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Unraveling the differences between airlines, travel agencies, and metasearch engines

16 March 2024 by Daniel

If you usually buy flight tickets online, perhaps you have come across the situation where the same ticket could be purchased on several different websites.

It’s possible that all these websites may seem similar to you, but even though the differences are not always immediately apparent, the fact that you conduct your search on an airline’s website, through a travel agency, or using a search engine can influence aspects such as availability, after-sales service, or price.

Therefore, it’s worthwhile that next time, before booking your ticket, you take a moment to pause and consider where you are and what you can expect.

Buying from an airline website such, British Airways, American Airlines, Ryanair or EasyJet

Airlines, besides offering passenger transportation services, also directly manage the reservation process, making flight tickets available for purchase.

Since agencies are not intermediaries, airlines often sell tickets at cheaper rates. In a study we conducted on a random sample of 20,000 searches, we found that 76% of the time, the airline offered the best price. However, this is not a fixed rule, and the percentage varies considerably when analyzing prices separately for low-cost airlines and traditional airlines.

Generally, airlines will offer better prices on straightforward tickets without complex connections, whereas agencies, through GDS, are able to provide better options.

Buying from a travel agency such as Kiwi, Trip.com, Budgetair and many others

Travel agencies act as intermediaries, meaning they acquire tickets from airlines and then sell them to the end traveler.

As intermediaries, their prices tend to be higher than if the ticket is purchased directly from the airline website, but this is not always the case. Airlines offer volume discounts to travel agencies that also affect the prices offered to the traveler.

So, if buying from a travel agency is almost always more expensive, why would the end user want to pay the difference?

The main feature of agencies is that they provide added value to the purchase, although the value provided may be more or less interesting depending on the specific agency.

For example, a good agency will offer interesting promotions or vacation packages in combination with various airlines they work with, along with services such as hotel and car rental reservations. One of the cases where it is more interesting to book through an agency is for long-haul trips with layovers, as by considering routes from various airlines, travelers will have more options to choose from, including different prices.

Using a meta-search engine

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Car rental hacks: Get the best deals and avoid pitfalls!

9 March 2024 by Daniel

When it comes to renting a car, making the right choices can make a huge difference in your travel experience. Here are some essential tips to help you navigate the car rental process smoothly and get the most out of your rental:

  1. Check out prices from different car rental companies. Prices aren’t set in stone in this industry, so you might find big differences between companies. Sometimes, it’s even cheaper to book through a travel agency instead of directly with a rental company. But hey, always go for providers you trust. Trabber Cars lets you compare prices from all the big rental companies and travel agencies.
  2. Plan ahead, mate. Rental companies often have sweet deals if you book in advance. Plus, if you leave it to the last minute, you might miss out on the car you really want. Rushing never leads to good decisions, so try to avoid those last-minute bookings.
  3. Get yourself a decent insurance coverage. It might seem like an extra expense, but if something goes wrong on your trip, it could save you a load of hassle. Trust me, what you pay for insurance will seem like chump change if you’re in a jam.
  4. Rent an electric or hybrid car. You will avoid the restrictions imposed by many cities and you will be able to park for free. If you rent a combustion engine, let it be diesel, which usually consumes less and the fuel is usually cheaper.
  5. Upon receiving the car, inspect it thoroughly and report any anomalies. That way, you won’t get slapped with extra charges when you return it. And don’t forget to check those tires – it’s something most people overlook.
  6. When you’re booking, make sure to add any extras you need, like kid seats or GPS. That way, you know they’ll be ready for your trip. Keep in mind that in general, any extra is usually expensive and it may be worth it to bring it with you on your trip.
  7. Bring back the car with a full tank. Fuel is not included in the rental price, so if you return it with less than a full tank, they’ll charge you a premium for the fuel. Always better to top it up before you hand it back.

And remember, always read through the rental contract carefully before you sign it. If there’s anything in there you’re not cool with, don’t sign it. Once you’ve put pen to paper, you’re stuck with it – no going back.

Stopover: Visit two places for the price of one

2 March 2024 by Daniel

It’s possible to visit two destinations for the price of one? the answer is yes, you read that right. And the key concept is the term Stopover. Do you know what we’re talking about?

Layovers involve staying at the airport while connecting flights. However, stopovers offer extended breaks, allowing you to explore the city for at least one day. Stopovers are layovers or intermediate stops of more than 24 hours on international flights (it can even be several days). In short, they are layovers or connections between flights that are longer than usual.

Why a stopover allows you to travel more for less money? Because you will have the option to visit the stopover city, spending a day or a few days there, and then going to your final destination without paying extra. And, in addition, you will save hours of waiting at the airport.

There are several airlines that allow you to extend your stopover without paying extra for your tickets, as they are european airlines Swiss International and TAP Portugal, among others.

How to find stopover flights on Trabber

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Tips for finding cheap flights in 2024

26 February 2024 by Daniel

Are you looking to save some serious cash on your next flight? Well, buckle up because we have some insider tips to help you find the best deals in the sky. From booking ahead to staying flexible with your travel plans, we have compiled a comprehensive list of strategies to help you navigate the world of airfare pricing like a pro. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or gearing up for your first adventure, these fourteen pointers will arm you with the knowledge and savvy to find affordable flights without sacrificing on quality. So, if you are ready to take your travel game to the next level and make those savings soar, dive into our guide and share with friends!

  1. Plan ahead: Take advantage of lower prices by booking your flights well in advance. Waiting until the last minute often leads to higher fares. Airlines tend to increase prices as the flight date nears, so securing your tickets early can help you avoid these price hikes.
  2. Utilize alerts: Stay informed about potential deals and discounts by setting up alerts for flight prices. While prices generally tend to rise over time, airlines occasionally offer promotions or lower prices on certain routes. By receiving alerts, you can be notified when prices drop, allowing you to snag a deal when it’s available. You can easily create an alert on Trabber to receive an automatic notification.
    Price alert
  3. Flexibility is key: Remain flexible with your travel plans, including dates, times, and even destinations if possible. Adjusting your travel dates by a day or two can sometimes result in significant savings. Trabber will notify you if it detects offers on upcoming dates (or at nearby airports) to those of your search.
  4. Secondary airport consideration: Be mindful when comparing flights to secondary airports versus primary ones. While flights to secondary airports may initially appear cheaper, factor in any additional costs such as transportation to your final destination. Sometimes, the convenience of flying into a primary airport may outweigh the potential savings of flying into a secondary one.
  5. Baggage fees awareness: Before booking your flight, carefully review the baggage fees for each airline. Some airlines charge additional fees for checked baggage, which can significantly impact the total cost of your trip. By understanding these fees upfront, you can budget accordingly and avoid any surprises at the airport.
  6. Upfront baggage fee payment: Save money by paying baggage fees upfront during the booking process. Many airlines offer the option to add baggage to your booking at a discounted rate compared to paying for it at the airport. Taking advantage of this option can help you avoid higher fees at the airport counter.
  7. Travel light: Consider traveling with only carry-on luggage to avoid additional fees for checked bags. Many airlines offer complimentary carry-on allowances, allowing you to pack efficiently and save on baggage fees. By minimizing your luggage, you can streamline your travel experience and potentially save money in the process.
  8. Payment card surcharge awareness: Be aware of any surcharges associated with your chosen method of payment when booking flights. Some airlines and booking platforms may impose additional fees for certain payment methods, such as credit cards. By registering in Trabber and setting up your cards, prices on the results pages will include the total cost.
  9. Comparison shopping: Take the time to compare prices between airline websites and online travel agencies. While booking directly with the airline is often preferred, it’s worth exploring other options to ensure you’re getting the best deal. By comparing prices across multiple platforms, you can find the most competitive fares for your desired itinerary.
  10. Consider round-trip vs. one-way: Evaluate whether round-trip tickets or one-way fares offer the best value for your trip. In some cases, booking a round-trip ticket may be more cost-effective, especially if airlines offer discounts for booking both legs of the journey together. However, for more flexible travel plans, one-way fares may be preferable.
  11. Split Ticketing Strategy: Explore the possibility of booking outbound and return flights separately to potentially save money. Sometimes, booking each leg of the journey individually can result in lower overall fares, especially if there are promotions or discounts available for one segment of the trip, as it happens on low cost airlines.
  12. Skip unnecessary add-ons: Avoid unnecessary add-ons such as travel insurance during the booking process if they’re not essential for your trip.
  13. Online check-in reminder: Don’t forget to check in online for Ryanair and other low cost airlines to avoid additional fees at the airport. Forgetting to check in before arriving at the airport can result in hefty fees, so be sure to complete this step ahead of time to save money.
  14. Saturday night stay consideration: When planning longer trips, consider including a Saturday night stay at your destination to potentially access lower fares. Airlines often offer discounted fares for itineraries that include a Saturday night stay, so adjusting your travel dates accordingly can lead to significant savings.

We hope that this information is useful for planning your next trips.

Introducing the new Trabber

2 November 2021 by Manuel
Introducing the new Trabber

We are very happy to finally share with you the new Trabber, which we have been working on for quite a few months. It has many new features, not only on the visual aspect but also new functions and tools.

Here is a list of the main improvements:

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January is the best month of the year to book flights [STUDY]

16 July 2018 by Daniel

We have just started a brand new year and we desire to achieve the purpose that leads our list of desires: Travelling. But, for a change, our budget is not as large as our eagerness to travel. Does the same happen to you?

If it is like that, we have good news. In Trabber we have carried out a study in which we reveal the best moment to book cheap flights and also to travel.

If we make use of the logic, we that the most expensive dates will be those that clash with vacation periods: Easter, Summer and Christmas. In other words, during the peak season. But the year is very long and it is full of good times to book flights at the best price. Do you like to know which ones they are?

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The 25 most friendly dog destinations in the World

12 July 2018 by Daniel

Our four-legged best friend is another member of the family and, as such, we like to share our holidays with him. Until not very long ago, it was a rather challenging task to find a hotel which accepts pets. But, luckily, tourist establishments have become aware of this necessity and, the pet traveller has a wider range of possibilities to travel with his best friend.

Curiosity to know which are the best countries to visit with your pet? Take a look to our new ranking of dog destinations.

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Meet Trabber’s team

2 September 2015 by norenes

It’s time to tell you more about us, the human beings on the other side of the searcher. The ones who wake up in the middle of the night thinking about that unsolved bug. The ones who get butterflies in their stomachs after a positive comment on Twitter.

In this post you will discover who the Trabber members are, and what functions do we perform. You will see that we are few, perhaps fewer than you imagined, but we are sufficiently committed, because thanks to our persistence and to your support, we can proudly state that we just turned out 10 years old!

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Why we show the list of the websites we crawl

28 August 2015 by norenes

If two flight search engines came and said:

providers-list-balloon2

providers-list-balloon

… according to your opinion, which one would be better?

The natural thing would be to think that the second one, right? Because “millions” gives a greater sense of completeness that “71“.

But what would you think if we told you that most agency websites already give access to millions of flights by themselves, or what is the same, that “We search in millions of websites” could actually be synonymous with ‘We search hin one web’?

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Debunking myths: Buying flight tickets on the airline website is NOT always cheaper

19 August 2015 by norenes

debunking-mythsOne of the false “myths” we have heard more and that seems to be more consolidated between travellers is the one that says that flight tickets are cheaper when purchased on the airlines website.

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