Tips and Tricks
How to book the cheapest air ticket?In general it is true that the cheapest air tickets are always in economy class and the cost of air ticket rises according to the number of booked tickets in the air plane. Simply it can be said, that the longer time to departure, the higher probability of finding lower cost. But this is usually not true for very attractive destinations (South America, Caribbean, South-East Asia, Australia) during the most lucrative periods (Christmas and New Year, summer holiday season), when the flights are highly booked even 10 months in advance. Technically it is possible to book air tickets approximately 11 months in advance. Generally it is also true that an air ticket can not be refundable after it is issued and it can be changeable only upon payment (usually unchangeable at all).
For searching the lowest cost we recommend you to obey the following rules:
• the cheapest air tickets are in economy class
• return air tickets are usually cheaper in comparison to one-way tickets
• the minimal stay for cheap air tickets is at least one night from Saturday to Sunday in the target destination (so called Sunday Rule). But this is often not true for air tickets for Europe, where the minimum stay is often for 3 nights spent in target destination.
• book your flight as soon as possible
• because of small geographical propinquity between Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Krakow and the Slovak Republic (of course depending on residence of passenger) we recommend to check costs from the given departure places.
When can I get a discount?
Discount can be given to:
• children who are less than 2 years old at the time of departure (infant)
• children who are 2 years old at the time of departure, but they have not reached the age of 12 yet (child)
• juniors and students (who have not reached the age of 24 or 26 at the time of departure)
INFANT.
The air ticket for infant usually costs 10% of adult air ticket cost. Airport fees are not charged fully, they are charged only partially.
ATTENTION - concerning Infant air ticket an infant does not have the right to occupy his own seat (passenger must hold him in his arms, according to technical possibilities of the aircraft he can be placed into a special ”aircraft cradle” (for more information please contact call centre).
- for Infant discount and his booking it is very important not to reach two years of age at the time of departure. Because if he does not fulfil this condition, different conditions are applicable for his transport (for more information please contact call centre).
- to obtain Infant air ticket it is essential to document his date of birth
CHILD
The Child air ticket usually costs 67% (rarely 50%) of Adult air ticket. Airport fees are fully charged. For Children discount it is essential to document his date of birth.
JUNIORS AND STUDENTS
In comparison to Adult air ticket a lot of companies provide cheaper air tickets for young people (till the age of 24 at the time of departure). The advantage is not only the price of the ticket, but also maximal stay, which is often almost 12 months, or there is possibility to obtain an open air ticket. For Junior air ticket discount it is essential to document the date of birth.
A lot of companies provide a discount for students (till the age of 26 at the time of departure) as well. The condition of obtaining student discount is to document the date of birth and study certificate. Some companies require showing this document at check-in as well.
What is an electronic ticket?
Electronic ticket (known also as “etix”) is an electronic record of made out ticket, containing all the details of air ticket and having unique number of air ticket, generated directly in reservation system of particular air transport company. The advantage of an electronic ticket, regarding to its electronic format, is that it is impossible to loose it and it can be sent by e-mail, fax or to send the basic data by SMS.
Electronic ticket fully substitutes traditional paper air ticket (voucher).
Is it possible to insure the air ticket against cancellation?
Yes, it is. We offer you the possibility of this insurance in cooperation with European travel insurance company.
Particular choices of insurance:
• Insurance against cancellation (more info HERE)
• Complex insurance including cancellation (more info HERE)
The important fact is, that given choices of insurance must be essentially concluded at the same time when booking the air ticket.
Additional insurance conclusion is impossible.
What is the date the price is guaranteed till?
Exact final price of the ticket, as it is confirmed in an e-mail confirmation of reservation, is always guaranteed only on the day of reservation. This information is not in contradiction with the piece of information from booking confirmation, in which the date of air ticket issue is sometimes different.
How can I pay for my air ticket?
You can use the following ways to pay for the air ticket:
• direct bank deposit to one of our bank accounts
• bank transfer in our account in Tatra Banka a.s.
• use of service Tatrapay
• embossed cards VISA, Master card, Diners Club
In the case you pay by bank transfer, only the credit to our account until 5 p.m. will be considered as proper in time payment.
As a payment confirmation WE DO NOT ACCEPT payment order or e.g. postal order.
If you want to pay by credit card, only successful authorisation of air ticket payment on the day, which is stated as deadline for air ticket payment in reservation, will be considered as a proper in time payment. In case, when authorisation is rejected due to any reason (suspicion of card abuse, bank operation rejected by home bank), the customer is immediately contacted with the proposal of alternative way of payment.
You can book flights provided by all the air companies in IATA (International Air Transport Association, currently there are more than 240 companies) as well as flights provided by several low-cost companies via online portal www.etn.sk.
In most of the IATA companies the change of the name IS NOT possible. This possibility is rarely provided only in the case of a very expensive air ticket or an air ticket booked in a business class. The only exception are group reservations, in case of which the change of name is permitted free of charge before the air ticket is issued.
The change of name is more often permitted by low-cost companies, but it is always charged.
For more information please contact call centre.
What is the max amount of baggage, which I can take with me without extra payment?
Concerning free allowance it is essential to differentiate between:
• checked baggage = baggage, which is handed in and scaled at check-in and it is transported in the loading of an aircraft
• cabin baggage = baggage, which passengers carry on with them to the board of a plane.
Rules for Checked baggage:
For departures from Europe it can be simply said, that:
Item system is applied for the USA and Canada destinations, when the passenger in Economy class is allowed to take 2 bags, maximum weight per bag is 23kg (51lbs) and maximum dimensions per bag (H+W+L) are 158cm (62in).
Weight system is applied for all other destinations, when the passenger in Economy class is allowed to take 20 – 23kg of luggage free of charge (it depends on particular transport company), regardless the number of bags.
The passengers in Business and First class are allowed to have higher weight limit. For conditions of particular air transport companies please contact call centre.
Rules for Cabin baggage:
In general, the passenger is allowed to carry hand baggage of maximum weight 8 kg and maximum dimensions (H+W+L) 118cm. An umbrella, coat, crutches etc. are not considered as cabin baggage.
Please note, that there is a new directive of European Union, determining the rules of liquid transport on board, according to which a passenger is permitted to take max 100 ml of liquid on board, liquid must be packed in clear plastic bag of max 1liter capacity. Exceptions are only some special types of liquid (e.g. medicine prescribed by a doctor, baby food etc.), which a passenger is allowed to carry beyond the scope of officially permitted 100 ml liquid.
The concept “open air ticket” is usually understood as an air ticket with given date of a departure, but with an open date of an arrival. Of course, the open arrival is understood as an open date of the return flight. The open return from another destination is never possible.
How can I book the open air ticket?
Unfortunately, due to technical reasons it is impossible to book an open air ticket via on-line system.
In case of your interest please contact the call centre.
Is the open air ticket price attractive at all?
Generally said, the open return is possible only in the case of very expensive adult air ticket. In case, when passenger requires certain flexibility of his return we recommend purchasing changeable air ticket with such maximal validity which does not extend his stay in the target destination. The passenger should book the most probable date of his return flight or the date of maximum validity of his air ticket, and then in case of need, he can change the date of return flight for certain fee. The cost of such a “close” air ticket is, even including extra fee for change, usually much lower than the open air ticket. The exception from rule is only junior and student price which often allow an open return without any price increase.
Is the air ticket changeable?
Whether an air ticket is changeable, respectively what the conditions of change are, is determined by particular air transport company and given price. In general, the lower price, the stricter conditions. For the condition of an exact air ticket please contact the call centre.
What does it exactly mean that the air ticket is changeable?
The change of an air ticket is understood only as a change of the date and time of departure as well as arrival. Neither the place of departure nor the target destination can usually be changed. But exceptions also exist in these cases and they are determined by the price itself. For more information please contact the call centre.
How long does the flight take?
Have I booked a direct flight or flight with stopover?
What type of plane will I fly by?
Will I be served a snack for free during the flight?
Which terminal am I departing from and arriving to?
For the above mentioned questions you will find the answers on www.checkmytrip.com, where you will fill in the 6-digit code (“Booking code”) from your e-mail booking confirmation in the field “Amadeus Reservation Number“ and the passenger’s surname into the field “Passenger's Last Name“.
Can I book a particular seat on the aircraft?
It is not possible to book a particular seat via any on-line portal.
In general it is possible to ask only for the seat near the window or in an aisle. Seat confirmation is not automatic and it depends on the type of an aircraft, destination and technical possibilities of particular air transport company. The confirmation of particular seat can be checked on www.checkmytrip.com.
Can I book special food?
You can ask for a special meal during the process of booking when providing the data about passenger in the field “Preferred food”. The confirmation of required meal is not automatic. It depends on the range of provided services during particular flight and technical possibilities of particular air transport company. You can check the confirmation of required food on www.checkmytrip.com.
If I often travel with particular air transport company, can I get any benefits?
Yes, you can. Every air transport company tries to motivate passengers to use their services. Therefore the most of air transport companies offer their frequent flyers to open (free of charge) the customer loyalty program of flown miles.
What is the program of flown miles about?
It is a free program of an air transport company based on counting flown miles with the company which provides this program, its alliance partners or partner’s hotel chain and partner’s car rentals.
After the registration the passenger is given his registration number of the program which is then filled into each registration and the flown miles are automatically counted to this program. Then the flown miles can be used for e.g. free air ticket or up-grading to a higher transport class. All information about the particular program can be found at web pages of particular air transport company.
Because of great number of air transport companies we do not provide this information here.
What are the Alliances of air transport companies?
The permanent increase of competition within the air transport business has led to signing contracts between air transport companies in order to expand their offer of flight destinations. This fact has led to the formation of 3 big alliances which consist of cooperating air transport companies, namely:
• StarAlliance
• OneWorld
• SkyTeam
Nowadays all the world significant air transport companies are the members of the above mentioned alliances.
For more information click on the name of the particular alliance. The web page of the alliance provides you all the accessible information.
Can an air transport company refuse to transport me if I have already purchased my air ticket?
What should I do in case of flight cancellation?
What should I do if I am not contented with the offered solution of my complaint?
Your rights are stated in the directive of EU called Passenger rights.
What should I do in case of lost, damaged or undelivered luggage?
In case undelivered or damaged luggage it is necessary to report this fact at Lost and Found desk at the airport. In case of undelivered luggage it is necessary to ask for written confirmation with clearly stated date, time and flight number (by which the luggage was to be transported) and the description of the bags. Such passenger has the right to purchase the things of personal need (hygienic items etc.) which will be refunded by the air transport company. The sum of the things for personal need is limited depending on the country and therefore the passenger has to require the information about the sum for particular destination directly at the place.
At the same time the passenger is obliged to provide his local contact at which he is reachable in case when his luggage is delivered.
In case of luggage damage it is also necessary to require the written confirmation with the description of the bags and damage description.
If your luggage was delivered damaged or robbed, it is also necessary to require written confirmation about it at delivery service.
The following process of solutions of the above mentioned situations as a procedure of financial compensation is solved according to the own internal procedures of a particular air transport company.
The passengers’ rights and duties concerning these situations are clearly stated in the EU directive called the Passengers’ rights in air transport.
If the passenger is not contented with the solution of his complaint offered by the air transport company he can contact the particular controlling authority on country level, which should supervise how the air transport companies meet their obligations.
Can I take my pet with me?
It depends on the particular air transport company. In general the animal transport is divided into the following:
• transport in aircraft cabin together with passengers
• transport in air conditioned luggage compartment
In general, only cats, small dogs and bunnies are allowed to be transported in aircraft cabin with the passenger. The usual permitted weight of a container is 8 kg with the dimensions 48 x 32 x 29 cm. Every air transport company determines its own permitted dimensions so in particular case it is necessary to contact the call centre for more information.
Animals in bigger containers than permitted dimensions are transported in baggage compartment. Particular terms of transport as well as weight and dimensions of container are determined by the air transport company itself, so in particular case it is necessary to contact the call centre for more information.
Attention. Animal transport has to be required via call centre in advance and it always has to be confirmed by the air transport company. The cost of transport always depends on the destination, dimensions and weight of the container.
A passenger himself is obliged to find all information concerning veterinary restrictions and the air transport company does not take any responsibility for transport refusal in case when required documents are not presented on time.
What sport equipments can I take with me?
For such sport equipment, which overlaps the dimensions of the regular baggage, common air transport companies provide more attractive terms of transport.
Such sport equipment is:
• 1 pair of skis, ski boots and ski sticks
• golf equipment
• dismantled bicycle
• fishing equipment
• surf board, packed sail and spar
Attention. Sport equipment transport has to be required via the call centre in advance and it always has to be confirmed by an air transport company. The cost of transport always depends on the destination and the kind of equipment.
What should I do when I have missed my flight?
If a passenger does not come to the airport in time he breaks one of the basic terms of transport. He is qualified as “NO SHOW” and all his booked flights are automatically cancelled without any refund.
Whether his air ticket can be used for another flight, what are the terms, or whether he has the right for the refund of the air ticket it is clearly stated in the terms of the particular air ticket. Please contact the call centre to get all the details concerning your air ticket.
What does it exactly mean to be at the airport in time?
No exact time definition exists which clearly states how long before departure a passenger is obliged to be at the airport.
Only the time of check-in close up is clearly determined. At this time the last passenger has to be accomplished. In case when only one check-in desk is open for his flight and a long queue of passengers is waiting for accomplishment in order to minimise the risk we strongly recommend to come to the airport:
2 hours before departure for a short and medium long fligh:
3 hours before departure for a long flight
It is much more probable that you are accomplished in time.
Should I read general business conditions?
General business conditions comprise information about fees, determine the scope of responsibility and clearly determine the terms of air ticket sale by our agency. When finishing the air ticket booking form it is also compulsory to agree with general business conditions by clicking on the respective field. Therefore it is VERY IMPORTANT to read them.
