Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

Your plane ticket will probably make a big dent in your travel budget. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read these tips on how to find a cheaper plane ticket.

One-way or round-trip

Available options will depend on your country of departure and destination.

A return ticket isn’t mandatory for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Argentina, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and South Korea. However, if you do travel on a one-way ticket, you must provide additional proof of funds showing that you do have enough money to buy a return or onward ticket (i.e. to a third country) at the end of your trip.

A round trip ticket might make the most sense for some people. For example, if you are starting your trip in September but you know that you will come home for Christmas or for a cousin’s wedding in a few months, then you should buy a round trip ticket, as it is usually cheaper than buying separate one-ways. You are allowed to leave and re-enter freely your WHV destination (with the exception of Japan, which grants a single-entry WHV).

Layovers vs stopovers

First, it’s important to know the difference between a layover and a stopover.

A layover is also called a connection. For instance, there are no direct flights between London and Auckland, you will have to land in Doha, Singapore or Dubai and take another flight a few hours later from the same airport to Auckland. Most layovers involve changing gates and planes but occasionally, you will remain in the same plane.

A stopover is basically a longer layover—often 24 hours or more, depending on the airline’s definition of a stopover.

Note that a short layover isn’t necessarily the best option because it takes time to deplane, find your new gate, maybe go through security, etc. If you do have a layover, make sure it’s long enough—a few hours at least for international flights in major airports.

In the above example, London to Auckland, there are no direct flights so you will have a layover or stopover. But occasionally you can choose to buy a non-direct flight for two reasons:

• the ticket is generally cheaper (since it’s a less convenient flight)
• you can explore a new city for a few hours or days

For instance, you could discover New York on your way to Calgary or check out Dubai, Bangkok or even Kuala Lumpur on your way to Japan, Australia or New Zealand.

Some airlines even book you in a hotel room for free if your stopover is long—Etihad offers up to 2 free nights in Abu Dhabi if your stopover is at least 8-hours. Other airlines and/or airports offer free or cheap organized tours to help you discover the city. Make sure to read the fine print before buying your ticket.

When to research flights

It’s hard to know when it is actually the best time of the year, the week and the day, but we recommend avoiding research during times when you know a lot of other people are online researching as well. This is because if airlines and search engines detect that a lot of people are checking at once, they may adjust their prices up in real time to account for increased demand.

For this reason, try to:

• Avoid weekends and holidays
• Check on Mondays or Tuesdays, early in the morning or late at night

It’s impossible to know the pricing algorithm, but it doesn’t hurt to try these strategies.

How far in advance to buy the ticket

Start looking at options as soon as your visa is approved and be as flexible as possible. Even if there’s always a way to find good last-minute tickets, it’s advisable to book it around 2-3 months before your preferred departure date. Prices can get very high closer to your departure date.

Avoid peak season

Travelling during peak season will be more expensive than travelling during the shoulder or low season. This is true no matter how far in advance you book. For example, flying the week before Christmas is always going to be expensive, no matter where you are going or how early you book. Tickets are also more expensive during school vacations and the Holiday season.

Use Google Flights to compare options and find out the average ticket price to your destination and adjust your departure date (or budget) accordingly.

Check low-cost tickets and airlines

Not all plane ticket options are made available at the same time—low-cost flights are generally added after regular flights from full-service airlines. So if you start looking for plane tickets long before your departure date, you may miss out on budget options.

Do you want to travel with a full-service airline and enjoy better comfort and service, or are you ready to make compromises and fly with a low-cost carrier? If you don’t mind the latter, make sure to read the fine print to see what’s not included in your ticket (checked luggage, seat selection, etc.) and do the math to see if you’re really getting a good deal.

Flexibility is key

If you book your flight far enough in advance and don’t have to travel by a specific date, be flexible about your departure dates.

Take all the above factors into account and compare prices for several dates. You can also save an itinerary on Google Flights without a specific date and activate notifications to receive an email when prices drop.

Where to buy your plane ticket

Most travellers buy their plane ticket online or through a travel agency.

1. Airline websites

The fastest way to compare prices and buy your plane ticket is online.

You can buy your ticket directly on airline websites such as Air France, Air Canada, Qantas, Air China and many more.

Use a flight comparison website like Skyscanner to find the best deals then book your flight on the airline’s website. In the event of a change or problem, it will be easier to communicate with the airline directly than go through a third-party booking site.

2. Travel agencies

Going through a travel agency is an interesting solution for travellers looking for a stopover on the way there or on the way back. The flight may be cheaper, you can take a break between two possibly long flights and you get the chance to explore a city for a few hours, days or weeks.

It’s easier to talk to a travel agent to sort out stopovers and they may be very helpful as well if you’re looking for a flexible ticket.

Contrary to popular belief, your ticket won’t be more expensive because you’re booking with a travel agency. In fact, they may have great deals for working holiday makers and they are easy to reach in case of issues.

Beware of IP tracking

Top price comparison tip—clear cookies or use a VPN when booking or searching for plane tickets! Airlines and third-party websites can track your IP and create a false sense of urgency.

Let’s say you compare airfares on Monday, consider your options and decide to buy your ticket the day after. When you return to the site, your search has been saved but your ticket is suddenly at a slightly higher price. You may logically assume that prices will continue to rise rapidly and click “buy” right away.

Wait! Clear your cookies or use a VPN and check your preferred ticket option again—it may be at the original price again.

Not all airlines and websites track your IP but make sure to do a final “clean” search before buying your ticket. This involves deleting your cookies (History> Delete cookies), using the private browsing mode or using another computer to be considered a new client.

Beware of hidden fees

Some air ticket booking sites (usually price comparison sites) may have a few surprises in store for you.
This is the “added fees” trap. The price initially quoted is quite attractive but the checkout price is different because one or more of the following fees were added at the last minute:

• booking fees
• card payment fees
• baggage fees

Make sure to read the fine print! Generally speaking, full-service airlines are less likely to hit you with hidden credit card fees than low-cost airlines. Booking fees are more commonly found if booking through a price comparison website.

Find out how the different sites work before booking to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Flight cancellation insurance

Most airlines and websites offer flight cancellation insurance at one point during the checkout process.

It’s up to you to decide whether or not you need it. Once again, remember to read the fine print carefully.

Generally speaking, the flight cancellation insurance offered by airfare booking websites only offers coverage in the event of an emergency (death, serious illness, accident…). If you cancel your flight for any other reason, you’ll probably lose your ticket.

Protip: even if you cancel your flight for a reason not covered by insurance (or if you haven’t taken out insurance), you can get some of your money back by claiming airport and security taxes.