A clever traveller has revealed a remarkably simple trick that slashed the cost of a long-haul business class flight by a staggering $1,000, equivalent to approximately £742. The discovery highlights how the price displayed for air travel can vary dramatically based on seemingly minor details like language and currency settings during the online booking process.
The Reddit Revelation: A Four-Figure Saving
The story emerged on the social platform Reddit, where a frequent flyer detailed their search for a round-trip business class ticket from Santiago Airport (SCL) in Chile to Williamsport in Pennsylvania (IPT). Initially, the carrier's own website, Latam, quoted prices between $1,700 (£1,262) and $2,000 (£1,484) for the journey.
However, a search on Google Flights showed a tantalising fare of just $970 (£720). The traveller explained the initial confusion: "Google flights showed the price for $970 round trip. However, once going to the carrier's website, the price is actually ~$1700-$2000." The lower price, it turned out, was mistakenly for a single leg of the journey, not the full return ticket.
The Accidental Discovery That Led to Big Savings
During the frustrating search, a crucial link unexpectedly appeared. "Not sure how but a link to the Spanish language/Chilean currency site popped up. Did NOT use a VPN," the traveller noted. By following this link and proceeding to book through the Spanish-language version of the Latam website, paying in Chilean Pesos (CLP), the total cost for the business class round trip fell to under $1,000.
"Of course I booked it," the delighted passenger added. They also shared that they had not achieved similar success using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a common tool for attempting to access regional pricing.
Wider Tricks and Top UK Travel Hacks
The online post attracted numerous comments from others sharing similar experiences. One user wrote: "It can also change when you switch currencies. I once saved ~$900 flying from Japan to France by paying in JPY rather than USD."
This clever trick aligns with broader efforts by UK holidaymakers to cut costs. A recent survey reveals that nine out of ten British travellers are actively taking steps to reduce their holiday expenses. The most popular strategies include:
- Booking early: A simple yet effective tactic employed by 46% of holidaymakers.
- Travelling outside peak seasons: Opting for off-peak dates to secure better deals.
- Flying midweek: A popular choice for 45% of travellers looking for cheaper fares.
While changing your browser's language or currency is no guaranteed silver bullet, this traveller's experience serves as a potent reminder for all to experiment carefully during the booking process. Checking different regional versions of an airline's site could potentially unlock significant, and perfectly legitimate, savings on your next international journey.
