Import From China Business
A practical guide for starting a small business
2010-
Import from China
Sell on eBay
Sandra Kell
Ontario, Canada
Baby Products
Profit This Year: $10,400
“I started with $1,000 and began importing baby products from China. I sell them on eBay, Facebook and in my local stores. After 8 months, I am earning $400 a week. I finally quit my day job!”
Learn How
International Flight Booking
International Flight Booking
International Flight Booking requires more work than booking a domestic flight especially if you want the most economical and or the fastest route to your foreign destination. With multiple airlines serving your destination and different time zones, it does make it more challenging to plan your trips. It assumes that you can get to your destination using airline only. If this is not the case, then coordinating airline schedules with trains and ferry adds another layer of complexity. There is typically less competition in international travel. So getting a deal is not always possible in your International Flight Booking.
Planning your route -
The first thing that you will notice is traveling from North American to Europe or to Latin America involves flying late evening or overnight. This is for logistical reasons. It allows airlines to make a return trip within a 24 hour period which gives them more revenue. It may shock your system to have dinner at 9 pm only to be wakened two hours later to have breakfast.
- Nonstop or direct international flights carry a hefty premium. If you are willing to connect to another flight, you could end up saving hundreds of dollars. You will not likely going to find multiple daily flights to your international destination. Many airlines only fly on certain days of the week to the international cities. You'll need to factor this in your planning process.
- Consider foreign airline operators as an option to your domestic airlines when traveling abroad. Domestic airlines often force you to take the international flight through a hub. Foreign airline may allow you to take a direct flight at a location more convenient to you. Foreign airlines may also be more service oriented offering you multiple meals and other perks while domestic airlines simply transfer their domestic little or no service model to international flights.
- Seasonality impacts the price of an international airline ticket. If you are planning an Import from China trip, consider this. Asia's high travel season is from May to October and its low season is from November to April. Flying during the low season will undoubtedly save you money on your international business trip.
- For international travelers flying during peak season, buying your tickets three to six months in advance is advisable. Two to four months ahead is the recommended timeframe for booking on an international flight during low season. Last minute deals are almost nonexistent in international travel. For the business person traveling abroad, this requires good planning practices if you want to fly economically.
Use an Online Travel Search
By using an Online Travel Search site, you can compare fares and schedules for multiple airlines. It's great when you are unfamiliar with the destination and it saves you time from having to check differently airlines separately. There are many Online Travel Agencies to choose from.
- One such site which has been around for almost 15 years is: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com. Airfarewatchdog is part of the Smarter Travel Media Network. The site was created by George Hobica, a travel journalist specializing in consumer issues. Entrepreneur Magazine has name Airfarewatchdog.com "best site for travel deals" in 2009.
- You should always check a couple of sites to make sure that you are indeed getting the best deal. Another well respected Online Travel site is: http://www.kayak.com. Kayak is a travel search site. Similar to Airfarewatchdog, Kayak allows you to search multiple airlines.
- Once you have identified a package that you like, you should always check the airline's web site directly to see if the tickets are available by booking directly through the airline's website. In many cases, cheaper tickets are available via the direct channel because the middleman is eliminated. However, if you want a package that includes hotel and a rental car, an airline's web site might be limiting. Check out the vacation section to see what you can find.
- You can also check the top sites of Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia to do some more comparison shopping. These sites supported by glitzy advertising do not have the lowest fares but their packages are much better. It is always good to do an audit before you buy.
Travel Agents and Consolidators
Travel Agents
The airline industry has cut commissions to the travel agents over the years. So much so that many travel agents have a service fee of $50 as a way to generate profits and stay in business. Although many people shy away from the Travel Agents for domestic travel, they can be of great value for international travel.
American airlines tend to have their lowest prices for international travel on their web sites. Foreign airlines do not have the same practices. The travel agent can hunt for bargains for you. They also offer great professional advice or personal advice on your foreign destinations. Many travel agents are seasoned foreign travelers which makes them very qualified to give you advice. A ticket to a foreign country can add up to $1000 to $2000+ dollars. Spending $50 for a travel agent's help can be a great value.
Consolidators
Consolidators buy blocks of unsold tickets from the airlines and sell them through the travel agents at rock bottom prices. Of course, their choices of airlines and times are very limited. But if you are flexible, you can get quite a good deal through this resource.
Travel Internationally at Cheap, Cheap Prices