In Reply to: Flight Help Please??? posted by Timeout on Saturday, 26. March 2005 at 10:48 Bali Time:
Several ways you can do it.
Depends on the dates you are looking at, availability of flights, whether it is peak time or low.
1. Find out if there are any special packages on at the time you wish to go at the cheapest lead-in hotel offerred(these are usually for later January though)
Get the agent to hold these seats (for dates at both ends of your holiday)whilst you decide where you want to stay.
Usually they can hold them for 7 days.
Sometimes they can be held longer if agent is notified you still want them before any payment is made.
You may wish to forgo the 4n at the lead-in or upgrade to a better hotel for the 4n & use it(whether on a special or not)
Would need to do the figures here to see which option is cheaper/better for yourselves.
Payment for special packages usually has to be made by a due date which will be well in advance of when you leave.
Air P & Garuda allow you to make your own arrangements --Aust Airlines do not(must book all accomm)
2. Find out the cost of just the airfare. In some cases it can be marginally cheaper than a min package.
This usually occurs in peak/shoulder times when no cheaper seats are available & there are no specials released.
3. If you book a min package and it's not on a special, ask the agent to transfer you over to the cheaper rate if one comes out later.
The same can be done for just an airfare purchase if you are lucky but the airline may or may not choose to let you on this one.
The most important factor is to get the seats held (whether it be on a min package or just flight)...then work out the other accommodation after.