TALES OF TRAVEL

Time to take back control.

After handing over the reins to our travel agent Jason to plan our trip to the Maldives (https://talesoftravel.ca/2024/12/08/planning-for-the-maldives-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-travel-agent/), we took the control back to set up our flights. Easy, right…?

With a plethora of online options available to check flights nowadays, the process to find an optimal flight plan at a good price should be a snap. I mean, a quick 15 seconds plugging in your arrival and departures dates and number of passengers into Google Flights (or Expedia, or Travelocity, or Kayak, or Skyscanner, or one of the other 3285 aggregating sites) and BOOM you should have the perfect flight with the lowest rates seconds later. Plug in your passenger details, pay and done! NOT SO FAST…..

Our Choice: Emirates Direct to Dubai

I am sorry if the opening image didn’t come with a SPOILER ALERT, so let’s just get this out of the way now. We decided to fly Emirates from Toronto to Dubai. Here’s why:

1. Dubai Connect Service: For our longer layover in Dubai, Emirates offered a complimentary hotel room, transportation to and from the hotel and meal through their Dubai Connect program. This perk added comfort and broke up the journey, allowing us to rest before the second leg to the Maldives.
2. Exploring Dubai: We chose a flight plan direct to Dubai that lands early enough to enjoy a few hours exploring the city. The girls are thrilled about seeing the iconic Burj Khalifa, and it’s a bonus adventure we hadn’t initially planned.
3. Flying on the Airbus A380: Emirates’ flagship Airbus A380 sealed the deal for us. Known for its spacious seating, quieter cabins, and top-tier amenities, this aircraft made the long-haul journey much more appealing. The thought of flying on one of the most advanced and luxurious planes added an extra layer of excitement for the entire family.
4. Economy Over Business Class: We debated going “all out” and booking business class for added comfort, but ultimately, the cost outweighed the benefits. Emirates’ economy class offered excellent service and amenities, making it a practical yet comfortable choice for our family. We decided to instead add an extra couple days at the resort instead!
5. Family-Friendly Experience: Emirates is known for its exceptional service, and their in-flight entertainment system (hello, kids’ movies!) and quality meals were a big draw for us.

Now that that is out of the way, let me take you through the process of booking this flight. We have booked plenty of flights and vacations before, but this was truly the first time that I struggled with all the options. Partly because this would be the longest travelling trip we have taken to date, and partly because I wanted to minimize ANYTHING going wrong for the grandest trip we have taken to date!

The Great Debate: Booking with a Third Party vs. Booking Directly

One of the first decisions we faced was whether to book through a third-party site or directly with the airlines. Third-party booking platforms like Expedia and Kayak often showcase the lowest fares and make comparing options straightforward. But there’s a trade-off.

Pros of Third-Party Booking

• Price Comparisons: Third-party sites let you view multiple airlines and routes in one place, which can help identify the cheapest options.
• Bundles: Some platforms offer package deals, combining flights with hotels or car rentals, which can lead to additional savings. In our case, this was not necessary but this has been our typical method when booking trips to shorter stays at Caribbean resorts, as they have pretty much always offered significantly better deals than booking hotel and flight separate.

Cons of Third-Party Booking

• Customer Support Challenges: If something goes wrong—like a delayed flight or a change in plans—you may find yourself caught between the airline and the third-party agent, each passing the buck.
• Limited Flexibility: Changes to itineraries can sometimes incur higher fees or be impossible to make without canceling and rebooking entirely.
• Sketchy Reviews – Some of these “discount” lesser known sites offered up some really reasonable prices to the point I almost booked then and there. However, a quick review and conversation with our travel agent steered me away. Many reviews cited things like difficulty in getting tickets and extreme difficulty with customer service. Jason even said that he had past clients who experienced issues with even the more “trustworthy” sites.

A little anecdote. We have experienced some of the cons firsthand when we booked through a third party site. We were going to Croatia with a transfer in Germany. Before takeoff our plane got hit with the luggage cart and they ended up grounding our flight. We ended up missing our connection and had a LOT of excess drama (and costs) dealing with getting to our final destination. While rare, these things can and do happen!

Why Booking Directly Sometimes Wins

Knowing firsthand that issues can arise and wanting to ensure that we had as smooth a trip as possible, we looked more seriously about booking directly with an airline. Booking directly with the airline provides a layer of assurance and flexibility that’s worth the extra dollars. Airlines typically have more lenient change and cancellation policies for direct bookings. Plus, if you need assistance, their customer service teams are easier to deal with than navigating a third-party bureaucracy.

After weeks of tracking the minor fluctuations and availabilities in various flight plans, we felt that booking directly with our airline of choice was the best option. The overall cost was only a few hundred dollars more for flights with only one transfer so it was a no-brainer.

Why the Cheapest Flight Isn’t Always the Best

In our search, we came across some enticingly low fares, but the fine print revealed their pitfalls. Long layovers, inconvenient departure/arrival times, and multiple connections can turn what should be an exciting journey into an exhausting ordeal—especially when traveling with kids. We found some flight plans that were close to $2000 dollars cheaper in total but these had 2, even 3 transfers. (Is that 1 hour flight from one airport to the next really necessary??)

Tips for Choosing Flights with Kids:

1. Minimize Layovers: Avoid back-to-back connections whenever possible. Layovers should be long enough to comfortably navigate airports but not so long that they drain everyone’s energy.
2. Check Arrival Times: A flight arriving late at night may save money but could disrupt sleep schedules for days. Also, we like to get an arrival time at our final destination as early as possible to
3. In-Flight Amenities: Airlines that provide entertainment options, kid-friendly meals, and extra legroom make a huge difference for little ones.

The Pros of Booking Early vs. Last-Minute Deals

Why Booking Early Pays Off:

• Better Selection: Booking early ensures access to the best seats, flight times, and routes before they sell out.
• Lower Prices: Airlines often offer lower introductory prices that increase as departure dates near.
• Peace of Mind: Securing your flights early allows you to focus on other trip details without the stress of last-minute planning.

The Perks of Waiting Until the Last Minute:

• Potential Discounts: Occasionally, airlines drop prices to fill empty seats as departure dates approach.
• Flexibility: If your travel dates are flexible, waiting can sometimes lead to last-minute bargains.

However, for a family trip, the potential savings of last-minute deals are often outweighed by the uncertainty and limited choices.

We have had our flight booked since JULY. Total cost booking directly with Emirates with only one transfer there and one transfer back (both in Dubai) was $10170 CAD. Just out of curiosity (and some trepidation) I just looked up the same flight now….$13422!!

WE SAVED OVER $3000 by booking early!!

Final Thoughts

When booking flights for a family vacation, the goal isn’t just to get from point A to point B—it’s to make the journey as smooth and enjoyable as the destination. For us, investing in a slightly more expensive but well-thought-out itinerary with Emirates means a more seamless travel experience, better rest during the journey, and even a mini layover adventure in Dubai!

So if you’re planning a family trip to the Maldives or any long-haul destination, take the time to weigh your options. Sometimes, the cheapest flight isn’t the best choice, and direct airline perks can add immense value to your travel experience. Here’s to making the journey as unforgettable as the destination!

LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO….

Please feel free to COMMENT below your experience positive or negative with booking flights.