As UAE residents gear up to return from their summer vacations, many are facing the challenge of skyrocketing airfare costs, with some tickets priced nearly four times higher than normal.
However, some savvy residents have managed to slash their travel costs, saving between Dh2,300 and Dh1,100 by employing smart booking strategies, using alternate routes, and taking advantage of group fares.
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Group Fare Saves Dh2,700
Zeeshan Syed, a Sharjah resident, is traveling back to the UAE with 13 family members, including his wife, three sons, daughter, and his two brothers’ families.
“We waited for a family wedding to be confirmed before booking our return tickets,” Zeeshan explained. “Once the date was set, we booked them on August 13 for a flight on August 28.”
The tickets from Mangalore were Dh1,600 each, but thanks to their large group size, their travel agent offered a special group fare. “We anticipated a 10 percent discount, but surprisingly received 13 percent off, saving us around Dh2,700,” Zeeshan shared.
“Traveling with 13 people can be costly, so this savings was significant. Many don’t realize that even if you’re not a tourist group, you can still request bulk rates,” Zeeshan added. He noted that only a few airlines offer such fares.
Longer Drive, Cheaper Flight
Siddharth Bapat, an engineer in a fintech firm and JLT resident, found that switching airports helped him avoid hefty fares. Originally flying from Goa, just six hours from his hometown of Kolhapur, he discovered the flights were too expensive.
“From Goa, four tickets would have cost over Dh8,500. Instead, I checked flights from Mumbai,” Siddharth said.
Despite the 11-hour drive, almost double the previous distance, the fares from Mumbai totaled just Dh6,200. “We saved over Dh2,300, making the longer drive worthwhile,” he noted.
“The cost to reach the airport was the same, but Mumbai offered better options and more availability,” he added.
Farhan Hassan, a logistics expert residing in Arjan, found another clever solution. Instead of booking the quickest flight from Chennai to Dubai at Dh1,350, he opted for a flight to Ras Al Khaimah for just Dh950.
“I booked the tickets for my family and will pick them up from Ras Al Khaimah,” he said. “It’s just a 2-hour drive from Dubai.”
The flight included a two-hour layover in Mumbai. “The savings were significant, and the layover is manageable,” Farhan commented. “When flights are costly, flexibility pays off.”
Cashback and Miles
Jordanian expat Firaz AbuNael was surprised by an emergency that delayed his return. By the time he was ready to book, prices had surged to Dh1,289 per ticket.
“I had to act,” Firaz said. “I used my credit card, which offers travel cashback, and booked two tickets first. After receiving the cashback, I booked the remaining tickets.”
He also utilized his airline loyalty miles and set up fare alerts. “I got a notification when the price dropped to Dh980 and booked quickly,” he said, saving around Dh1,000 in total.
“Airfare prices are unpredictable, but staying alert and leveraging your cards and points can lead to savings,” Firaz added.
