Most airlines offer bonuses such as a free stopover with hotel accommodation, local transportation and meals. Sometimes, an airline or group of airlines may offer free or discounted tickets under its "frequent-flyer" or "accumulated mileage" programmes.

When I was a frequent flyer on the now-defunct PanAm airline, I logged up much mileage to my credit. However, because of all the traveling I was doing at the time, I forgot to claim the benefits that came with it. When I finally remembered, I had not flown PanAm for some time. I drew up a statement and wrote to the airline. (I have a habit of keeping my old boarding passes and thus was able to substantiate my claim). It reinstated my frequent flyer membership by charging me back dues of US$ 75 for three years, and credited the accumulated mileage to my account. What I ended up with was a bonanza: two free round-the-world, business-class tickets on PanAm for my wife and myself!

Besides the frequent-flyer programme, watch out also for any drop in the air fare due to seasonal variations and for any other discount that may be available. Remember though, to check restrictions that may be attached to such tickets. Other schemes that offer lower ticket prices are excursion fares, advance booking fares or special combination fares in particular sectors.

Special airline offers may also cover discounts on shopping, sightseeing and entertainment at certain distinations, or translate into business benefits such as the free use of airport lounges or complimentary membership to an international network of business centers. All other things being equal, these perks deserve due consideration.

Airlines, hotels, car rental firms and credit card companies are increasingly joining ranks to offer combined deals in the form of discounts or free gifts. These offers are worth exploring, particularly if you are a frequent traveler, and even more so if they are available along a regular route of travel.

In case you thought airports only served travel-related activities, some Japanese have given the new terminal of Tokyo International Airport at Haneda a dual purpose-it serves as a popular picture-taking venue for birdes and grooms who see romance in the bustle of airport traffic…. And who cannot wait to set off on their honeymoon!

Ad hoc offers often turn up most unexpectedly and you must think fast in order to take advantage of them. My wife and I were once in transit in Chicago when there was an announcement of a US$100 cash incentive (plus drinks on the house) for anyone willing to give up two boarding passed and switch to a flight three hours later. We were holiday so we took up the offer… and the opportunity to explore Chicago's O'Hare Airport!

Excursion fares, promotional fares, seasonal discounts and stand-by fares offer prices that are as much as 60% lower than regular fares, so it is wise to explore the alternatives available. Different travel agents offer different discounts, but look out for restrictions relating to change of dates or change of airlines, for instance.

A travel agency in the United States has teamed up with a software designer to create CompuServe, an on-line service which allows you to make your airline booking directly and enjoy a 5% discount. To make use of this service, however, you require a US$59 computer software package called Air Travel Manager, available from Expertware. No doubt, more such products will appear in the market, given the rapid advance in computer and satellite technologies.

Selecting the Best Frequent-Flyer Programme

Individual airlines have their own frequent-flyer programmes. In addition, there are programmes that are jointly operated by several airlines. Passages, for instance, extends to first-and business-class travelers on Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airline System and Singapore Airlines.

The best option for a frequent traveler, then is to join not one, but as many frequent-flyer programmes as possible. There is no initial joining cost and you are then in the position of being able to choose from among the programmes depending on your travel needs - for example, your destination and the fact that you may have already chalked up the maximum number of frequent-flyer miles on a particular carrier. However, tickets earned this way come with various restrictions. You may, for example, be required to collect the ticket personally or be subjected to indirect routes, inflexible schedules, embargoes and so on. You should consider these factors carefully in relation to the routes you are most likely to travel. So read the fine print.