Rabu, 22 Jun 2016

Tips to get lowest group airfare for your company/group trip

The ground arrangement price rarely change.
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Most hotels and transportation sent their yearly contracts to travel agent with low season or high season price and those price is not changing. The only reason for price to change is if there is something dramatically happened in the cities/countries e.g oil prices skyrocket, the government imply new taxes and etc.
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First of all we need to know, what is group booking?
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Group booking is when you want to book seats for more than 9 person in 1 booking number. Normally people do group booking for company or group trip. Before we go further, lets take a look at online booking first.

When you search for flight tickets online, sometimes the price is really cheap.

Let's take a look at Air Asia as an example.

Now, lets search for flight from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi for 1 person. and this is the price that we got: RM99


then lets do the same destination and date but for 9 person.


Can you notice the different? even for 1 and 9 person, there's already a difference of RM40.

So now, say that you have 18 person wanted to go somewhere and the price for the first 9 person is RM200 per person. Quite cheap eh? But I can assure you that 70% of the price  for the next 9 person won't be the same. There might be an additional of RM100 or RM200 for the next 9 seats.

Why?

This is because all the seats in airline have classes. The seats all are the same really (except for first and business class) but they are separated by classes. Once the lowest class is taken, you will get the next class available and the price will be more expensive. You cannot book for 40 person in 1 booking as the maximum for each booking is 9 seats (numbers are vary for each airlines. Some only allow 6 seats per booking)

This is not only for Air Asia and all the low cost airlines but the same concept applies to full service airlines. The only difference is full service airlines have their reserved seats for group booking but low cost airlines didn't.

Tips

1. AVOID PEAK SEASON

It's understandable that most companies will choose date that includes public holiday for their company retreat for so many reason. But if you would like to save on flight price and spent more on the ground arrangement, you might need to reconsider company retreat during public holiday. This is the time where airlines make money and they won't really negotiate on the price during peak season.

2. PLAN WAY AHEAD

If your company still want to do retreats during public holiday, then no worries. One of the way to save is by planning ahead. If you would like to do a trip during Labor day, just make sure you book the flight at least 6 months ahead. You do not need to pay in full anyway. That's the beauty of group booking. Usually airline will require only bookings fees and 30% of the ticket price as deposit (depends on airline). You do not need to submit any name so, no need to worries if there is any changes within that 6 months. Sometimes they do not even charge penalty if you cancel some of the seats, but that is usually 45 days before departure dates and again, it's depends on airlines.

One of an example that we encounter on this topic is during our clients company trip during Malaysia Independence day. The planning was done in March and we manage to get flight to Jakarta via Garuda Airlines for only RM500 per person. Then, few weeks before the departure, they need to add 2 more seats and guess what? The price already rake up to RM1200 per person.

Airlines change fares constantly, often multiple times a week. So when it comes to buying an airline ticket, timing is everything. Plan ahead.

3. NARROW DOWN YOUR PLACE SELECTION
Usually company will have a budget for their retreat, so advise your travel agent/planner so they can inform you which destinations is available with that budget. To make you understand this point is with this scenario:


  • Company A come to travel agent with request for 5 places.
  • Travel agent then request for group price at airlines.
  • Airlines saw that there are request for 5 places with 2 timings each that's mean airline will need to provide travel agent with 10 prices. To make things easy, they send a normal price to travel agents.

This actually can be avoided if you focus on one or two destinations only. One of the way is like we mentioned before, inform your travel planner your budget and what do you prefer for current holiday. Is it beach/shopping or city retreat? Give as much information so you can know where you can go with that budget.

Scenario:

Let's say the budget per person is RM1500 this year and you are looking for a beach holiday. You have been to Bali last 2 years and would like a different place this time. Then your travel planner will suggest you to go to Krabi or Phuket and provide you with itinerary. After comparison is made and the destination confirmed, travel planner will proceed with airlines on the destination and like we always wrote in our request "This is a confirmed clients and they requested for this destination. Please provide us with the best price available", really make a different in the fare quoted. The difference can be use to upgrade ground arrangement rather than waste it on the fare price.

4. GROUP SIZE

Some company have policy for their staff to travel. Some allow everyone in the same flight, some have restriction and separate them into 2 flights. Some even have maximum number of pax can travel in one flight. As an example when we do a company trip for an insurance company 80 pax, the max staff in 1 flight is 30 person only

For this point, it is actually quite challenging as it is vary for each airlines.

But from our experience, if you would like to use low-cost carrier, it is best if you can put everyone in one flight so you can request for special air fare rate. But if you prefer full service airlines, then you might need to separate the group into few departures so you can get the lowest airfare for your trip.
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So that's about it. All this information is based on our experienced. We have made hundreds of proposals for hundreds of companies for their retreat and we can see the pattern of airline fare as we go. You can use this as a guidance for your company/group retreat.

Remember. Avoid peak season if possible. Plan your retreat at least 6 months before departure date. Narrow down your destination selection and identify your group size. All these will definitely assist you to get the lowest airfare possible for your company retreat.

Have a feeling good holiday!
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By the way, please follow our facebook here

If you need our assistance on your company retreat, please contact Fariz at fariz@flynngoodholiday.com / 0196990277

If you want to know about MY Ladies Travel Club, please contact Sara at sara@flynngoodholiday.com / 0166261042

Alternatively you can also contact our office at: 03 4141 9999

Sabtu, 26 Disember 2015

Sri Lanka & Maldives - Day 5

Hari ke 5, kami mulakan dengan simple breakfast. Toast dan coffee. Cuaca agak baik harini dan sewaktu dalam perjalanan ke jeti (depan airport), barulah kami dapat tengok Maldives yg sebenar benarnya. Air laut dia biru gilaaaaa dan ni baru kat jeti :o





Pemandangan Male city dari hulhumale


So, harini kami ke Chaaya Island Dhonveli Beach and Spa, Maldives. Perjalanan cuma mengambil lebih kurang 30 minit via speedboat drpd jeti.Maybe sebab pemandangan dia memang cantik sangat so tak terasa langsung 30 minit tu. Sepanjang perjalanan dapat juga tengok dolphin daripada jauh. BEST SUNGGUH!

 
Sesampai je di resort ni, macam biasa, kami dan tetamu lain disambut dengan cold towel dan welcome drinks. Reception terletak berdekatan dengan jeti. Pekerja disini kebanyakannya daripada Phillipines, Indonesia (spa) dan dari Bangladesh. Kami diberi penjelasan tentang bilik2 yang ada disini. Cantik juga bilik2nya dan hampir semua bilik ada beachfront cuma certain tempat tak boleh mandi sebab merbahaya.
Bukan senang dapat peluang selfie kat Maldives :p
 
Kalau barang jatuh, confirm jumpa punya lah.
   
 


Cantik kan water bungalow dia. Memang sesuai untuk honeymooners.

Harga balinese massage kat sini boleh dapat berpuluh kali massage kat Bali. haha

Setelah selesai room dan site inspection, kami pun pergi lunch. Ha, kat sini problem sikit la ya nak makan utk muslim sebab diorg ada serve pork dan ada makanan yg ada wine. Memang diorg ada labelkan makanan2 tu tapi you know lah kan..sudu, pinggan etc.. and sepanjang pergi melawat 2 resort kat Maldives ni, untuk time makan diorg dah set kan meja utk kita. maksudnya masa datang ke restoran, ada org akan tunjukkan meja kita kat mana. Jangan pulak kau nak marah dia. Memang dah sistem dia macam tu. Next time boleh la request nak duduk mana, diorg cross check dan kalau takde org lain kat situ, boleh lah pindah. Nak makan sambil tgk pantai ke, apa ke. Makanan diorg, ok ok lah. Dessert semua ada, lengkap.

Lepas makan, disebabkan tak boleh tahan tengok air dia, terus lah mandi manda.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Setelah puas menikmati facilities di resort ni, kami pun berangkat pulang. Kembali ke hulhumale. Esok kita akan ke resort yang lain pula. See youuuuu...

Jumaat, 25 Disember 2015

Sri Lanka & Maldives - Day 4

Hari ke 4 ialah hari yang paling dinanti-nantikan. Kami akan melawat MALDIVES!!!
Excited gila. So lepas breakfast dan check-out daripada Kingsbury kami pun terus ke Bandranaike Airport untuk menaiki pesawat ke Maldives. Penerbangan dari Sri Lanka ke Maldives mengambil lebih kurang 1 jam 30 minit. Sekejap je, tapi still dapat makanan dalam flight Sri lankan Airlines, hehe.

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Sesampai je di airport Ibrahim Nasir, mcm biasa, kita kena fill up arrival card. Harus diingatkan mereka melarang keras sebarang arak dari luar dibawa masuk ke Maldives. Jadi, janganlah beli arak kat duty free Sri Lanka dengan harapan nak bawak masuk ye. Memang tak lepas. Penduduk Maldives memang 100% muslim tapi saya rasa itu bukan sebab sebenar tak boleh bawak arak masuk.

Anyway, selepas proses imigresen dan kastam selesai, kami pun keluar untuk berjumpa dengan teman kami dari Maldives yang menguruskan penginapan kami. Dah tak sabar sangat nak hirup udara Maldives. hehe.

Sewaktu kami tiba dah agak lewat petang dan cuaca agak mendung tapi ianya sama sekali tidak menjejaskan excitement kami. Kami pun berjalan keluar dan mula mengambil gambar. Jakun la dapat tengok Maldives dengan mata sendiri. Setelah kenderaan kami sampai, kami pun pergi ke Hulhumale.

Hulhumale ni terletak berdekatan dengan airport Maldives, Ibrahim Nasir. Tak payah naik bot atau feri untuk ke Hulhumale. Naik kereta je dah cukup. Disini ialah salah satu tempat dimana rakyat Maldives tinggal selain bandar mereka iaitu Male. Disini terdapat banyak rumah-rumah ala2 flat 5 tingkat dan juga guest house. Guest house disini banyak digunakan sebagai transit je. Sebagai contoh, time kami datang ni MAS ada route kesini tapi flight ke Maldives malam. Dalam pukul 10 malam. So, kebanyakan orang ambil guesthouse ni untuk duduk sehari sebelum pergi ke resort mereka keesokannya.
(Saya check flight airasia pun sama juga. sampai malam dan fly balik pun malam)
1) Eve Guesthouse, Hulhumale.
Ini ialah guesthouse yang kami diami selama 2 malam. Namanya Eve guesthouse. Terletak di kawasan yang agak strategik di depan pantai Hulhumale. Ownernya masih muda lagi dan pernah tinggal di Malaysia. Actually lepas berborak dengan beliau baru saya tahu yang ramai Maldivian yang tinggal di Malaysia. Either study atau bekerja. Jiran saya pun orang Maldives juga. hehe

Walaupun namanya guesthouse je, tapi dalam bilik siap ada bath tub tau. haha. Gambar diatas tu kira macam ruang tamu la untuk semua orang kongsi. Agak2 bosan lepak dalam bilik, boleh lah pergi keruang tamu untuk menonton TV atau melepak lepak.

Dekat kawasan ruang tamu ni juga, ada dapur. Mungkin dibenarkan masak cuma tak boleh la kot masak yg heavy2 macam rendang tok atau gulai kawah. Diorg pun tak provide breakfast (kalau nak kena charge additional) so, boleh la masak telur dadar etc utk breakfast atau makan malam sikit2. Tapi try double check dgn owner dia kalau kamu nak datang sini dan memasak ya.

Setelah check in, kami pun terus bertukar ke pakaian pantai dan terus ke pantai Hulhumale. Teman Maldives kami hanya mampu tertawa kecil je bila dia lihat gelagat kami. Dia cakap "Wait until you go to the resort" sambil tersenyum.
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Pantai dia agak jernih juga. Cantiklah kan kalau nak compare dengan PD atau Pengakalan Balak :p tapi saya rasa bau dia mcm agak hanyir. Tak pasti la sebab apa. Tapi berbau hanyir. Lepas tu, kawasan pantai agak tak terjaga sebab banyak jugak botol-botol dan tin-tin arak dekat situ. Dekat sini pun actually tak berapa best nak mandi sebab banyak karang-karang yang mati dekat sini. So agak sakit jugaklah kaki setiap kali terpijak karang2 ni. Lepas tu, bila dah bau hanyir tadikan fikiran dah macam2 so rasa macam bila keluar je air rasa gatal-gatal. haha. taktau la sebab air kotor atau memang mind dah set macam tu kan?

Takde hiburan malam di hulhumale dan kebanyakan tempat tutup awal. Makanan kat sini pun tak berapa kena dengan tekak saya so rasanya malam tu lepas meeting kami pun balik tidur je. Esok nak pergi melawat resort.



Ahad, 29 November 2015

Lirik lagu Bawah 3000 - SSK featuring Faizal Tahir


Lirik lagu Bawah 3000 - SSK featuring Faizal Tahir

Saph
Berat mata tapi tangannya ringan
Muat mulut, belum sempat nak simpan
Duit minyak dan tol berkepul-kepul
Aku kejar kertas macam orang tak betul

Wajar ku melabur sambil ku beratur
Di pinggir pinggan hanya makan yang teratur
Piramid hidup, aku akur dengan catur
Mainan raja tapi askar yang diatur

Berbapakkan nasib, beribukan peluang
Beratus yang berpucu, beribu yang pulang
Impianku tinggi nak cari sekupang
Hidupku penuh, penuh penuh dengan hutang

Pencarian dalam pendakian bukan isu
Kalah dalam perancangan macam tertipu
Dalam rumah, atas kertas, hanya kat situ
Masih bawah tangga, masih bawah tiga ribu

Faizal Tahir
Yang ku ada, untuk sementara
Melawan arus masa demi terus mara, gagah melangkah
Yang ku rasa, kebas merata
bergelut mengatur, hidupku

NBE
7 balas 11, seribu satu dulang
belum wang hantaran, baik jadi bujang - senang
raja sehari tanggung bertahun hutang
bukan soal adat tapi takut mulut orang

bila barang naik, bini merengek,
bukan miskin bandar, ramai dah sengkek,
akal tak boleh cetek tinggal kat pantai dalam,
kerja kerja kerja, sampai lewat malam

tayar kete botak tak ada bunga
kredit kad pula hanya mampu bayar bunga
harga air di Pelita macam minyak per liter
tak dapat jawapan, jualkan saja Unser

dulu belanja tak fikir, sekarang ke AKPK
mulut asyik mengeluh, jarang sekali berzikir
ukur baju di badan, nak lebih dari itu
boleh jadi tiga suku bila bawah 3 ribu.

Faizal Tahir
Membujur lalu, melintang patah hidupku diratah
(Pencarian dalam pendakian bukan isu, Kalah dalam perancangan macam tertipu)
Siapa? dimana? suara yang membela?

Yang ku ada, untuk sementara
Yang diberi bukan selalu yang dipilih
Terus mencari
Yang ku rasa , kebas merata
bergelut mengatur, hidupku

Dan bagaimana yang dibawahnya?
(Hidup penuh dengan kemungkinan)
Dan sampai bila mahu ditanya?
(Terpulang sebelum pulang untuk ditentukan)
Dan bagaimana yang dibawahku?
(Yang dibawah sesat entah kemana)
Dan sampai bila mahu ditunggu dan bagaimana?

Cari jalan bukan alasan (3x)
Bawah 3000, bukan alasan
Cari jalan bukan alasan (3x)
Bawah 3000, bukan alasan!

Faizal Tahir
Yang ku ada, untuk sementara
Melawan arus masa demi terus mara, gagah melangkah
Yang ku rasa, kebas merata
bergelut mengatur, hidupku
Bertahan
Bertahan. aku.
Berjalan.
Berjalan terus...


*Lirik berwarna biru hanya ada dalam full song sahaja.
**Video on the way. Doakan agar kami dapat siapkan. Insya Allah.
***Secara jujurnya aku amat suka lirik yang aku tulis untuk lagu ni. Antara lirik terbaik yang pernah aku tulis. Dan secara jujurnya, lirik aku untuk lagu ni sebenarnya agak personal. Terlampau personal untuk aku tulis dan rap. Tapi, yah, bukan ku sorang yang hadap benda ni. Ramai orang yang menghadap.

God bless Malaysia.

Sri Lanka & Maldives - Day 3

Seperti hari semalam, breakfast ialah waktu yang ditunggu tunggu untuk makan. Ha ha. Harini kami ke Kandy. Perjalanan mengambil masa selama 3 jam (tanpa jammed). Sepanjang perjalanan, kami hanya menghayati dan melayani perasaan sampailah tiba-tiba Dania sakit perut. Kelam kabut driver tu bila kami suruh dia berhenti kat mana2 farmasi berdekatan. Pastu driver suggest Dania minum air ayurvedic ni. Katanya sri lankan selalu minum kalau sakit perut. Kami pun belilah dan suruh anak tersayang ni minum. Dia minum sikit je pastu dia taknak. Adoyai, sudahlah susah mencari farmasi ni pastu dia buat hal pulak. Pastu try la air tu, mmg patut pun Dania taknak minum. Rasa apa ntah. Mcm menthol dan payau. urghhh.. Tapi tak lama lepas tu perut dia pun ok. Alhamdulillah.






Sebelum sampai ke Kandy kami stop dulu kat tempat spices ni. Penat woo duduk dalam kereta lama2. Baiklah stop kejap ye tak, Dengar lah orang kat situ explain pasal herba2 spices etc. Boring lah. Sudahlah harga spices diorang mahal gila kalau compare dengan Adabi ke, Alagappas ke. haha.TAPI highlight dia bila ada orang massage. Ayurveda massage. Perghhhh memang layan broooo..

Gambar2 lain agak censored, so tak upload la ya.

 Lepas tu kami pun makan lunch kat sini jugak sambil borak2 dengan guide tempat ni. Oh btw, kat Sri Lanka ni ada macam sambal kering. Sedap gak. Mana2 restoran selalunya ada. Ingat tak first night tu kami makan kat Dine-mon? Kat situ yang paling sedap. Kadang2 makanan rasa biasa je tapi taruk benda tu terus sedap. haha


Sampai ke Kandy agak lewat petang masa tu so jalan dah agak jammed sebab ramai orang ofis dah mula balik ke rumah. Ikut hati macam malas je nak ke Kandy ni tapi sebab dulu time sejarah dan geografi pernah baca pasal Kandy, kan? So, kenalah datang. haha.

Pemandangan dari atas.

Di Kandy juga terdapat kedai2 jual cenderamata diorang tapi memang mahal. Satu sebab harganya dalam USD. Kedua, memang mahal lah semuanya. Sebab memang khas kedai2 ni untuk tourist je kan. Orang local takkan nak beli benda2 macam ni





Di Kandy ni juga ada Temple of tooth relic, Salah satu heritage site kat sini. Dipercayai, gigi Buddha disimpan didalam temple ini. Tapi tak nampak pun actually gigi tu. Dia simpan dalam tempat khas yang takde siapa boleh masuk. Lagi satu, untuk masuk dalam temple ni kena bukak kasut ya. Untuk maklumat lebih lanjut baca ni "Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple". (ambik dari google je. haha).


Malam tu kami ada discussion sikit dengan ground operator kami disana tentang trip yang akan datang di restoran masakan cina Xilaton. Chefnya orang daripada Seremban tau. Jangan main2. Memang sedap makan kat sini.

By the way, on the actual date kan, instead naik bas ke Kandy, kami naik keretapi luxury diorang, Viceroy train. The Viceroy Special a vintage steam train and the only one currently in operation in Sri Lanka, offers a more luxury travel experience. Complete with period fittings, a bar and smoking area, dining and recreation area, plush seating with an observation cabin, on board music and Wi-Fi, and four course menus, The Viceroy offers an experience like no other. The train is run on a charter basis and runs to any destination in the island. The hill country ride in Sri Lanka, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world, will be a journey best experienced on the Viceroy Special.

Cuma masa kami naik ni, ada issue sikit sebab ada keretapi sudah terbalik kat salah satu stesen di depan so masa kami kena cut. Ride yang sepatutnya 2 hingga tiga jam jadi sejam je. Tu je lah nak kabar. Memang agak menarik juga dapat naik train ni cuma kalau takde insiden ni, lagi best pengalaman dia. Oh, dan mereka juga serve free flow kopi dan teh tapi air mineral diorang tak provide. Kena beli dekat bar. Kalau ada yang nak minum alkohol pun ada dekat bar, cuma, biasalah kan - mahal.