The Backpacking Freelancer - Part III

Do you really need a credit card to pay for flights you can book online? The credit card is a luxury for the documented, regular employees. For freelancers who have been working from home most of their lives, know that there is a quick workaround to the requirement.

Paying for Your Airphil Express Online Flight Booking

photo credit: Petr Kratochvil

Credit card payment is the only option. A third party can pay by credit card on your behalf. You must be able to present the card itself used during the transaction at the airport. 

In lieu of the actual credit card,  you may show to the airline staff a photocopy of the card, a copy of the credit card holder's valid ID, and a signed letter confirming and authorizing the transaction.

The authorization letter can read:

The Backpacking Freelancer - Part II

A common dilemma for frugal backpackers is choosing the better budget carrier to fly to Hong Kong. Which airline is cheaper: Cebu Pacific or Airphil Express? There aren't any fixed answers - especially when both are holding seat sales. Given the same promo fare from both carriers, your best bet would be to consider other factors when booking your flight.

Taxes and Fees on Top of the Advertised Fare

photo credit: Vera Kratochvil

There is bound to be a difference in the final fare after taxes and miscellaneous charges have been factored in.

For obvious marketing reasons, airlines do not want to broadcast the net amount because 4-digit figures can turn away a lot of potential customers.

An P888 deal looks more promising than P1,499, right? You do not even seem to mind the sneaky "excluding taxes" addendum.

These miscellaneous fees can inflate your final fare dramatically. Furthermore, they tend to fluctuate, so you might want to do a mock booking on both websites to avoid nasty surprises.