Mistakes wreaking havoc on Aussie Euro summer travel, Mark Trim shares his advice to not get caught out

Mark Trim, founder and director of RoundAbout Travel and Complex Travel Group, talks about Euro summer travel and rattles off key points that are wreaking havoc on Aussie's Euro travel. Here’s a few points.

Mistake: Booking for longer than 90 days in the ‘Schengen Area’

Risk: May be denied entry or denied boarding
Solution: Checking how long you’re in each country to make sure your travels meet the visa requirements. Our tip, use the “Sherpa” online travel tool which will direct you to key information and requirements

Mistake: Not allocating seats in advance - it’s easy to forget!

Risk: Could be stuck in the back row or middle seats
Solution: Touch base with your travel advisor or check Manage my Booking to ensure seats are allocated in advance. Many airlines now charge for pre-allocated seating in advance which can feel like a cost you want to avoid, but sitting in the back row near the toilets or being stuck in a middle seat on a 12 hour flight is a surefire way to ruin your holiday. Couples and families can be split up during peak seasons when flights run full so be sure to have pre booked seats next to each other.

Mistake: Relying on Google for your visa and entry requirements

Risk: Scams are rife with unnecessary charges for e-visas or free immigration forms
Solution: Be sure to verify the official source of any visa processing websites. Scam companies bid on Google keywords to rank higher than Governments who don’t optimize their websites, with thousands of Australian travellers caught out each year paying for a service that they don’t need. “Sherpa” will always direct you to official resources.

Mistake: Not entering frequent flyer details in advance

Risk: Missing out on points or having to complete annoying retroactive claim forms
Solution: Ensure your details are added to the booking in advance and that any partner airline programs are correctly ‘cross accrued’ to the operating airline, which travel advisors or check in staff can check. Always look at your boarding cards at check in to verify your frequent flyer numbers are showing. Even if they are in the booking, check in staff can make mistakes so always verify on the spot.
If you're not familiar, here's a quick overview about Mark Trim, founder and managing director of Complex Travel Group

Mark has been in the travel industry for over 15 years starting his career as a travel agent and going on to found Complex Travel Group in 2008. With extensive knowledge of travel products available and indepth knowledge on the booking seasons, hacks and market trends, Complex Travel Group has grown exponentially, providing complex airfare and travel solutions for luxury and premium travel under Flat Beds, RoundAbout Travel, Flat Beds Tour + Cruise, Qflyer and Y Premium.