Traveling is not free so why not travel more with the same budget? Why pay 3845 AED (1046 USD) if you can fly for 1575 AED (428 USD)? Travel hacking is just being smart with the complex business logic for airline tickets.
I started looking into this subject when I met Bart Lapers from TravelMagic.be. Last time we met in Dubai where he flew in on Etihad First Class apartments. I am not at that level yet but I will share insights as I discover them.
Today I will show you how competing airports can be beneficial for you. Let’s say I want to travel back to Belgium for Christmas and New Year. Let’s look at my options for flights leaving 20/12/2015 and returning 03/01/2016.
3845 AED with Emirates
Direct: Dubai – Brussels
2585 AED with KLM
1 Stop: Dubai – Amsterdam – Brussels
1575 AED with KLM
Direct: Dubai – Amsterdam – Hight speed Train to final destination (included in ticket price)
Yes that’s right more than 50% discount if you don’t mind to travel a bit longer (stop in Amsterdam). Now the funny part is that you can avoid an extra airport (extra taxes) and just take a train instead of a flight from Amsterdam to Antwerp or Brussels and save even more. The train has an extra advantage: you can get of at Antwerp or Brussels depending on where you need to be.
So always look for airports around your final destination. It all depends on what is more valuable for you: time or money. For a short stay getting a flight with perfect timings and minimum travel time is more valuable.
- go to https://matrix.itasoftware.com/
- Choose the “round trip” option (default)
- Enter Dubai in the departing from field
- Click on the “nearby” link, adjust the “within” to 100 miles and check “Abu Dhabi International”
- Enter Brussels in the destination field
- Click on the “nearby” link, adjust the “within” to 200 miles and check “Antwerp Central Railway Station” and “Amsterdam Schiphol Airport”
Airports near Dubai:
Airports and train stations near Brussels:
As you can see on the map, it’s not a big detour:
Couldn’t you also set ZYR as destination airport and by doing so also avoid airport taxes but include a cheaper thalys ticket from either AMS or CDG then when you buy it separately?
@Sven, yes worth a try. Sometimes open jaw is cheaper then a return flight/train. Playing around with the train stations might jus get you a lot of discount 🙂