Booking Flights When You Will Be Overseas for More than a Year

Beejay on 17/09/2016 - 17:07

Hi, I'm looking at flights at the moment because I will be going on exchange from 10th January 2017 to at least end of January 2018 in Sweden. I had originally resigned myself to just buying one way flights (which are pretty damn expensive for flying out on the 9th of January!). However, I'm now looking at something like the STA Travel multiflex pass which allows 3 changes of date for a return ticket, and wondering if I could book a return now (with the return date sometime in August) and then shift it later on to when I actually want to fly back. Is this possible? or is there like a maximum time that can elapse between the departure and return dates on a return ticket?

Is now the best time to book the flights for January? I will be flying BNE - CPH and need to get there on the 10th of January. The best price I can find for a one way ticket (including the student websites) is ~$1000 for pretty average airlines like Turkish and Qatar, and ~$1220 for Lufthansa. If anyone could find a better price this would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Travel

Comments

  • RockyRaccoon on 17/09/2016 - 19:38
    +2

    If you get to Asia, then try Norwegian Bangkok to CPN, on the 10th is $444 Euro - $A670

    Catch is price of fare to Bangkok from Brisbane. Thats something you can look up

    http://www.norwegian.com

    As for the strategy to rebook to get you past 12 months I think you might be caught by the TICKET validity conditions which will mean the TICKET is only valid for 12 months after the first flight is commenced.

    You wouldnt be able to rebook with a ticket that isn't valid any more - ie if the booking is now for a date after the 12months

    Eg From Qantas

    6.2 Ticket Validity Period
    Your Ticket will be valid for 12 months from the date of commencement of travel or if no part of the Ticket is used, for 12 months after the date first issued, unless the fare rules provide otherwise.
    6.3 Extending Validity Period
    (a) If you are unable to travel while your Ticket is valid because we:
    cancel your flight
    delay your flight to the extent that you have to cancel your travel
    omit a scheduled stop, being your place of departure, place of destination or Stopover
    cause you to miss a connection on another Qantas flight, or
    are unable to supply you with a confirmed seat,
    we will extend the validity of your Ticket to enable you to travel on the next available flight. Alternatively, you may request a refund in accordance with 13 (Refunds).

    (b) If you are prevented from travelling on your Ticketed flight due to illness, we may extend your Ticket validity for up to three months to allow you to travel, depending on the circumstances. We will require proof of the circumstances, such as a medical certificate.

    (c) If a passenger travelling with you in the same booking dies during the journey, we may do either or both of the following:

    not enforce any minimum stay conditions which apply to your Ticket
    extend the validity of your Ticket for up to 45 Days after the date of death.
    We may ask you to provide proof, such as a valid death certificate.

  • inherentchoice on 19/09/2016 - 01:29
    +1

    pretty average airlines like Turkish and Qatar

    FYI Qatar is supposed to be one of the top airlines in the world. In 2015 they were Skytrax airline of the year.

    However they don't fly from Brisbane so the first leg will be a domestic hop.

    You might need to talk to an STA agent about their flexible return ticket and if it's possible. There may be fees for changes?

    If you need to get to CPH on the 10th then you will probably need to leave BNE on the 8th or 9th.

    However if the 11th is not too late to arrive then you can fly from Gold Coast airport to Tehran on AirAsia for $396 on 10 January and then for $179 you can fly from Tehran to CPH on Pegasus Airlines on the 11th. A bag might be $100 more but I think that price will be hard to beat.

    https://www.skyscanner.com.au/transport/flights/ika/cph/1701…

    Edit: Just realised that AirAsia from Gold Coast airport to DMK in Bangkok is $199 on the 9th. Then you can get on that Norwegian flight for 444 euros to CPH the next day. However you would need to get the bus 50km across Bangkok from DMK Airport to BKK. Apparently the transfer bus is free. I would also look for a cheap airport hotel at BKK. I think you can get a basic one with transfers to and from BKK for about $40 but it would be worth it and it would really break up your trip.

  • zappy32 on 19/09/2016 - 20:37

    It's a little late to get cheap flights during those dates. As others have said getting the flight with Norwegian is usually the cheapest way but no during peak periods and you'll end up paying a lot extra to take your winter clothes.

    Depending where you're studying there are some different ways in which to get there eg Stockholm or Oslo if you're studying in Stockholm or Uppsala etc. or Copenhagen, Gothenburg or even Hamburg if you're studying there or Lund/Malmo.

    Don't worry about getting a return fare. One-way flights from Europe to Australia can be down to around $500-600 if bought in advanced, even during that period.

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