|
 If you’re planning on visiting South Africa during your gap year, you’ll no doubt have better things to spend your money on than expensive flights. The good news is that, despite the rising cost of fuel impacting long haul ticket fares, flights to Africa have come down in price comparatively in recent years, meaning if you shop around you’re likely to find more choice and better flight deals than ever before.
Know Your Airline
One of the most important parts of booking flights to South Africa is choosing an airline. Depending on when you are leaving, a single trip one way can take between 15 and 30 hours, depending on length of layovers. International carrier British Airways flies to Cape Town and Johannesburg from London and Manchester. However, cheaper deals can be found with ‘foreign’ carriers. Both Emirates and KLM have flights to South Africa that originate in London or Manchester as do various other carriers. The carrier you choose will determine where and for how long your layover will be.
Be Flexible
A key element for finding cheap flights to Africa is flexibility when you book. The ability to play with departure and return dates for up to one week both ways can put you on a flight on off-peak days, saving you money and possibly seating you on a less-crowded plane, which will be come in handy on such a long flight.
Make Layovers Work for You
Layovers are common on flights to Cape Town and other flights to Africa, so make sure to check flight details prior to booking. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing and you can make layovers work in your favour. Not only do layovers often save on the cost of tickets, but they can also break up the journey so travellers can tour cities they might have skipped. For example, flights to Johannesburg with extended layovers can mean a coach or walking tour of the destination you’ve stopped in or even a good night’s sleep in a hotel should the connecting flight not take place until the next day.
 Have a Holiday
You don’t necessarily have to fly into South Africa to visit the country. Flights to other parts of Africa may be cheaper and, if you have time, you can see more of the continent. So instead of flying to South Africa directly from the UK, consider starting your trip further north and flying to destinations such as Zaire or Nairobi and travelling overland into South Africa.
Understand the Culture
Travelling to South Africa can be an exciting experience, as well as an educational one. Studying important anniversary and local holiday dates and knowing their meanings can improve your trip immensely. In addition, flying into the country during a popular holiday can alter your ticket price significantly, so be on the lookout for special holiday travel deals.
These five easy tips should give you a good leg up on getting a great price on flights for your South African adventure.
|
