AIRFARE HACKS
Airline miles are a good way to offset flight bills, mentioned Mr Wong, who prefers to fly enterprise class on long-haul flights and makes use of his miles to improve his tickets.
“The miles required for premium economic system are 80 per cent of enterprise class, and the consolation depth is so completely different,” mentioned Mr Wong.
For these whose jobs or commitments permit them the flexibleness to journey on brief discover, Mr Wong mentioned that final minute flight offers may also help reap financial savings in miles.
Singapore Airways’ (SIA) Spontaneous Escapes, for instance, is a month-to-month promotion that provides financial savings in miles to chose locations throughout the airline’s community, he mentioned.
“The thought is that you simply e-book it this month, you are flying subsequent month and it can save you as much as 30 per cent off the traditional required variety of miles,” mentioned Mr Wong. “This can be a direct approach of with the ability to discover last-minute award house at a less expensive worth than regular.”
Other than the same old journey festivals and bank card or financial institution promotions, Mr Wong mentioned that flight {dollars} will also be shaved utilizing cashback companies.
Connecting flights are additionally typically cheaper than direct flights, mentioned Mr Wong, however cautioned that there must be a stability between worth and journey time.
“(It’s cheaper to transit) via Kuala Lumpur whereas flying to Bangkok (from Singapore), however take note if it’s price spending the extra time transiting for a short-haul flight. However for a far flight, this may also help save a couple of hundred {dollars},” he mentioned.
Journey search companies corresponding to Google Flights or Kayak make evaluating flights and fares simpler, added Mr Wong. The Discover characteristic on Google Flights additionally permits customers to enter info corresponding to dates, pursuits, and price range, earlier than churning out choices to select from.
“(Discover) exhibits you all of the potential locations that you could go to for that point interval and that price range. So in the event you’re not fussy about the place particularly to go, you simply know ‘I’ve received $500, I wish to journey for one week throughout this era’, this helps you see from a chicken’s eye view all of the completely different prospects,” he defined.
Mr Wong additionally makes use of third social gathering platforms for actions, saving 15 to twenty per cent for every reserving throughout his journey to New Zealand this yr.
Nevertheless, Mr Wong mentioned that third social gathering reserving companies must be used with cautious consideration, as any change in itinerary will likely be a problem to handle, with customer support, wait time, and situations differing from direct bookings.
He additionally cautioned travellers towards utilizing a 3rd social gathering reserving website if the area is seeing volatility or disruptions.
ACCOMMODATION HACKS
Price of lodging will be decreased via factors or loyalty programmes. Mr Wong defined that some accommodations promote factors, which the general public can purchase and redeem for rooms with no need to turn out to be a member.
Mr Wong mentioned he took benefit of this factors system throughout his current go to to California, United States, when lodge charges have been “via the roof” as a consequence of a tennis open event. He bought factors and ended up paying for his lodging at a 3rd of market worth.
“Round peak intervals, whereas the price of a lodge room may be very variable, the vary of factors tends to fluctuate inside a smaller band than for money charges,” he defined. “Taking a while to find out about lodge loyalty programmes may also help with some financial savings.”
IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE
Mr Wong additionally confused the significance of journey insurance coverage.
“I am a agency believer that if you cannot afford journey insurance coverage, you may’t afford to journey,” he mentioned, including that insurance coverage must be bought earlier than going abroad, no matter COVID-19.
With the present journey chaos in airports, journey insurance coverage is all of the extra necessary within the occasion of flight cancellations or misplaced baggage, Mr Wong mentioned.
“Journey insurance coverage will cowl in case your bag will get misplaced, delayed, mishandled – you wish to be sure to’ve received some protection on your content material. Your flight may very well be cancelled, you might need to e-book a lodge, you wish to be sure to are lined from extremities corresponding to these,” he mentioned.
Mr Wong shortlisted three areas of specific protection significance when selecting a journey insurance coverage coverage – critical accidents leading to dying or incapacity, medical bills, and journey inconveniences.
He additionally emphasised the necessity to learn tremendous prints as a substitute of going straight for a coverage with the very best protection, as some phrases and situations could make claims tough.
“You additionally would wish to take a look at issues like definitions as a result of, in case your bag is delayed, sure insurance policies could pay out after a four-hour delay. Sure insurance policies may make you wait six hours (or longer). So it is not sufficient to only take a look at the quantum of protection … it’s worthwhile to take a look at the qualitative elements as nicely,” he mentioned.
Mr Wong additionally mentioned that no matter how nicely protected by insurance coverage travellers are, they need to all the time carry necessary gadgets corresponding to identification, medicine, and communication instruments of their carry-ons.
Monitoring gadgets such because the Apple AirTag are additionally nice methods to maintain monitor of bags.
“It’s no coincidence that AirTags are bought out now as a result of lots of people are shopping for them, placing them of their baggage, as a result of they do a a lot better job of discovering the baggage than some airways,” he mentioned.