Decoding Air Travel is the most comprehensive and insightful work to date on the intricacies of the modern air travel system from a customer perspective, and the most effective tool for making travel more affordable, convenient, comfortable and fun. It's the only book that can teach you how to save hundreds -- even thousands -- of dollars per ticket by building your own airfare, how to fly in Business and First Class for the price of coach, and how to enjoy various travel luxuries at no additional cost. The book has two goals: Improving your travel life and saving you lots of money. It seeks to achieve those goals by helping you become a knowledgeable, smart and sophisticated traveler who has mastered an increasingly complex and frustrating system and can work it to his or her advantage. For more details, visit the book's website: DecodingAirTravel.com.
Decoding Air Travel
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About the Author
Nicholas Kralev is a writer, educator and speaker on global travel, diplomacy and international affairs. A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, he has traveled around the world with four U.S. secretaries of state -- Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright. He has flown almost 2 million miles and visited more than 80 countries. He is also the founder and CEO of Kralev International LLC, a travel consulting and training company. For more details, visit NicholasKralev.com.
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More About the Author
Nicholas Kralev is an author, journalist and lecturer on diplomacy, international affairs and global travel. A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, he has traveled around the world with four U.S. secretaries of state -- Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright. He has flown over 2 million miles and visited more than 80 countries. He is a contributor to The Atlantic and Foreign Policy Magazine. He is also the founder and CEO of Kralev International LLC, an air travel consulting and training company. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and speaks five languages. For more details, visit NicholasKralev.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The cost of this book will repay itself many times over on your first trip -- and keep on paying off
June 26, 2011
By G. Leff
Format:Paperback
As noted by other reviewers, Nicholas Kralev was a diplomacy reporter for several years, and flew all over the world on the newspaper's dime -- but newspapers haven't been the most thriving businesses over the past several years, so he had to make the most of a modest travel budget. And he doesn't like flying coach. So he learned the ins and outs of airfares, frequent flyer programs, upgrades, bonuses, and began to think strategically and methodically as he planned out his travels. His travels also earned him a regular travel column in the Washington Times.
Kralev has left the Times and has been offering paid seminars at which he teaches techniques for getting the most out of travel for the least amount of money. And having been teaching these seminars for a year, he's now written a book. It's less expensive than a seminar, and this way it fits your schedule. You should buy it.
The book is broken down into three sections: booking tickets, the trip itself, and making the most of frequent flyer programs.
In section one, across six chapters, Kralev offers the best introduction to airfare construction and searching out the best airfares that I've ever read. And I write a popular travel blog that's been recommended in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, so I'm no slouch on this stuff.
The book isn't for everyone. You might be happy going to Kayak, Bing, or Hipmunk and booking whatever itinerary pops up and looks the cheapest. If that's you, and you're good, then the book may not be for you.
If you want to be more advanced than that, really understand how airfare and travel works and how to use that knowledge for your benefit, then it's a worthwhile investment.
Kralev takes you completely through looking up the cheapest airfares, understanding the rules of the fare, and finding flights that (1) match those rules and (2) have inventory available at the lowest price. He explains concepts like same-day confirmed changes, standby, coach airfares that offer confirmed upgrades to first class, and married segments.
In walking you through how to use this information to book the best flights for you -- whether that means the cheapest flights, the flights with upgrade availability, or the flights that will earn you the most miles -- he gives great examples.
In the second section, the book takes you through buying your tickets, making changes to your reservation at the lowest cost, handling irregular operations (weather, mechanical, and other delays and cancellations), and obtaining compensation from an airline for your inconveniences.
The final five chapters are all about using frequent flyer programs: choosing the right program for you, making the most of airline alliances, obtaining elite status (by flying and by other means) and the benefits of status, the ins and outs of upgrades both domestic and international, finding airline award seats.
The book is a good read, a technical subject but written by an experienced journalist who has been there/done that and who has spent the last year teaching others to do it to through paid seminars. Frequent flyers looking to learn to get the lowest airfares and get the most for their money will find this book to be money well-spent.
Kralev has left the Times and has been offering paid seminars at which he teaches techniques for getting the most out of travel for the least amount of money. And having been teaching these seminars for a year, he's now written a book. It's less expensive than a seminar, and this way it fits your schedule. You should buy it.
The book is broken down into three sections: booking tickets, the trip itself, and making the most of frequent flyer programs.
In section one, across six chapters, Kralev offers the best introduction to airfare construction and searching out the best airfares that I've ever read. And I write a popular travel blog that's been recommended in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, so I'm no slouch on this stuff.
The book isn't for everyone. You might be happy going to Kayak, Bing, or Hipmunk and booking whatever itinerary pops up and looks the cheapest. If that's you, and you're good, then the book may not be for you.
If you want to be more advanced than that, really understand how airfare and travel works and how to use that knowledge for your benefit, then it's a worthwhile investment.
Kralev takes you completely through looking up the cheapest airfares, understanding the rules of the fare, and finding flights that (1) match those rules and (2) have inventory available at the lowest price. He explains concepts like same-day confirmed changes, standby, coach airfares that offer confirmed upgrades to first class, and married segments.
In walking you through how to use this information to book the best flights for you -- whether that means the cheapest flights, the flights with upgrade availability, or the flights that will earn you the most miles -- he gives great examples.
In the second section, the book takes you through buying your tickets, making changes to your reservation at the lowest cost, handling irregular operations (weather, mechanical, and other delays and cancellations), and obtaining compensation from an airline for your inconveniences.
The final five chapters are all about using frequent flyer programs: choosing the right program for you, making the most of airline alliances, obtaining elite status (by flying and by other means) and the benefits of status, the ins and outs of upgrades both domestic and international, finding airline award seats.
The book is a good read, a technical subject but written by an experienced journalist who has been there/done that and who has spent the last year teaching others to do it to through paid seminars. Frequent flyers looking to learn to get the lowest airfares and get the most for their money will find this book to be money well-spent.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Anne Fleming
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kralev presents his method of using online, 3d-party flight data sources to piece together itineraries with an eye towards avoiding the more expensive packaged junkets assembled by airlines, and maximizing mileage for rewards. While I enjoyed the book, and it's ideal for frequent travelers, it is not practical for the vast majority of travelers, who only fly occasionally.
To be fair, Kralev's introduction clarifies that the time required to master his strategy likely isn't worth it for leisure travelers flying once or twice a year (though one might argue that revelation only follows the purchase of the book...). And the book did have three big pluses for me: (1) it provides a peak behind the curtain obscuring airline pricing and practices; (2) it gives a balanced look at the practical benefits and failings of the biggest frequent flier programs; and (3) is a well-written, entertaining yarn, that accessibly translates complex techniques.
However, one of Kralev's stated goals is "to give ordinary people . . . the opportunity to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and try to understand points of view they may not agree with." While that goal is laudable, it's unlikely that most travelers will get much closer to it by reading this book. Let's face it, the lowest threshold for domestic airline rewards, 25,000 miles, is hard to hit, and 100,000 for the top "elite" category is a pipe dream for most people. Indeed, Kralev's focus on the perks associated with elite status will likely be off-putting for more modest travelers (I'm sorry you got stuck with a sandwich instead of a salad during meal-service, Kralev. I'd be sorrier if I weren't still stuck in the airport after your elite self jumped my place on the standby list).
Kralev does throw a few tidbits to the hoi polloi: family travel banking the miles necessary to save on future bag fees, for example, but most families can't afford one much less two flights a year. Likewise, his tip to use points on domestic flights for international travel is well-taken, but a free upgrade doesn't do anything to defray the $1000+ cost of a coach seat on the cheapest international flights. Further, Kralev spent relatively little time on the downside of points accumulation: the airlines move reward targets arbitrarily; points usually expire after a year; and non-flying mile accumulation methods like airline charge cards come with huge downsides, such as higher interest rates and fees.
Don't get me wrong, this is a superb book for those whose work or lifestyle involve frequent travel. I also love to read about the inner-workings of industry, so enjoyed the more academic appeal of the book. However, readers should not expect this book will allow them to leverage the annual family flight home for Christmas into a first-class European vacation on United. The Kralev meal comes with a full shift in the kitchen, washing up.
To be fair, Kralev's introduction clarifies that the time required to master his strategy likely isn't worth it for leisure travelers flying once or twice a year (though one might argue that revelation only follows the purchase of the book...). And the book did have three big pluses for me: (1) it provides a peak behind the curtain obscuring airline pricing and practices; (2) it gives a balanced look at the practical benefits and failings of the biggest frequent flier programs; and (3) is a well-written, entertaining yarn, that accessibly translates complex techniques.
However, one of Kralev's stated goals is "to give ordinary people . . . the opportunity to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and try to understand points of view they may not agree with." While that goal is laudable, it's unlikely that most travelers will get much closer to it by reading this book. Let's face it, the lowest threshold for domestic airline rewards, 25,000 miles, is hard to hit, and 100,000 for the top "elite" category is a pipe dream for most people. Indeed, Kralev's focus on the perks associated with elite status will likely be off-putting for more modest travelers (I'm sorry you got stuck with a sandwich instead of a salad during meal-service, Kralev. I'd be sorrier if I weren't still stuck in the airport after your elite self jumped my place on the standby list).
Kralev does throw a few tidbits to the hoi polloi: family travel banking the miles necessary to save on future bag fees, for example, but most families can't afford one much less two flights a year. Likewise, his tip to use points on domestic flights for international travel is well-taken, but a free upgrade doesn't do anything to defray the $1000+ cost of a coach seat on the cheapest international flights. Further, Kralev spent relatively little time on the downside of points accumulation: the airlines move reward targets arbitrarily; points usually expire after a year; and non-flying mile accumulation methods like airline charge cards come with huge downsides, such as higher interest rates and fees.
Don't get me wrong, this is a superb book for those whose work or lifestyle involve frequent travel. I also love to read about the inner-workings of industry, so enjoyed the more academic appeal of the book. However, readers should not expect this book will allow them to leverage the annual family flight home for Christmas into a first-class European vacation on United. The Kralev meal comes with a full shift in the kitchen, washing up.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book on navigating through the seemingly insane system for pricing and issuing airline tickets and getting the most out of your air travel experience is must reading for frequent travelers and illuminating for anyone who ever has to fly anywhere.
Nicholas Kralev, longtime diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Times and the Financial Times, has by his own reckoning logged some 2 million miles in the air. As he says in the foreword to this enlightening manual on beating the byzantine air travel industry, he hasn't sat in economy class in 10 years thanks to his strategies in collecting and using reward miles.
As a former journalist, Kralev writes well and guides the reader painlessly through the arcane process of matching a myriad of possible fares with flight inventories to build your own ticket that could well come out cheaper than any issued by automated services like Expedia and Travelocity. He peppers his manual with anecdotes flying around the world to cover four U.S. secretaries of State. Because of the expertise in air travel that he developed in connection with his work - he also wrote an air travel column for the Washington times - Kralev now works as an independent travel consultant with his eponymous firm.
Kralev first tells you what all the fare codes mean and how they work for the various airlines. He then introduces you to Web sites that provide raw airline data - the same data that Expedia et al. work with. In this way, you can manufacture your own ticket more advantageously than the computers who do the work in the booking sites. The author modestly refers to this as the Kralev Method, but it is available to any reader willing to follow his step-by-step description.
As any user of the booking sites knows, this information is in constant flux and one of the overriding messages in Kralev's book is to seize the moment - when you have a fare constellation you like, book it! It may not be there even minutes from now. But the author also tells you what days of the week you have a better chance of getting a good deal and what times of the year. He has reduced booking air travel to a science and he is sharing these hard-won laws of nature with the reader.
Beyond decoding the actual fares, Kralev describes the strengths and weaknesses of the various airlines and the global alliances they have formed. He discusses which airport lounges are desirable and the things he does to make his flight comfortable and enjoyable. He tells you how to predict flight cancellations and get ahead of the pack in making alternative arrangements, and how to get compensation from the airline when something goes wrong.
One of Kralev's main messages, along with telling the reader how to get the best fare, is the importance of getting elite status. This is where the casual traveler parts ways with the frequent flier. For those who do fly often, on business or pleasure or both, Kralev argues that it's important to focus your bookings on getting elite status in one of the alliances. Accumulating miles of course leads to free flights and upgrades, but the other advantages of elite status - preferred reservations, early check-in and boarding, free baggage, free change of itinerary, access to lounges, preference on upgrades, and so on and so on - are so significant that a frequent flier would be crazy not go for it and the rest of us can just stand by and watch with envy.
In general, both in booking and in awards programs, Kralev emphasizes the importance of focusing on the alliances - the Star Alliance with United, Lufthansa and numerous others; Oneworld with American, BA and others; and SkyTeam with Delta, Air France, and others. Booking on partner airlines is a way of getting the itinerary and fare you want, though it can be tricky, while, in general, award points won with any alliance airline is good for awards and elite status throughout the alliance.
Jet air travel is of course one of the wonders of our era, though it has become in many ways a bewildering and often frustrating experience for most of us. Kralev's authoritative book shows you how, as he puts it in the introduction, "to change that reality and improve your travel life."
Nicholas Kralev, longtime diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Times and the Financial Times, has by his own reckoning logged some 2 million miles in the air. As he says in the foreword to this enlightening manual on beating the byzantine air travel industry, he hasn't sat in economy class in 10 years thanks to his strategies in collecting and using reward miles.
As a former journalist, Kralev writes well and guides the reader painlessly through the arcane process of matching a myriad of possible fares with flight inventories to build your own ticket that could well come out cheaper than any issued by automated services like Expedia and Travelocity. He peppers his manual with anecdotes flying around the world to cover four U.S. secretaries of State. Because of the expertise in air travel that he developed in connection with his work - he also wrote an air travel column for the Washington times - Kralev now works as an independent travel consultant with his eponymous firm.
Kralev first tells you what all the fare codes mean and how they work for the various airlines. He then introduces you to Web sites that provide raw airline data - the same data that Expedia et al. work with. In this way, you can manufacture your own ticket more advantageously than the computers who do the work in the booking sites. The author modestly refers to this as the Kralev Method, but it is available to any reader willing to follow his step-by-step description.
As any user of the booking sites knows, this information is in constant flux and one of the overriding messages in Kralev's book is to seize the moment - when you have a fare constellation you like, book it! It may not be there even minutes from now. But the author also tells you what days of the week you have a better chance of getting a good deal and what times of the year. He has reduced booking air travel to a science and he is sharing these hard-won laws of nature with the reader.
Beyond decoding the actual fares, Kralev describes the strengths and weaknesses of the various airlines and the global alliances they have formed. He discusses which airport lounges are desirable and the things he does to make his flight comfortable and enjoyable. He tells you how to predict flight cancellations and get ahead of the pack in making alternative arrangements, and how to get compensation from the airline when something goes wrong.
One of Kralev's main messages, along with telling the reader how to get the best fare, is the importance of getting elite status. This is where the casual traveler parts ways with the frequent flier. For those who do fly often, on business or pleasure or both, Kralev argues that it's important to focus your bookings on getting elite status in one of the alliances. Accumulating miles of course leads to free flights and upgrades, but the other advantages of elite status - preferred reservations, early check-in and boarding, free baggage, free change of itinerary, access to lounges, preference on upgrades, and so on and so on - are so significant that a frequent flier would be crazy not go for it and the rest of us can just stand by and watch with envy.
In general, both in booking and in awards programs, Kralev emphasizes the importance of focusing on the alliances - the Star Alliance with United, Lufthansa and numerous others; Oneworld with American, BA and others; and SkyTeam with Delta, Air France, and others. Booking on partner airlines is a way of getting the itinerary and fare you want, though it can be tricky, while, in general, award points won with any alliance airline is good for awards and elite status throughout the alliance.
Jet air travel is of course one of the wonders of our era, though it has become in many ways a bewildering and often frustrating experience for most of us. Kralev's authoritative book shows you how, as he puts it in the introduction, "to change that reality and improve your travel life."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saves you money and makes travel more luxurious
This book is an essential guide for managing your air travel. I learned the tips and philosophy necessary for saving money while also improving my travel experience. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Traveler- Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book - even greater service
I enjoyed the book (on Kindle) entirely. If you try to add some rhyme and reason to the seemingly (and, it turns out, frequently actual) randomness of the availability of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Wolf Wackeroth
4.0 out of 5 stars
A really good book but very technical
If you want to know how to get the best deal, this is the book! But be prepared to read this a few times and then you still might have to attend one of teh authors seminars to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by ironfox
3.0 out of 5 stars
Useful if you travel 12+ times a year for business
The unstated premise of the author is that you've already achieved an 'elite' status with some airline program and fly Business Class a dozen or more times a year. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Johnny B
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read If You Travel Regularly
Decoding Air Travel is a very comprehensive book that's a must read for anybody who travels regularly. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Andrew T. Cho
5.0 out of 5 stars
How Flying From SEA-MIA via The Aegean Saves Time & Money
Every time I shop for airline flights, I get bogged down in a maze of websites and flight data that leaves me exhausted. Read more
Published 14 months ago by takingadayoff
3.0 out of 5 stars
Baffling read that offers almost no actionable insights...but I still...
I'm of a mixed opionion regarding this book. On the one hand it's a baffling read that sometimes drifts into a "stream of consciousness" style of writing and offers almost no... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars
More power to you in your travels
This is a great book if you enjoy understanding the way complex systems work, and using that knowledge to improve your travel experience. Read more
Published 16 months ago by whatwhich
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best comprehensive resource for booking affordable fares and...
This book is a great read with illustrative examples on how to find and book affordable airfares. You'll learn about the airline industry as a whole and how specific fares are... Read more
Published 16 months ago by James
3.0 out of 5 stars
It starts you thinking.
This book gives you a way to book airlines more cheaply. The problem is that until you subscribe to the websites with the raw information (which costs far more than the book) you... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Robert Cahn
