A shift in the demand for air tickets has been observed all across the globe for international as well as domestic flights. For instance, instead of booking a seat in a train, which can take several hours, Indian travellers now preferring flights to Kolkata from South Indian cities or other places located at a long distance. Increased safety standards, technological upgrade, low price and reach of flights to different cities of the nation are some of the important reasons behind this behavioural change.
Pricing and Offers
The industry as a whole has evolved since its inception and has emerged as one of the most organised sectors. The price of tickets is purely decided by demand and supply forces, unlike in the 1980s, when several airlines had a firm control over the pricing mechanism. The onset of low-cost carriers (LCCs) has brought a number of changes in the way this sector was managed. Earlier, entry and exit into this industry was restricted, which now is free and any entrepreneur with required resources and skills can join it. The aviation industry is booming and many business organisations would like to grab the opportunity to invest and reap high returns later. Neither the risk associated with this business is low or the competition. Airlines roll out deals and offers to allure customers by cutting some percentage of their razor-thin profits. Travellers can take advantage of the cheap air ticket price and reduce the cost of travel trip significantly.
Frequent Flyer Programs and Social Networking Sites
Experts advise on grabbing every opportunity provided by airlines in the form of frequent-flyer programs, promo codes or issuance of special cards, unless carriers do not charge a hefty amount to make it. As it has been observed by frequent fliers, these cards help them in getting better seats or access to different services quite easily. Accumulated points on these cards or programs can be used to access airport lounge, getting yearly magazine subscription or seat upgrade. Along with these memberships, they can subscribe to email alerts from various travel portals and can follow them on social networking sites also. Most of the times, airlines offer discounted price on tickets for a limited period only, and if not booked at right time travellers may lose the chance to travel on a cheap ticket.
Combining Two Separate Tickets
Many a times, getting tickets from two different airlines prove to be economic than booking it from a single carrier, in case of a break journey. However, travellers have to keep in mind the time difference before this mix and match experiment as it may take hours to get through formalities for boarding and de-boarding different flights.
Checking Refund Policies before Making Seat Reservations
In case, travelling is fixed and there is zero per cent chances of changing it, people can book any ticket after comparing amenities and prices. However, in case of an uncertain or probable journey date, refund policies must be checked before final booking. Many airlines have lenient terms and conditions regarding cancellation or amendment process, but many charge a huge amount from travellers.
Martin Wynn
