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Fly like the leisure travel pros: tips from an insider

4 Dec 2015

The silly season has officially begun and with that comes the joy of travelling. Be it to visit your new husband's mother-in-law, klink eggnog with old res mates in NYC or take five on a tropical beach somewhere close to the equator, plenty of South Africans will be air-bound for between two and 20 hours during December and January. But it doesn't have to be noisy, busy, crowded, hot, sweaty or delayed. Here, leisure travel pro and frequent flier, Sean Penn, the CEO of Pentravel, gives festive fliers his inside scoop on how to get the extra mile on board this holiday.

Fly like the leisure travel pros: tips from an insider

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First class comfort is the business: If you're off to have tea with the Queen, you can fly like a VIP on BA 747 flights from from Cape Town International to Heathrow - for the cost of a business class ticket. What used to be first class is no longer and instead has become a third option for business travellers (in addition to the main cabin and upstairs). Tucked away in the nose of the plane, it's quiet, more spacious and has retained the sleek finish that only millionaires were free to enjoy. Sip on fine fizz, pop back the seat and your flight will be as good as your holiday - just remember to ask your agent to reserve this little secret for you when booking.
Early birds get the upgrade: If you're flying BA economy to Cape Town, Jozi or Durbs, forget packing last minute; beat the traffic and arrive at the airport at least 1½ hours early. Visit the sales desk and ask the lovely ladies or gents for an upsell to business class. If there are seats available it'll cost between R400 to R500 to upgrade. Add to that the business lounge, wiggle-room on board and accessibility to the exit, it's money well spent.
Buy three, get four: Flying locally this Christmas? Book kulula's MN flights that have four digits e.g. MN 1234. These little gems are BA flights. Part of the same holding company, Comair, occasionally BA will help its low-cost sister out by taking one of its shifts.
Loyalty pays back: During the year, instead of flitting between domestic airlines to get the best deal when red-eyeing it for business, stick it out with one carrier and join their loyalty programme - even if it costs a few rands more at the time. You'll be rewarded for your allegiance and can cash in air miles for long-haul flights and upgrades, significantly lowering the cost if you've banked enough.
Don't be left on the tarmac: If connecting between cities and continents, ask your agent to book all your flights through one carrier. This guarantees your belongings travel with you all the way from A to B. Or, if there's a long delay you'll be put up in a hotel - at their cost. You're also protected should your domestic flight be late in getting you to the international gate on time - a little extra that will go a long way if you're left stranded on the tarmac after missing your connecting flight.
Bide your time in transit: It's a reality: there is now more security and checkpoints at airports everywhere. This takes time, so avoid packing in your flights too tightly; rather allow a leisurely three hours between connections and keep your blood pressure low by browsing the duty free or enjoying a coffee or cocktail, depending on the time zone, while patiently waiting to board.
The rise of Premier Economy: Business is the new first class. So naturally, savvy airlines have introduced a new tier that offers that little something extra, without the price tag. Welcome Premier Economy. Available on Virgin Atlantic, BA and Singapore Airlines, among others, it's an up-and-coming mid-product that provides long-haulers with a bunch of bells and whistles.
Can't pack light? 23kg is the weight of the average family pooch and just doesn't allow for an outfit change come rain or shine or all those buys you're guaranteed to bring home. So if you're a heavy-handed packer consider flying Etihad. It offers a glorious 46kg per person on selected airfares, just not all in one bag! This applies to your connecting flights too which in Etihad's case is SAA. No need to leave any of your pretties at home.
Delta deluxe: Flying north to the US? If you're using its national carrier Delta, enjoy a little lux with Delta Comfort. Reserved only for rows 29 to 32, it offers more leg-room and extra lean-back. This little bit of special comes at a cost of between R1000 and R3000 on top of your fare. But if you're a Skymiles member, your status could also influence the fee.
"I fly a lot so aircraft, airports and connections are part of my everyday life. But it doesn't have to be a pain; by booking through an agent like Pentravel, or joining an airline's loyalty club where you are rewarded for frequent flying - enough to even earn business class tickets to London like I do - you can enjoy the benefits that different carriers offer and make travelling that much more fun," said Penn.
Looking for last-minute holidays? Go to www.pentravel.co.za for more or follow on www.facebook.com/Pentravel for tips and updates.