Latest news with #StudentUniverse
India Today
15-05-2025
- India Today
Study Abroad: 6 hacks for cheap flights, student discounts and smart savings
Studying abroad is an exciting adventure, but it can also become costly if you're not careful. From airfare and accommodation to daily expenses, the costs can add up quickly. The good news is that with the right strategies, you can save a lot without missing out on your experience. Whether you're booking your first international flight or navigating life in a new country, these six travel hacks—ranging from finding cheap flights and student discounts to clever money-saving tips—will help you stretch your budget while maximising your time abroad opens up unparalleled academic and cultural opportunities, and with careful planning, you can create unforgettable travel experiences as well. However, between flights, hotels, and tours, expenses can accumulate rapidly. Thankfully, there are smart, student-friendly tips that can help you go further for less, inputs from Ritika Gupta, Counsellor at AAera are the best travel tips every study abroad student needs to know. 1. Fly cheap and book smartAirfare is one of the largest expenses, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and a fares using tools such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Hopper to monitor price midweek or off-peak hours whenever possible—this tends to be flying in and out of secondary airports if the primary hubs cost too shop incognito to prevent cookie-based price Student Universe and STA Travel provide special student and youth discounts—sign up and compare!2. Access student discounts everywhereBeing a student has its benefits—make the most of an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for international student enquire if a museum, gallery, store, or restaurant has student prices—it's usually not advantage of various discount Most public transportation systems have youth or student passes—purchase them ahead of time to save a bundle on commuting.3. Pack light, travel easilySkip the high baggage fees and make things easy by packing in a carry-on backpack to save time and money at the essentials that can be layered and forget such essentials as a universal power adaptor, a refillable water bottle, and a compact first-aid Space-maximising compression packing cubes keep your bag tidy.4. Opt for budget-friendly transportationDitch expensive taxis—venture out and discover local transport and regional travel Europe, purchase a Eurail or Interrail pass for free-form train travel between overnight buses or trains to save on both transport and accommodation.5. Sleep cheap and safeHotels can be pricey—opt for budget alternatives with hostels via Hostel World or and read the reviews university housing boards for affordable sublets or short-term student Airbnb for group accommodations or couch-surfing for local, free experiences (just be careful and consider safety first).6. Take advantage of free and low-cost activitiesNot all things memorable are costly—some of the best are free walking tours in big cities (just tip your tour guide).Go to museums on free-admission days or with your student through local markets, parks, and cultural at Meetup or Facebook events for free local events.
West Australian
28-04-2025
- Business
- West Australian
‘Exacerbated volatile conditions': Flight Centre downgrades full-year profit forecast amid US tariff chaos
Flight Centre has downgraded its full year profit guidance, blaming US President Donald Trump's tariff chaos 'exacerbated the volatile trading conditions'. Shares in the Brisbane-headquartered travel agent fell to a low of $11.94 in early trade on Wednesday after it revised its profit guidance from between $365 million to $405m, to a range of $300m and $335m. Shares have since recovered to be up 0.8 per cent to $12.56 just after 10am. In an update to the Australian Securities Exchange, Flight Centre pointed to 'recent US developments' that have led to lower-than-expected total transaction value growth in core brands, impacting overall margins. 'Second quarter earnings momentum reported at the half year flowed through to early 3Q results before US policy changes began to impact business and consumer confidence and corporate and leisure sales in March,' it said. The company said several actions were being implemented to address 'short-term results volatility, under-performing businesses' like StudentUniverse — a travel booking service for students and young adults — and its Canada leisure division. These included cutting its full-time employees by 5 per cent, predominantly in non-customer-facing areas, a recruitment freeze in other businesses, a 15 to 20 per cent capital expenditure reduction, as well as temporary airline capacity shifts away from US destinations. Flight Centre is currently reviewing StudentUniverse, which is trading below pre-pandemic levels and expected to lose up to $10m in the 2025 financial year. The company was initially expecting a result close to breakeven. 'Stronger overall results are expected in FY26 and beyond as trading conditions stabilise and as the strategies that are already in place gain momentum,' Flight Centre said. Flight Centre at the same time also announced an on-market share buyback of up to $200m, set to begin early next month and be completed within 12 months. 'While FY25 has been a turbulent year, our fundamentals are strong and we are well placed to deliver more rapid growth and enhanced shareholder returns next year and into the future as the trading cycle stabilises,' managing director Graham Turner said. 'Group-wide, we are maintaining cost discipline and implementing strategies to boost productivity and enhance the customer experience. 'The $200m buyback we have just announced underlines both our belief in the strength of our business and our commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.'
