Local Taylor Swift fans were among the many who jumped on the trend and boarded Condor Airlines’ new direct flight for the Erasmus Tour.
SAN ANTONIO — More and more people are jumping on the new travel trend known as “gig tripping,” but this not-so-new concept just got a lot easier for San Antonians planning a trip to Europe this summer.
Local Taylor Swift fans are among the many in the Alamo City who are jumping on the trend and experiencing the Eras Tour in a unique and more affordable way, hopping on Condor Airlines’ new nonstop flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
What is Gig Tripping?
The term is a new buzzword for a concept that existed long before the era tour, but the demand for tickets to see pop stars has made it even more popular.
A gig trip is when you book a holiday or trip to coincide with a concert or event.
“This isn’t a new concept, it’s a very old concept with new terminology,” says Accent travel agent Becky Schultz. “Gig tripping is a great opportunity to combine the things you really enjoy and that you really want to do and tie them into a vacation.”
Schultz said hotel rates near major concert venues mean it’s not necessarily the cheapest option, but the introduction of San Antonio’s first direct international flight by Condor Airlines could help travelers headed to Europe offset those costs.
The first direct international flights from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) were highly anticipated since they were announced last September, and finally began last week.
The flight will fly nonstop to Frankfurt, Germany, a central hub that allows travelers to easily access the rest of Europe. The flight will operate seasonally and is currently scheduled to operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until September 6th.
Condor prides itself on being a more cost-effective European travel option.
“We think a round-trip economy ticket will be in the $650 to $800 range, depending on the time of year,” said Jacob Tyler, SAT’s chief air service development officer. “Condor fares are really opening up the opportunity to travel to Europe to people who haven’t had the chance to do so before, because Condor fares are really making it possible.”
Tyler said the gig tripping epidemic is something he and others in the industry have noticed.
“I was at a conference this week and three people flew in from there to see Taylor Swift. So I think it’s a very popular thing that people are doing right now.”
Meet Mia: Local Swifties and ‘Gig Trippers’ Take on New Flights
Mia Garza White, 29, a San Antonio native and lifelong Taylor Swift fan, and her husband are planning a fun summer vacation in Europe to see the singer-songwriter on her Eras Tour in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Mia and her husband will travel on the new Condor flight to Frankfurt in July, from where they will make a short trip to the Spanish island of Mallorca before visiting other German cities including Dusseldorf, Hamburg and finally Gelsenkirchen, where Taylor Swift will be performing.
“I’m super excited. I’m planning outfits and stuff,” Mia said.
Mia explains that the opportunity for this concert trip came about after she unsuccessfully tried to get tickets to her Eras tour in the US over a year ago.
“It was actually my husband who surprised me with tickets to see us in Germany,” she says. “He was like, ‘I’m definitely going to make it happen.'”
The couple, who were planning to travel to Europe again this summer, discovered that Condor was launching direct flights to Frankfurt.
“We thought, ‘OK, fate is crossing its shoulders that we get to take this trip and meet Taylor Swift, and it’s actually more convenient, less expensive and saves us time,'” she said.
The decision to go on the gig trip was worth the cost, she said.
“Some friends of my friends bought thousands of dollars for tickets to see Taylor Swift in America,” she said.
While searching for tickets in Houston, Dallas and across the U.S., she said she couldn’t find anything for under $1,000.
But when Swift announced the European leg of the tour, Mia said she felt the price was much more affordable and accessible, with her husband paying about $300 for floor seats at the German show.
“That’s a big price difference, and we were planning a trip to Europe anyway,” she says. “The direct flights made it a more affordable experience overall to go all together.”
The 29-year-old says she’s excited about the opportunity to combine her love of Swift, an artist she grew up listening to, with a European summer holiday for what is sure to be a magical experience.
Planning your next gig trip?
Travel advisor Becky Schultz shared some tips for anyone planning a similar trip or traveling this summer.
First, plan ahead and make sure you have travel insurance.
Schultz says to keep in mind the “umbrella theory”: If you have an umbrella, it’s less likely that it will rain, but if it does rain or something goes wrong during your trip, you won’t get wet.
“Any vacation is an investment and nothing is guaranteed,” she added.
Additionally, she recommends being cautious when booking online or in person. Recalling horror stories of travelers who have booked fake Airbnbs or been scammed while booking vacations, Schultz urges travelers to remember that “if it sounds too good to be true, there’s a reason why.”
Finally, she says to consider using a travel agent.
Schultz is a travel advisor himself and recommends consulting an advisor when planning a trip.
“We know a lot of different tips and tricks,” she says. “We know what to do and what to avoid from our own experience and our clients’ experience.”
