Cheap Holiday Flight Booking Hack?!

activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 08:25

Heya,
Wife and I were getting desperate for a holiday but were really getting put off by prices

It forced me to get creative and I think I came up with a good idea. Want to share it to see if others do this also, and why/why not.

For context, we were flexible with where we go, what time, and how long.

Went to Skyscanner and searched cheapest international flights from Syd one way. Flights to Kuala Lumpur tickled our fancy. Found and booked Scoot airlines with a full day stopover in Singapore (win!) $215

Then booked $36 return flights to/from Langkawi back to KL

Then from KL, searched the cheapest international destination yet again and came across flights to Manila for $82.

From Manila back to Sydney for $244.

I.e. for $577, booked tickets from Syd-Singapore-Malaysia KL-Langkawi-KL-Manila-Syd.

Travel dates are July/Aug 2023. Fully conscious that this isn't great weather to travel in, but surely it's better than our winter!

Have we done well? Would you consider booking one way multi city flights to get cheap tickets in future?

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 23/09/2022 - 08:29
    +1

    You should help this guy

    • boomramada on 23/09/2022 - 08:42
      +3

      But OP is smart and booking far in advance, that guy only booked one way and trapped in Philippines at the moment.

    • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 09:08

      Lol! At least he's being spontaneous

  • macrocephalic on 23/09/2022 - 08:34
    +8

    Just be aware that, because you booked all these separately, if there's a delay or cancellation with one which causes you to miss the next then you're SOOL.

    • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 09:08
      +1

      That would be a bummer. I paid all via amex card (paid the amex surcharge) so I get the free travel insurance. Hopefully that covers delays/cancellations

    • donga100 on 23/09/2022 - 09:50
      +4

      I have done this same strategy many times and find it a great way to travel but I would always stay at least 1-2 days in each place. Using separate tickets for connecting flights is a huge risk and usually travel insurance and airlines will not cover you for any delays/cancellations.

      • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 10:12
        +3

        Yup, in each city I'm staying at least a week
        Except Singapore is just 1 day

  • holdenmg on 23/09/2022 - 08:35
    +2

    Hi,

    In better (pre-covid) times with a Passport in hand and a Mastercard I would…

    But now (more than ever before) you are exposed to disruption and delay and this is compounded if you are using different airlines or flying into one airport and out of another.

    Make doubly (doubly) sure your Flights are locked-in and Check-in is timely.

    Please take out Travel Insurance, get your Itinerary planned with https://www.tripit.com/web and have a trip you enjoy and safe travels.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 23/09/2022 - 09:56
    -1

    Scoot? Gross

    • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 10:12

      Yeah mostly scoot unfortunately and Cebu pacific

  • zaqwsx3 on 23/09/2022 - 11:18

    For the price, you've done well - just ensure you have some contingency plans in place. As for searching for cheap flights, you may want to run incognito mode when doing the search … or even try using a VPN to change your location, and see if that gives you different results.

    • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 11:38
      +1

      Yup used incognito! Used Skyscanner btw
      And prices didn't change

      Seems Skyscanner doesn't use cookies to change prices, but the websites that they direct you to, may use the cookies

  • Hellfire on 23/09/2022 - 11:25
    +1

    Not sure I'd call this a hack but maybe an FYI that flights to/from and in Asia are cheap if booked ahead and in non peak times.

    More of a hack is that it can be significantly cheaper flying to Europe (especially in premium cabins) if you start and end in Asia and take a cheap flight there from Australia.

  • dtc on 23/09/2022 - 11:47
    +5

    Well done, but really your hack is 'we were flexible with where we go, what time, and how long'

    Try doing that with kids…apparently they need to attend school at various times of the year.

    Asia has a lot of very cheap internal/short hop flights; you can get flights for under $100 so long as you only take hand luggage.

  • Lunarboogie on 24/09/2022 - 10:10
    +1

    Bravo OP. This is how I have travelled for years, cobbling together cheap tickets and using the saved cash on hotels or experiences.

    I live in KL and can voich it has bounced back entirely from Covid. I've travelled recently to Jakarta, Bangkok and Phnom Penh and all three seemed way more subdued. Was in Langkers a few weeks ago too and it was great, though I still clear from Cenang which isn't my cup of cha.

    • activ8newbs on 24/09/2022 - 15:22

      Love it, thanks mate
      Any recommendations for things to do or places to see in Malaysia?
      So far got a return ticket booked for Langkawi as mentioned. Probably wouldn't be able to squeeze any more domestic return flights in my such short time. But open to recommendations

  • Lunarboogie on 24/09/2022 - 16:33
    +1

    For KL, the only thing to do is eat. Try all the major cuisines, Malay, Indian and Chinese. Catch a train to Batu Caves which is one of Hinduism's holiest places. Take in a kopitiam in SS2 in PJ for great siew yoke and people watching and venture out to the big pasar malam in Cheras to see how the bumis do it. For Langkers, I generally park myself at the Westin in Kuah Town and blister by the beach there.

  • irishgal on 25/09/2022 - 11:10

    For what it is worth we travelled to KL in July and the weather was perfect. Normally stay at the Majestic. Has a beautiful park nearby for early morning walks.

  • CaptainCricket on 28/09/2022 - 10:15

    I do this except I don't book multi stop tickets. I am always booking holidays based on deals at the time. It helps you save soo much money. I was tempted to book Vietnam for $320 return through Jetstar promotions. But i found Vietnam airlines (full service airline) return flight to Paris for $900 in June 2023.

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