With travellers constantly looking for ways to reduce flight costs, a money saving strategy known as ‘Travel Tetris’ is attracting attention. By booking separate flights, sometimes with different airlines, travellers can create their own connecting journeys at potentially much lower prices.
But while the savings might look appealing, could this clever travel hack end up costing more than expected?
What Is Self-Transferring?
Self-transferring involves booking two or more separate flights rather than purchasing a single connecting ticket.
For example, instead of booking a direct flight from London to Bangkok, a traveller might book one flight to Dubai and another from Dubai to Bangkok.
Although this can reduce costs, there’s an important difference: if your first flight is delayed and you miss your second, you’re generally responsible for arranging and paying for a replacement.
The Advantages of Self-Transferring
There are several reasons why travellers are exploring this approach:
- Lower fares: Combining flights from different airlines can sometimes offer significant savings.
- Greater flexibility: Travellers can mix airlines, routes and departure times to suit their schedules.
- More travel options: Alternative connections can open up routes that aren’t available through traditional bookings.
- Stopover opportunities: Longer connections can provide the chance to explore another destination along the way.
The Hidden Risks
Despite the potential savings, self-transferring comes with several disadvantages.
Missed connections: If your first flight is delayed or cancelled, your second airline generally has no obligation to rebook you. A replacement ticket could quickly wipe out any savings.
Baggage complications: You may need to collect your luggage, pass through immigration and check in again, adding time and stress to your connection.
Visa requirements: Some self-transfers require travellers to enter the connecting country, potentially requiring additional visas or travel documentation.
Limited protection: Separate tickets usually mean less protection for your overall journey, even where passenger rights apply to individual flights.
Increased stress: Tight connections, airport queues and unexpected delays can turn a money-saving journey into a logistical nightmare.
What Does This Mean for Business Travellers?
For leisure travellers with flexible plans, self-transferring might be worth considering. However, for business travellers, the consequences of disruption can be much greater.
Missing an important meeting, conference or client presentation could cost considerably more than the original airfare saving.
Businesses must also consider employee wellbeing, duty of care, lost productivity and unexpected expenses.
The cheapest flight isn’t always the most cost-effective journey.
Is It Worth the Risk?
Self-transferring isn’t necessarily a bad option. With generous connection times, careful planning and an understanding of the risks, it can sometimes work well.
However, travellers should consider the potential consequences before choosing a cheaper itinerary.
At Principal Business Travel, our experienced consultants look beyond the ticket price to consider the entire journey, helping businesses make informed travel decisions.
And with our 24/7 support, our clients know there’s always someone available when plans change.
Because when it comes to business travel, saving money should never mean compromising on peace of mind.
That’s the Principal difference.
