Sri Lanka is open to international tourism
Sri Lanka reopened its border to foreign tourists in June 2021. All travelers can enter the country quarantine-free; the requirement of pre-departure and on-arrival PCR tests has been removed.
Most tourists visiting Sri Lanka must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in advance to receive a visa on arrival. Citizens of Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore are exempt from the ETC requirement and are entitled to a free visa on arrival.
Transiting through Sri Lankan airports is permitted, as long as the connecting flight is within 10 hours of arrival (you’ll still need an ETA document). If you want to leave the airport between flights or if you’re planning a stopover in Sri Lanka, you should apply for a Transit Visa that allows staying in the country for up to 2 days.
Arriving in Colombo
- If you are flying to Colombo from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Bandaranaike International Airport
CMB, located about 30 km(18 miles) north of the city.
The second airport in Colombo — Ratmalana AirportRML— has resumed flight operations in 2022 after being closed for 54 years. It currently serves limited routes and airlines. Due to its relatively smaller runway compared to the CMB airport, RML is likely to focus on flights to neighboring countries like Maldives and India, using smaller aircraft.
There are several transport options available for passengers arriving at CMB airport, including metered and fixed-rate taxis (around 45 min to the city center), ride-sharing services like Uber and PickMe (can be booked via smartphone apps using the airport's free Wi-Fi), public buses (routes 187 and 187E operate between the airport and Colombo Fort), airport shuttle (offered by several private companies), and car rental services. - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, AirAsia, Flydubai, IndiGo, Salam Air, Scoot, and Spice Jet. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.
Airports of Colombo
CMB, located about 35 km (18 miles) north of Colombo's city center (in the town of Katunayake), and Ratmalana Airport RML, situated approximately 15 km (9 miles) south of the city.
What is the best time to book flights to Colombo?
The best time to book flights to Colombo is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Colombo flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. During this period, you should monitor airfares by setting alerts on popular flight search websites. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Airfare prices for Colombo flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales. Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Colombo, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. It is the “Prime Booking Window” – after some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 am) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Set alerts
Track flight price fluctuations for your desired routes to Colombo using email alerts on search sites like Google Flights to catch price drops. These drops will be your chance to book the flight at its best price.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Colombo less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up (learn more about last-minute pricing).
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays (including holidays in Sri Lanka), and check the best time to fly to Colombo. If you must travel during peak times, book a bit earlier – 6 to 8 months in advance.
Join ATC
A useful way to find discounted airfare is to sign up for a deal newsletter such as Air Traveler Club. The ATC team is constantly looking for price drops on popular routes, and we share them with our members free of charge.
Book cheap flights in the region
Get your visa in advance
Most tourists visiting Colombo need to apply for a Sri Lanka tourist visa (only nationals of Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles are exempt). This is easily done online, and your visa will usually be valid for 30 days, with an option to extend it to 90 days. We recommend applying around a week before the trip, as it usually takes 24-48 hours for the visa approval to come through.
Alternatively, you can obtain a Sri Lankan visa on arrival at the Colombo Airport (at a slightly higher price). The caveat is that during the peak travel season you could end up waiting in line for a long while.
The cheapest time to fly to Colombo
The best time to find the cheapest flights to Colombo tends to be during the low season – May to August. December is also an off-peak month if you don’t travel on dates around Christmas and New Year. With fewer tourists, flight prices to Sri Lanka are the cheapest, as airlines discount fares due to lower demand. Additionally, many hotels offer lower rates, and tourist attractions reduce admission fees.
Months between May and August mark the rainy season when the country experiences a Yala monsoon coupled with low humidity. It affects the southwestern part of the island, including Colombo, with heavy rainfall. However, this is the best time for trips to the north of the island or the east coast – an interesting option for travelers who are into the laid-back surf scene (a surfing mecca in Arugam Bay is particularly worth checking out).
Know your time zone
Sri Lanka has only one time zone – it observes India Standard Time (IST) all year, which is UTC+05:30 time zone. As a result, clocks in Colombo are 5 and half hours ahead of London and 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of New York. IST does not have an associated daylight saving time.
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure time on your plane ticket is always listed based on the time zone of the departure airport. We suggest resetting your watch during the flight – it will help your brain adjust to the new time zone and to deal with jet lag.
Duty-free rules
Sri Lanka is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Strong alcoholic drinks such as spirits cannot exceed 1.5 liters per person, and you can also bring 2 bottles of wine. Customs regulations of Sri Lanka do not permit any tobacco products to be brought into the country. In addition to personal items, you may carry items up to a value of $250.
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the Colombo Airport, head to the Red Lane to declare your goods.
Flights to Colombo from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Colombo. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Colombo, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Colombo is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Colombo with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Colombo from the US and Canada are: SriLankan Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Colombo, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Colombo from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Colombo from the US and Canada. See the top deals for flights departing from June to February:
Hacker faresto Colombo
Airfares airlines don't want you to see:
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Air India, Emirates, GoFirst, and others).
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@flysrilankan” for Sri Lankan Airlines). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Colombo Airport is no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
It is always a good idea to bring cash with you to Colombo, as the country runs on cash and many places don’t accept card payments. Plan ahead and exchange some money for the Sri Lankan rupee at home, or use one of the many ATMs located at the airport and in the city.
Flights to Colombo with stopover
Direct flights to Colombo are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Colombo. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Colombo with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Colombo will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Colombo from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Colombo — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Colombo are about 9-11 hours long. Only some of the largest European hubs have a nonstop connection to Colombo – among them are Frankfurt
FRA, LondonLHR, and ParisCDG. Those flights arrive at the main international airport in Colombo – Bandaranaike International AirportCMBand are operated year-round by only one airline: SriLankan Airlines. However, there are some seasonal direct flights via Edelweiss Air (from ZürichZRH), Air France (from ParisCDG), and Neos (from MilanMXP). - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Colombo include SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, KLM, and Lufthansa.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Colombo from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Colombo from these European airport hubs: LondonLHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Colombo
Find the lowest prices for flights to Colombo Airport in Colombo from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
Can't finda good deal?
Europe to Colombo, up to 80% off.
How to book SuperDeals?
At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Colombo is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.
Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.
One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.
If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Colombo). Sign up now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!
For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:
Last-minute flights to Colombo. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Colombo almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Colombo is 2-8 months before the takeoff.
Domestic air travel from Colombo
Most domestic routes in Sri Lanka are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Dehiwala, Galle, Jaffna, Moratuwa, Negombo, Kandy, Kalmunai, Vavuniya, Dambullam, and Batticaloa from Colombo Airport , you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: SriLankan Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Helitours, Senok Air, and Fly Southern. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.
If you plan to fly domestically from Colombo check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.
Flights to Colombo from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Colombo. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Direct flights and flights with one layover to Colombo are available from all major airports in Australia – SydneySYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, DunedinDUD. - In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Colombo with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Colombo are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Flydubai, IndiGo, Salam Air, Scoot, and Spice Jet.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Colombo. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.
Prices of flights to Colombo from Australia and New Zealand
Real-time economy class fares to Colombo from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.
Curated dealsfrom flight experts
Fly half-price (or less!) to Colombo:
Best way to upgrade to Business Class for cheap
A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Colombo, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, an airline will send you an email with a link to their website where you can place a “blind” bid. Alternatively, you can go to the website directly and check if your seat qualifies for an upgrade by providing the Booking Reference number.
There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed via email, and your seat will be upgraded.
How to choose the right bid amount? Just check the airline website for the regular cost of a business class seat to Colombo, then subtract what you paid for the economy fare. Place your bid for around 10% to 30% of that price. The alternative strategy is to bid slightly above the competition. If, for example, the minimum bid is $500, try to bid $550-$600, as most people will offer the baseline amount required.
The more available business class seats the airline has on your flight, the lower bid can be successfully used. Check the airline’s daily schedule for flights to Colombo – if there is more than one flight on your chosen route (more available seats), you can safely bid close to the minimum required amount.
Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp), Cathay Pacific (Upgrade Bid), Etihad Airways (Bid To Upgrade), Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Hawaiian Airlines (Bid Up), LATAM (Cabin Upgrade), Lufthansa (Bid Upgrade), Royal Jordanian (Go Crown), Qantas (Bid Now), SAS (SAS Upgrade), Singapore Airlines (mySQupgrade), SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).
How much is Premium Economy to Colombo?
Heading for a long-haul or overnight flight to Colombo? The premium economy could be a worthwhile investment, ensuring you arrive rejuvenated.
Positioned between economy and business class, premium economy provides enhanced comfort (5–7 inches of extra legroom, wider seats with 2–3 extra inches recline, adjustable headrests and leg rests, larger personal TV screens) and extra perks (superior meals, larger baggage allowances, priority boarding, access to airport lounges). It’s a favored option for those seeking comfort without the cost of a full-fledged business-class ticket.
The majority of Asia Pacific carriers now feature premium economy class. According to Skytrax’s World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines Awards, the best premium economy is offered by Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Emirates, ANA, Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, China Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.
However, the Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seats Award recognized Emirates as the top contender. Their premium economy class, currently available on A380 aircraft, exudes a business-class ambiance and occupies the front of the main deck of the superjumbo.
Premium economy class fares typically range from 25% to 100% more than standard economy tickets on the same flight. For instance, a round-trip economy ticket from the US to Colombo might be priced around $700, whereas a premium economy ticket on the same route could be $1,000 to $1,500. In contrast, business class tickets for an identical itinerary may run between $3,000 and $5,000 or higher.
When booking closer to the departure date, premium economy is generally only 10–30% more expensive than standard economy fare. If premium seats aren’t filled, airlines might offer discounted upgrades at check-in.
To find the current prices of premium economy tickets to Colombo, use our search form (choose “Premium Economy” in the cabin class drop-down menu).
Is the premium economy to Colombo worth the extra cost? This decision hinges on individual priorities. For long-haul and overnight flights, the enhanced comfort can significantly improve the travel experience. If your journey consists of two or more connecting flights, opting for a premium seat on just one leg can still provide a superior journey compared to the standard economy throughout.
However, if the price gap for premium economy appears too steep, consider another viable alternative: hot seats.
Looking for the best deals for Colombo? Check different departure airports.
Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Colombo from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Colombo, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.
For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Colombo, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.
The same goes for long-haul flights to Colombo from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Colombo, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.
Flights to Colombo from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Many airport hubs in the Asia Pacific region have direct flights to Colombo, including Bangkok
BKK, BeijingPEK, DhakaDAC, GuangzhouCAN, Hong KongHKG, JakartaCGK, Kuala LumpurKLM, MaleMLE, SeoulICN, ShanghaiPVG, SingaporeSIN, and TokyoNRT. - Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Colombo look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Colombo will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Sri Lanka and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Flights from major Asian airports to Colombo
Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Colombo — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
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Fly now, pay later
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.
The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).
When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Colombo, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Sri Lanka to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Sri Lanka and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
Booking group flights to Colombo
Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Colombo can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.
To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.
Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.
If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Colombo and can help with logistics and scheduling.