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-   -   Roundtrip airfare to Botswana---OUCH!! (https://www.fodors.com/community/africa-and-the-middle-east/roundtrip-airfare-to-botswana-ouch-693554/)

phernska Apr 3rd, 2007 05:45 AM

Roundtrip airfare to Botswana---OUCH!!
 
While my trip is over a year away, I decided to sniff around at the airfares--what a shocker! My route is San Francisco to Victoria Falls, then Maun back to SF....the fares are between $2700-2900 (using Orbitz)..Does this seem high?
In the past I've always had the booking agent make the flight arrangements, this is the first time I'm making them on my own. I don't have frequent flyer miles, so I can pretty much go with any airline. Is there a benefit to using a consolidator or travel agent? Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks in advance...

atravelynn Apr 3rd, 2007 08:20 AM

I used Kayak and got just under $2600, for leaving in May and returning early June. I just used San Francisco and Vic Falls as the airports and did not include Maun. So it's pretty close to what you got.

Then I put in my route, which I had been paying in the low 2000s for in July and Aug. I used the same May June dates and got close to $2500.

I'd check consolidators or travel agents since you have a benchmark for comparison.

Ouch is right.




matnikstym Apr 3rd, 2007 08:48 AM

you might consider flying into Livingstone and doing a road transfer to VFA. Flights are sometimes cheaper into Livingstone.

phernska Apr 3rd, 2007 06:47 PM

Thanks to you both...I'll see if a consolidator can do any better. I got so wrapped up in planning the safari, it didn't even occur to me that the airfare would be so high...So much for trying to stay within a budge!

wildcatzoo Apr 4th, 2007 08:24 AM

Check South African Airways directly through flysaa.com - I booked our trip for this fall there and got $1500 per person, much lower than Orbitz or the other online places.

Nancy

Elainee Apr 4th, 2007 12:56 PM

I booked Air France London to Johannesburg Business class $2400 for December return January 2008. I'll take coach to London.


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