While many travellers love the value that comes with our included group flights, others prefer the flexibility that comes with something more custom. But if you’re going to arrange your own flights, where do you begin?
With the help of our preferred flight partner, you can now book custom flights for your tour with ease! With their custom flights you can:
- Fly in days early for a tour to fight jetlag like a pro
- Stay longer at the destination after a tour to explore on your own
- Join us from anywhere in the world (not just Canada)
- Upgrade your flights for added comfort (to Premium Economy or Business Class)
- Combine two tours and enjoy a longer adventure
- Much more!
To get started, book your spot on an Approach tour (online or over the phone). If you book your spot without our included flights, you will be asked if you’d like help arranging custom flights. If you choose yes, our preferred flight partner will reach out as soon as possible to discuss your options, help you make your purchase, and send you your tickets immediately by email. It’s that easy!
How to request custom flights when booking your tour online.
Here are the answers to many common questions about booking custom flights with our preferred flight partner.
The custom flight option is not available yet on the tour I'm booking. What should I do?
Because of the timeline on which airlines release their schedules, our flight partner cannot offer flights more than 330 days in advance. If you're booking a tour that returns more than 330 days from now, not to worry: book your tour now land-only (without our included flights) to secure your spot, and we'll reach out when flight schedules are available for your tour to offer you the opportunity to arrange custom flights with the help of our partner.
I'm already booked on a tour but would like help purchasing custom flights, what can I do?
If you're already booked on a tour that returns in the next 330 days you should have gotten an email with instructions for joining our custom flight program. The subject of the email is similar to "NEW: Your flight options for your tour in the spring just got more flexible ✈️". If you can't find this email: not to worry. Simply fill out our contact form with your name(s), email address, phone number, which tour you're signed up for, and specifics about the custom flights you have in mind, and we'll ask our preferred flight partner to reach out as soon as possible.
If your tour returns more than 330 days from now, we'll reach out with details on joining our custom flight program when the airlines' schedules are available in the future.
If I purchase custom flights from your preferred flight partner, can I keep the included home pick-up service from Approach Tours?
If you purchase custom flights from our preferred flight partner, you will be opting out of our included home pick-up service, and we will give you our $75 per person credit in place of this service. Our preferred flight partner will however be able to sell you airport transfer services here in Canada to replace this service.
If I purchase custom flights from your preferred flight partner, how do I meet up with the group on arrival at the destination?
Once on tour, your Group Guru will be your rock star and resource for all things logistics! Your Group Guru will call you in the week before your tour departs to introduce themselves, provide you with how to contact them once you land, and provide where to meet up with the group to make your arrival as smooth as possible.
When it comes time to connect with us at your destination or leave to fly home, you’re welcome to jump on the coach bus and join the airport transfer – this is often what people choose to do. If however, your flights arrive at the destination later than the group or you depart for home much earlier, you will be responsible for your own transfer (but our preferred flight partner may be able to help arrange that as well).
I already have included flights with Approach Tours, what happens if I buy custom flights from your preferred flight partner?
If you purchase flights from our preferred flight partner that replace your group flights with Approach Tours, they will let us know and we will change your booking with us to “land only” so long as it is before your final payment is due. At that point we will apply our air credit and home pick-up credit to your reservation, reducing the amount you owe on your final payment.
I want to arrange custom flights but on the same flights as the group (for example to upgrade cabin class). How does that work?
Our preferred flight partner has access to the flight schedules for all our groups that have been published (not all 2025 tours are yet published); however, our group flights are all subject to change until we issue tickets to our travellers 2 weeks before departure. For that reason, your best bet is to arrange any flights that meet your needs regardless of if you are flying with the rest of the group.
The air credit you offer in place of my included group flights is less than what I’ve been quoted by your preferred flight partner for custom flights. Why is that?
Our included flights are purchased as part of a group, meaning we can negotiate for a lower price in exchange for giving up some of the flexibility that comes with a custom flight package (such as upgrades and early seat selection). For that reason, when you arrange custom flights with our preferred flight partner, the cost you pay will likely exceed the flight credit we offer you in place of your included flights.
What happens to my “internal” flights that take place during the tour if I choose to arrange custom flights with your preferred flight partner?
Many but not all our tours include “internal” flights that take place during the tour, once you have already joined the group at the destination (such as flying from Cape Town to Durban in South Africa, or from Hanoi to Huê in Vietnam). Regardless of if you opt out of our included group flights, your internal flights are always included as part of the tour. It is not possible to upgrade or change your internal flights.
I want to fly in early or stay late after the tour, can your preferred flight partner help me with this?
Yes, they can! Our preferred flight partner can offer you custom flights to fly in days before your tour or stay days after it’s completed. They can also help arrange other services for your time travelling before or after our tour, including hotel stays, restaurant visits and airport transfers.
