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Pre-Departure Handbook

International Flight Arrangements

With the deregulation of the airline industry, there are no longer any easy solutions to getting the cheapest and most convenient tickets. There are many options, each having its advantages and disadvantages. Often there are tradeoffs between flexibility, convenience, certainty of flight, and low cost. Those students with tight schedules will have different needs and priorities than those with the freedom and flexibility to take advantage of some of the best deals around.

1. Stand-by - Unless you want to pay a substantially higher price, you won't be able simply to buy a ticket, show up any day you feel like flying, and travel for as long as you like. Until recently, such whims could be indulged by going "stand-by" but stand-by gradually is being phased out, and most airlines no longer offer that option. Check with individual airlines to be sure.

2. APEX Fares - Low-cost APEX (advanced purchased, excursion) fares are available through regularly scheduled airlines such as TWA and American. To qualify for APEX fares, you must purchase your ticket well in advance of your departure. Advantages of APEX fares include guaranteed flights in both directions at a guaranteed price and the flexibility to fly into one city and leave from another. However, there are usually stiff cancellation and change-of-date penalties, so be absolutely sure of your plans before purchasing an APEX fare. Also keep in mind that these fares are not the cheapest available.

3. Charters - Charters are organized companies, which rent space on planes owned by the regular airlines. They tend to be cheaper than APEX but generally have more restrictions on departure dates, length of stay, and destinations. Their penalties for cancellation and rescheduling are usually steeper than APEX as well. Keep in mind that charters often depart from East Coast cities such as New York and thus take on an additional fee for the flight from the Midwest to the East Coast. Compare prices and consider arranging that leg of the trip yourself. Also, charter companies often do not provide specifics as to what airline you will be flying or the exact route of the flight. A company to try: Council Charter (1-800-223-7402)

4. Student Fares - Probably the best bet for students are the student discounts offered by travel companies such as Council Travel. This and other student travel agencies require international proof of student status, generally the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). They issue student discounted tickets on regular scheduled major airlines. They offer fares from most U.S. Cities to destinations worldwide. Prices vary tremendously depending on departure time, destination and airline.

Another place you should start would be the student travel sites. These companies cater to the student traveler, and can sometimes provide you with discounted fares that the airlines don't advertise. The two major student travel specialists on-line are Council Travel and STA. They can be found at:  

• www.counciltravel.com

• www.sta-travel.com 

As more and more of you make travel arrangements via the web, you may question the reliability of various web-based ticket sites. Consult Evaluating E-commerce Travel Websites at http://international.missouri.edu/studyabroad/predepart/e-commerce.html for assistance. No one organization is universally less expensive than another, so be sure to call around to compare available fares and explore all your options.

5. Using the Web for Travel - Here are a few web sites that might help you with any travel arrangements you need to make. Many of the on-line travel sites offer e-mail subscriptions to their newsletters detailing special fares offered only through their web sites.

CheapStudent.com is a company located right here in Missouri which offers student discounts on airline tickets in the US and abroad.

Expedia.com is a great site because it can search multiple airlines, or you can select a particular carrier if you have a preference. Expedia is a good place to start looking for the best deal on airfares and other travel arrangements.

To truly get the most out of the Internet travel deals you must subscribe to specific airlines' newsletters. Some offer services where you can input your destination, and it will automatically let you know when fares have been lowered on that route. Others will tell you of all their current deals and you have to sift through them yourself.

Once you have gotten to your destination and want to do a little exploring, there are quite a few options available. In Europe, the most convenient way to travel is by train. Council Travel has a great web page devoted to European rail passes and you can select one that will best suit your needs. One thing to keep in mind is some student rail passes are available only in the U.S., so you have to buy before you leave.

Another option would be the student ticket packages offered by many airlines around the world. These mostly apply to travel within the airline's home country, and are sometimes standby, but the price is usually very good.

The Internet can be a great resource for planning other types of transportation as well. One web site that encompasses a variety of transportation information is www.routesinternational.com. This site has information on bus, rail, and subway routes in thousands of cities worldwide. If you only have a limited time when you get to your destination, you can find the best route to the sites you want to see beforehand. This can save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent at the information booths.

When making travel arrangements at home or abroad, always make sure to tell the agent you are a student and ask if any discounted fares are available. This is especially important outside the U.S. where student discounts are more common. A good place on the Web to find out about discounts in Europe is the European Travel Network homepage at www.etn.nl. This site has thousands of links to sites involving travel in and around Europe.

Other Useful Airfare Tips:

• Reserve flights as early as possible to take advantages of advanced purchased fares.

• Watch for specifications, restrictions, and cancellation penalties.

• Consider trip cancellation insurance if you have any doubts as to your plans.

• Try to travel during low season for the best fares. Keep high season cut-off dates in mind when making plans (approx. 15 June to 15 Aug)

• Consider "open-jaw" flights into one city and out of another. If you will be doing a lot of traveling once you arrive, it might save you considerable on-land travel time and expense to arrange a return flight from a different city.

• If you are considering buying an open-ended return flight, BE SURE to book a return date as soon as possible. You will have trouble getting a seat in the busy travel season at the end of the term when so many others are flying. Also, some countries may not let you have an open-ended ticket for immigration purposes. They want to know that you will actually be leaving. Check on the immigration policies of your destination.

• Travel Agents - We encourage you to shop around when working with travel agents. Kansas City has several reputable companies, or you might choose an agent from home with whom you or your family has previously worked. 

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