High fuel costs, rising inflation and the pent-up demand for travel have seen an increase in airfares around the world.
This extra pressure on consumer wallets has led to increased competition in the online travel market and perhaps reveals where consumers can really find the best deals.
Knowing if you’ve got a good deal can be challenging amidst the constant stream of marketing messages.
In a fiercely competitive market, it’s valuable to know who will save you hours trawling online for flights and triple-checking the small print for hidden costs.
An online price-check was recently conducted to compare return flights on specified dates between Johannesburg and popular international holiday destinations.
The comparison looked at four leading travel providers, including Travelstart, Flight Centre, Vitality Travel and eBucks Travel.
Although flight prices are likely to change as their departure dates get nearer, the fares below reflect the live prices at the time of writing this article (June 2023).
In fact, the results show that when it comes to offering the lowest international airfares, Travelstart consistently comes out on top.
For example, the Johannesburg - Maldives flight with Emirates costs 51% less on Travelstart vs going direct to the airline.
Similarly, on the Johannesburg - Istanbul route, Vitality Travel also beats booking directly with the airline, which advertises the route at an additional 32% of the cost.
Travelstart’s CEO, Stephan Ekbergh, when asked about how Travelstart has maintained its status as one of Africa’s ‘go-to sites’ for the best airfares.
“It's about being transparent with your customers and we’re consistently negotiating the best deals with suppliers that have trusted us for decades,” said Ekbergh.
With fares on the rise and potentially due for another spike before we enter peak holiday season, Ekbergh suggests booking early.
“Travellers need to plan and book well ahead. With demand increasing we could very well see spikes in fares towards the end of the year.
“Booking your holiday early has some serious benefits - the fares available now are likely the best you'll find.
“Prices usually increase closer to departure so it boils down to this: the sooner you book, the cheaper.”