When it comes to travel, we know that it can be daunting when there are a thousand things to consider and lots and lots of planning to do. There’s a 95% chance that you’re more interested in deciding which mountain peak you’d like to climb, or which brand of snorkelling goggles to purchase for your underwater sightseeing.
So, when it comes to booking your flights and knowing what is needed to make the purchase as simple as possible, Travelstart has jotted down all the information you’d need to book your flights online. From deciding if you want an aisle seat to checking where you can pick your tickets up from, let us guide you through this simple process!
Once you’ve decided on which fantastic destination, local or international, you’re already set to book your flights. Booking flights online is easy-peasy, though there are a few things that you will need to have at hand to streamline this exercise.
Flight and passenger details
First things first, to book your flights online, you will need some basic information of the destination you’ll be flying to and information like the exact date you would like to fly to your destination and return home. You will, of course, also need all of your personal details that will appear on your flight ticket. To speed up the booking, it’s a good idea to have all of these details at hand.
- Trip details – Dates (one way or return), an airline of choice, airports flying to, number of travellers
- Personal information – Full names (to be spelt exactly as it is in your ID or passport), date of birth, country of residence
- ID number (local flights) or passport numbers (international flights)
- Ideal departure times and length of flights
- Ideal cabin class (Economy / Premium Economy / Business / First Class / Suites)
Domestic flights
In most countries, to book a local flight you will only need your identity number (ID) to do so. Passengers over the age of 16 years old are allowed to travel within the country on their own and will only need to produce their original ID card and booking reference number to board a flight. Passengers under 16 years old will need written permission from their parents/guardians and their birth certificate.
If you are flying locally and are a registered licensed driver, you may use this original form of identification to board your flight. Please note that your driver’s license will have to be valid for the dates you intend to fly domestically.
International flights
When flying abroad, you will need to produce your original, valid passport at the check-in counter, as well as any visa that the country you’re flying to may need. Please remember that visas need to be applied for long in advance, so make sure to set plenty of time aside for that.
Image courtesy of @mari.medel via Instagram
Make sure to check the validity of your passport, as you won’t be able to leave the country with an invalid one. Many countries also require that your passport be valid for a period of at least 3 – 6 months from the date of return to South Africa.
Do you need a passport when you book your flights?
No. You will not need to enter your passport number at the online booking stage of your trip, but you will need it when booking flight packages and when you check in for your flight.
If you are applying for a visa, you will need to fill in forms with your passport number, as well as provide a certified copy of it. Make sure to use the exact same spelling as in your passport when booking your flights, as many airlines do not allow, or charge a penalty fee for booking under an incorrectly spelled name.
How to book a flight ticket for someone else
To book a flight for someone else is pretty simple. As with booking flights for yourself, you will need all of their personal information, as well as a list of preferences such as airline choice, preferred time of flight, and things like how much money they would be willing to spend on their flight ticket. Of course, you will also need their consent to book their flights for them.
Once you’ve booked your flights and theirs, you will have the option of emailing them all of the flight details so that they can also have these details.
Paying for your flight
There are numerous ways to pay for your flights! Once you’ve filled in all of your details and are ready to pay, you can use one of these convenient payment options to seal the deal:
- EFT
- SID Instant EFT
- Online credit/debit card payment
- Cheque
- Bank cash deposit
To pay for your flight using any online options, you will need to provide the name on the credit or debit card that you’ll be using, the card number and 3-digit CVV code that’s found at the back of the card, as well as the expiration date of the card.
Should you print out your ticket ahead of arriving at the airport?
It is not necessary to print out your flight itinerary and ticket ahead of time. To check in for your flight, all that the airline officials at the airport will need is your form of identification and reference number. For international flights, you will also need to have your passport and any visas with you.
Many international airlines advise passengers to print out electronic tickets ahead of time to avoid long queues at check-in. You can do this if you wish.
There are quite a few airlines that have kiosks at the airports which allow passengers to print out boarding passes. This is usually made possible by either entering your flight booking reference number or scanning in your passport. You can also download your boarding pass onto your mobile phone, have it printed out, or simply mailed to your personal email address.
Where to collect your tickets
There are options to collect your flight tickets once you have purchased them. Nowadays, it is very popular to have your ticket sent to your email and print it from the comfort of your home or work office. Your e-Ticket will be sent to you, and some airlines even give you the option of printing out your boarding pass or sending it to your mobile device, making your check-in process a relatively simple one! Please note that you may still have to queue at your designated airline’s check-in counter if you have checked luggage to declare.
Other options to collect your flight tickets are more traditional. Many people prefer to just print out their flight information and to collect their physical tickets from the airport. Alternatively, you can also collect your tickets from one of the airline offices in your city.
Visa-free countries (less paperwork)
The truth of the matter is that visas are often very expensive, and the extra paperwork when planning a trip and booking flights can be a nightmare. Especially so when all you want to do is be packing in your swimsuit and flipflops and getting on your way! With that in mind, here is a list of Kenya’s favourite visa-free countries to visit for your next vacation.
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Ethiopia
- Singapore
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Malaysia
- Zimbabwe
Image courtesy of @Lux.Life.Styl via Instagram.
For more details on how to book your flights online, head over to our online booking page for a step-by-step process on how to do so simply and conveniently from the comfort of your home or office.
So now that you’ve got nothing keeping you from booking your next flight, why not sign up to Travelstart’s newsletter for great deals and promotions – putting you first in line to book that amazing trip!