Getting the best deal in air tickets

Airlines utilise aircrafts to supply air transport services to passengers and freight. International airlines try to ensure comfortable and safe flights and other services for each and every passenger. Most international air traffic is regulated by bilateral agreements between countries. These agreements designate specific carriers to operate on specific routes.

The costs of airlines are also very high as they provide services in different parts of the world while maintaining standard.

Full-service airlines have a high level of fixed and operating costs to establish and maintain air services. A small percentage of the income from ticket sales is paid to a wide variety of external providers or internal cost centres.

This is why the pricing of airline tickets has become increasingly complicated over the years and is now largely determined by computerised yield management systems.

Because of the complications in scheduling flights and maintaining profitability, airlines have many loopholes that can be used by the knowledgeable travellers. Most of these airfare secrets are becoming increasingly known to the general public, thus forcing airlines to make constant adjustments.

So, in this day and age of free information on the internet, potential passengers should do some research on the different airlines providing services to a particular route before going to the travel agent. If they are aware of the pricing, travel agents are likely to provide them with the best deals.

Rubaiya Amin

Student, East West University