Flights

There has never been so much choice as there is now when it comes to choosing a flight, either to whisk you away on holiday or to fulfil that important business trip. In the UK, more and more airports are offering international destinations and, with the recent development of the budget airline industry, a complete spectrum of choice is all around us. While greater choice ensures competitive prices, it does also make it a potential minefield finding the best flight deals. This is where Bullhorn can help. By using Bullhorn’s dedicated flights comparison website you can quickly and easily identify all the options available to you and, most importantly, the best overall deal for you.

There are so many variables to take into account when selecting and booking a flight that visiting individual flight providers' websites is a time consuming and arduous process. Instead of repeatedly filling in all your details and requirements on each site you visit, with Bullhorn you can search the market in seconds by inputing your details just once. Bullhorn's flights comparison service therefore not only finds you the best deals but it saves you precious time as well.

When you search the market for flights there are a number of options you should be mindful of to ensure that you get the right deal at the right price. Furthermore, there are many potential ‘hidden costs’ to be wary of. Bullhorn can do the leg work for you. By assessing the options and highlighting the pitfalls, Bullhorn provides clear, easy to compare details, to make it easier for you to evaluate the flight options and make the right informed choice.

So what should you look out for? The three key variables are route, time and travel class. Making informed choices on these variables can save you a lot of money on your flight. Understandably, your natural preference would be to fly direct to your destination from your nearest airport. However, if you can, be flexible. If time allows, long haul flights with stop-overs can be cheaper than direct routes and often a mid-travel break can make the whole flight more pleasant. Also consider departing from alternative airports. If convenient to get to, the second closest airport to home could offer considerably cheaper flight options. Similarly, consider a destination airport that might be slightly further away from your ultimate destination. Again, for a myriad of reasons, this flexible approach can save you money.

Secondly, consider when to fly. Like trains, flights booked at times of high demand are more expensive. So if you can get out of bed at 4am to make a 6am flight, then there are savings to be made. Also, if you have the flexibility, consider what day of the week you choose to fly on. In certain cases weekend flights may be cheaper. Finally, when considering the time schedule of your flight, also think about the timing of your booking. Thinking well in advance as booking flights several weeks or even months before flying will yield savings on the ticket price. However, don’t forget that last minute bookings can also deliver savings and even free class upgrades. A rapid, easy to use comparison service like Bullhorn is perfect for finding those great last minute flight deals. So, again, if you have flexibility, there are always money saving options available.

You get what you pay for and that is certainly no truer than when selecting what class to fly in. Generally speaking, available classes are: first class, business class, club class and economy class. Different airlines offer different travel class facilities. For example, budget or ‘no frills’ airlines simply offer basic economy class seats. In contrast, some routes on some airlines only offer business class and above. Prices vary greatly depending on which class of travel you choose, so significant savings can be made here.

While route, time and travel class are the three key variables when selecting a flight, there are also many smaller issues to consider. Some flight providers will allow you the flexibility to opt in or out of certain in-flight options, such as on-board meals, etc. Obviously the fewer options you select, the cheaper the flight will be.

Finally, keep an eye out for ‘hidden’ price add-ons. If you are not careful you could find that the up front price is not the final price you pay. Most airlines operate weight limits for baggage and you will be charged extra for checking baggage over the limit. So, make sure you are aware of the weight limits and weigh your luggage before leaving home to avoid this pitfall. Also be vigilant for automatic service upgrades. Some flight providers will automatically upgrade your package with add-ons such as travel insurance, priority check-in service and alike. These are often not free additions and therefore they will increase your ticket price, so make sure you deselect (or opt out of) any automatic fee charging add-on services if you don’t want them.