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Journalism of Courage
IF you are a student with a letter of offer in your hand from a phoren university and it8217;s time for you to pack your bags and fly don8217;t think your worries are over. You have still to tackle a major hurdle8212;locating an inexpensive, reliable way of getting bag and baggage to your final destination. The trick lies in finding the options you have in terms of which airlines to fly, what hostels to use and which credit cards to depend on. And with a bit of help from us, the job wouldn8217;t be all that tough.
Check out the mid-east carriers like Emirates, Gulf Air or Egypt Air, some African airlines and airlines like Aeroflot which fly to most major destinations and offer attractive rates as compared to their European or American counterparts. But remember that the service on-board the flight is unlikely to match the likes of Singapore Airlines or Air France. There8217;s also another option 8212; a discount carrier like Virgin Atlantic.
If travel agents are to be believed, last year deals were the best ever in recent times. But with a bit of luck and research, you could find something from the discounted DGCA fares making offers not much worse off from last year8217;s special fares.
Airlines like Qantas, Singapore Airlines and British Airways that offer special schemes for students where you can get discounts up to 25 per cent. Once you8217;ve decided the best fare and the airline which you want to fly on, it8217;s time to check out ticket prices at a couple of IATA approved agents. Travel agents generally get a 7 per cent commission on the international tickets and you may be able to locate some who8217;ll just keep 2 per cent and pass the rest on to you in discounts. We recommend that you check out another option8212; team up with other students to travel together you could save a substantial amount on 8216;companion fares8217; which are lower than the two single fares.
Check the restrictions applicable on this sort of a ticket. 8220;Sometimes baggage limits at just 10 kg and if you have more luggage, it may be cheaper to book a normal ticket. Also check flight connections as numerous stop-overs could mean paying taxes for using different airports not to mention the potential for extra spending on transit visas and the hidden cost of having to use airport facilities for meals,8221; says Sudhir Sahi of International Travel House.
You could also check out the special deals offered to ISIC International Student Identity Card card-holders and Hostelling International members check their websites http://www.istc.org and http://www.iyhf.org for details.
For most students heading abroad for higher studies, living costs are the second largest item of expenditure after tuition fees. But as always, there are ways to budget your expenditure.
Consider getting an internationally valid credit card from India itself. It8217;s cheap: You can get one for as little as Rs 350 a year, if you take one of the several offers given by credit card issuing banks here. As far as internationally valid credit cards go, Mastercard is widely accepted in Europe and Asia, while American Express and Visa are strong in the United States for instance.
Vikram Dhavan of Thomas Cook adds: 8220;The exchange rate on conversion of the billed amount on your internationally valid card is about the best rate you can get as a retail customer when you go to convert your rupees to foreign exchange. But as a student you may be eligible for an add-on card only but even that is not a bad deal.8221; Next comes accommodation if your university hasn8217;t been able to allot you any. Hotels are expensive. Here enters the option of a YMCA Young Men8217;s Christian Association membership.
And if you are looking for dormitory-type cheap accommodation, get yourself a Youth Hostels Association of India Hostelling International card. A 1-year membership for Rs 50 only. The membership allows you to stay in hostels worldwide at rock bottom rates. Full-time students can become members of International Student Identity Card ISIC Association and get access to loads of savings on travel arrangements, accommodation, museums, cultural events, shopping, entertainment and much more. Richa Goyal of STIC Travels says.
There8217;s yet another card, the International Students Exchange Card http://www.isecard.com which seems to be more commonly used in the United States and is available to students of any age.
