South East Asia is serviced by a broad spectrum of scheduled airlines and The Great Holiday Collection has access to preferential rates on all of them.

As part of the booking service we will run through the options available and offer a choice of flights. We have no affiliation with any airline and so our recommendations with be purely based on your requirements.

Which Airline?

There are a few general considerations that invariably influence any decision. Often the best place to start is the destinations you are visiting. This will produce a list of possible airlines that we can gradually refine.

Class of Travel

Keen competition means that most longhaul economy flights are a good standard, offering broadly the same level of service, but you may have a favourite or one you would prefer to avoid. Increasingly popular are the enhanced economy classes such as British Airways’ World Traveller Plus, Vietnam Airlines' Deluxe Economy or EVA Air’s Evergreen Deluxe, which charge a more affordable premium for increased legroom and improved service. The ideal of course is upgrading to the comfort of Business or First and it’s worth getting a range of quotes as offers come and go.

Direct or Indirect?

Flying to most of our destinations involves a change of plane, but there can be further savings if you are prepared to add an additional stop, that can in some cases have the added benefit of becoming a stop-over destination. If you are interested in the best value for money please discuss the options available with your consultant.

Regional Flights

Those who live close to Heathrow or Gatwick can read on, but for those further away from the capital it may be worth considering a regional flight. Some airlines have a better regional structure than others and by booking a regional flight through your international carrier you will be able to check your bags through and have protection if there is a problem with your domestic UK connecting flight.

Airmiles

Unfortunately tour operators can’t purchase your flight seats with Airmiles. If you would like to arrange your own flights we will happily offer a quote without this component, but please read below.

ATOL Financial Protection

When you book your Ex UK flights with us you will be automatically protected under our ATOL number and so fully protected financially. You also have the added benefit of having your whole holiday organised by one travel company which should not be overlooked.

When To Book?

The algorithm that calculated that 8 weeks prior to departure was the optimum time to book a low cost flight doesn’t really apply to longhaul travel. Generally with scheduled airlines the majority of cheaper tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, particularly around peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and school holidays. You can book your seats up to 11 months in advance and we recommend early booking to gain the cheapest fares. Flexibility of dates and routes also help if you are looking for the best deals.

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

It’s well publicised that air travel contributes to the rising levels of greenhouse gases and if you would like to offset your carbon footprint there are a number of organisations that offer the service. Below are a couple of choices that we think are good examples, planting trees to in the UK and overseas. Woodland Trust - https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ or World Land Trust - https://www.worldlandtrust.org/appeals/carbon-balanced/

And Finally - Please remember that when booking your flights we need your names exactly as they appear in your passports including any middle names.