An air pass is a great way to get around when you are exploring a region of the world. It allows you to travel vast distances to multiple cities for a fraction of what individual airline tickets would cost. However, there are some restrictions. It is important to understand the rules and regulations regarding air passes before you buy one.
Decide where you want to go. An air pass provides travel around a country or continent. It only makes sense to buy an air pass if you are heading to at least three destinations in the same region.
Understand the restrictions on an air pass. They usually must be purchased outside the region in which they provide travel. You may also be required to buy a ticket to the region from your home country. You may have to select your exact itinerary when you purchase your air pass, and you may not be allowed to make changes to it. There can also be routing restrictions, distance caps and time limits on the use of an air pass. This all may sound limiting, but if you have a well thought-out travel plan, an air pass is a great deal.
Search for an air pass. Most discount travel websites do not offer air passes. You must specifically search online for "air pass" and your chosen region. Individual airlines and airline alliances sell air passes but don't usually advertise them. Call airlines that service your chosen region and ask if they have an air pass. You can also ask a travel agent to research an air pass for you. Using an air pass isn't very common, so your travel agent may not know much more than you do.
Plan your itinerary carefully. Examine the available cities on the air pass and decide which ones you wish to visit. Next, figure out how long you want to spend in each city and check the time tables to see if flights are available. Be sure your flights qualify under the conditions of the air pass. You may not be able to change the routing or the flights once you book it.
Book your air pass. Once you are sure of your plan, go ahead and buy it. It is good idea to get your air ticket to the region along with the air pass. In fact, many airlines require this.
