With the festive season travel fast approaching, many South Africans are eagerly planning year-end holidays. With the rising travel costs and ongoing pressure on household budgets, travellers are increasingly looking for practical ways to make their money go further without compromising their travel experience.
“While finding affordable flights remains a priority, taking a broader view of travel spending, from rewards and travel insurance to connectivity and payment solutions, are often better positioned to unlock meaningful savings,” says Philani Potwana, Managing Executive: Everyday Banking at FNB Private as he shares tips on how South Africans can stretch their holiday travel budget this festive season:
- Budget for more than just flights: while flight tickets are often the biggest upfront cost, it is not the only cost travellers incur for the trip. Transport, accommodation, meals, foreign exchange, travel insurance, Visas and connectivity can quickly add up to the trips cost. Therefore, it is advisable to plan for the full cost of the trip to avoid unexpected expenses and unnecessary financial pressure while travelling.
- Explore the right payment solutions: travel-focused banking and payment solutions can offer benefits that extend beyond making purchases abroad. For example, qualifying FNB customers with a Global Account receive 10 complimentary international airport lounge visits each year, with access for one guest per visit across a network of more than 1 200 airport lounges outside South Africa. Eligible customers may also qualify for travel insurance benefits when paying for travel with their FNB Credit Card.
- Take advantage of rewards and travel discounts: rewards programmes can significantly reduce the cost of flights, accommodation and other travel-related expenses. For example, FNB customers can access savings when booking flights, car rental, bus bookings and accommodation through the eBucks platform. Through eBucks Travel, qualifying customers can receive up to 80% off the full fare of domestic and international flights, including taxes and surcharges, on a wide range of participating partner airlines.Bathandwa Mbovane, Head of Rewards at eBucks says, when planning your travel, you need to ensure that you investigate and understand the options available to you so you can take advantage of the benefits that your bank offers before making a booking. “While many travellers focus solely on finding the cheapest flight ticket, they often overlook rewards and travel benefits they already have access to. Taking advantage of these benefits can result in significant savings and help travellers maximise their holiday budget,” adds Mbovane.
- Minimise connectivity costs: staying connected while travelling has become essential, but international roaming charges can quickly add up and increase holiday costs. As a result, more people are turning to alternatives such as eSIMs, which enables access to mobile data without the cost associated with traditional roaming. Travel-friendly connectivity solutions can help manage communication costs while remaining connected for the duration of the trip.
“Our insights show that customers are increasingly seeking a connected travel ecosystem that makes every stage of their journey simpler, more rewarding and more secure. From booking for travel and accessing travel insurance to managing foreign currency and enjoying airport lounge access and making secure payments abroad and connectivity, these solutions work together to unlock greater convenience, peace of mind and value throughout the travel experience. Customers who take advantage of these connected travel solutions can simplify their travel planning, unlock additional savings and benefits, and maximise the value of their travel spend, enabling them to focus on creating memorable experiences rather than managing travel logistics and unexpected costs,” concludes Potwana.
