In today’s economic world, finding the best affordable travel options can be a daunting task. That’s where the Hopper application comes in. As a flight and hotel booking platform, Hopper has quickly established itself as a leader thanks to its innovative approach, advanced features and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Hopper has rapidly gained popularity thanks to its revolutionary price prediction technology, which uses data analysis to anticipate fluctuations in airfares. Since then, the platform has gone from strength to strength, adding new features such as hotel, accommodation and car reservations, as well as services to meet the needs of modern travellers.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore in depth what Hopper has to offer and how you can use it to optimize every aspect of your travels.
What really sets the Hopper app apart from other travel booking platforms like Google Flights or Skyscanner? Its unique combination of user-friendly features, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service is the answer.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider using Hopper for your next trip:
The first step to taking full advantage of Hopper is to know how to use its flight search platform effectively.
First, download the free Hopper app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Hopper was initially designed to be used as an application, although there is a website. As a result, most services are offered exclusively through the application.
The mobile platform is very easy to use, and you can use the user-friendly interface to search for flights based on your preferred dates and destinations.
One of the main strengths of the Hopper application is its price forecasting. In fact, when you click on the box to enter your travel dates, a scrolling calendar appears and you can quickly spot the most affordable dates. For example, we can see here that flying to Tokyo in March is very expensive, whereas prices are much lower from mid-April onwards.
When you get to the results page, Hopper will also tell you whether it advises you to book immediately or whether you can afford to wait. You then have the option of tracking prices and receiving an alert when it’s optimal to book.
On the results page, you can display all flights or filter them according to a specific fare: basic, standard, enhanced, premium and luxury.
The first two (basic and standard) are economy class fares, i.e. the generally least expensive options, but with more restrictive policies.
Premium and luxury fares include flights in Economy/Privilege class and Business class with reclining seats.
The great thing about Hopper is that you can quickly see what benefits are included with your ticket; it’s very handy to have all the information at hand and to be able to quickly scroll through the different options to make our choice.
You can refine your results using the various filters available, such as preferred flight times, preferred airlines, and more.
By default, flight search results will be sorted by “Hopper Recommendations”, but you can change them by price, departure or arrival time, number and length of stopovers and flight duration.
What’s more, it’s possible to suppress basic fares (the cheapest flights, but often much more restrictive in terms of baggage or changes and refunds) and/or display only flights that allow changes free of charge after purchase.
In addition to basic search and booking features with price prediction, Hopper also offers a range of advanced tips to help you save even more on your travels.
Hopper allows you to freeze the price of your plane ticket if you’re not ready to buy right away, and the price will be based on the duration of the freeze. In my example of the flight to Japan, the fares (in Canadian dollars per passenger) are as follows:
It should be noted, however, that this price freeze is more of a protection against a price increase up to a certain amount while you finalize your travel plans. Indeed, it is clearly stated here that Hopper will cover the difference up to $406 per traveller. What’s more, Hopper says they’ll refund us if the space is no longer available. The price freeze guarantees a price for a specific air ticket, but it does not guarantee the availability of that ticket.
On the other hand, if the price drops, you’ll pay the lower rate.
For a fee, the Hopper app allows you to cancel or modify certain hotel and airline reservations for any reason up to 3 hours before departure, even if the fare you’ve booked doesn’t allow it. You can also do it yourself within the application.
The refund offered is 80% or 10% of the cost of the air ticket and will be made in cash within 7 to 10 working days, but the price of the cancellation without reason service will not be refunded. Hopper also allows free cancellation without reason within 24 hours of purchase, and cancellations made by the carrier (due to a snowstorm, for example) are subject to the usual rules.
The cost of the service can be significant; here, the cost of obtaining a refund on a $2,178 ticket, for no reason at all, is $762. It is therefore advisable to compare with the price of a more flexible air ticket or a hotel room that can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before arrival. In fact, some fare classes allow flight cancellations and changes free of charge.
In the event of irregular operations such as a flight delayed by more than one hour or cancelled on the day of travel, Hopper can cover the cost of a new flight up to a maximum of US$2,000 per person, or give you a $300 cash credit if you agree to keep your original reservation.
You can modify your reservation or request a full refund using the application’s self-service tools or with the help of an agent.
Since some credit cards offer flight cancellation and interruption insurance, it’s a good idea to check what coverage you already have and whether it’s right for you before you buy another. Also, don’t forget that a delayed or cancelled flight is subject to air passenger protection rules.
Hopper’s premium support allows you to solve problems quickly through the application. In fact, although the airline would take care of you if you missed a connecting flight due to a delay, you can confirm your seat on the next flight without having to speak to anyone.
Finally, Hopper offers a VIP support service where you can get immediate, priority help from an agent for any problem by phone or CHAT messaging.
Just like the flight search tool, hotel booking with Hopper is carried out in the same way, with a scrolling calendar showing prices for different dates.
On the results page, you can view the hotels in list or map format. What’s more, you can mark your favourite establishments and filter results by star rating, user rating, price and a host of other options, such as hotels offering breakfast or swimming pools.
For new users, Hopper offers a 5% discount on the first hotel booked.
Hopper also features a house or apartment finder, which is useful for large families or groups who want a house with several bedrooms and a kitchen.
When it comes to hotel reservations, Hopper lets you check out early if you don’t like it at check-in or after a few days. Then you can book another one for free.
This is a very attractive feature, as full payment for a hotel reservation is usually required at check-in. Otherwise, it’s generally not possible to leave earlier if you change your mind. As a result, this insurance can be very useful if you don’t like the area you’ve chosen, or if the establishment doesn’t live up to your expectations, for example.
Hopper offers the advantage of being able to book and manage everything in one place, with the option of renting a car through the app.
Hopper Flash Offers are exclusive discounts financed by Hopper in collaboration with travel partners, such as tourist offices. These offers are published exclusively in their application for a limited time.
To make a reservation at Hopper, you can pay by credit card, Hopper gift card, Carrot Cash or a combination of these payment methods.
Carrot Cash is Hopper’s exclusive reward currency, with a value equivalent to US$1! This currency gives you access to even better offers when you book with Hopper, so you can save even more.
Every reservation you make on Hopper earns you Carrot Cash rewards. These rewards can then be used to book flights, accommodation and vehicles.
Gift cards and Carrot Cash end up in your Hopper wallet; gift card funds have no expiration date, but Carrot Cash expires after 6 months. However, you can postpone this date by adding funds to your Hopper portfolio.
Once you’ve booked with Hopper, you can use your travel rewards points to reimburse your expenses. Here are some examples of credit cards that offer travel rewards:
Hopper is committed to planting two trees for every booking (flights, hotels, accommodation or car) made with them. So you can reduce your carbon footprint and do something positive for the environment.
Hopper has several plantation sites in Kenya, Mozambique and Madagascar.
In conclusion, Hopper is much more than just a travel booking platform. It’s an indispensable travel companion for the modern traveller, offering a unique combination of advanced features, competitive rates and exceptional customer service. Whether you’re planning a last-minute business trip or a well-deserved family vacation, Hopper is here to help make your trip as pleasant and stress-free as possible.
By adopting a user experience approach and focusing on continuous innovation, Hopper continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the online travel industry. Download the Hopper app today and see for yourself the difference it can make to your next trip.
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