Source - Alt: A girl looks at departing pkane through airport window while solo travelling
You're staring at flight prices from Reykjavik to Cape Town. £1,200+ for a direct route? That's half your travel budget gone before you've even packed your hiking boots.
Anna, a 29-year-old Icelandic travel blogger, wasn't having it. She wanted Table Mountain sunsets and penguin encounters at Boulders Beach—without blowing her savings on airfare.
So she used Waya Travel.
By booking connecting flights with virtual interlining and solid protection through our platform, Anna was able to travel to Cape Town for less than half the price of a direct flight. And when her journey hit a snag? She was covered.
We love hearing stories like Anna's, and we're sharing hers because it shows precisely how smart flight booking works in practice. Here's what she did—and if you've got a similar story or questions about making long-haul travel affordable, we'd love to hear from you.
Where Do You Want to Fly To?
Anna wanted Cape Town. Direct flights from Reykjavik? £1,000 to £1,400 return. As a freelance graphic designer with a firm budget, that wasn't happening.
She'd seen people mention "self-connect flights" and "virtual interlining" in travel forums, but had no idea what they actually meant—or if they were legit. Booking separate tickets on different airlines sounded like a gamble. What if she missed a connection? What if her luggage disappeared between carriers?
Then someone in a Facebook group casually mentioned Waya Travel and how they'd saved hundreds on a multi-leg trip.
That was enough. Anna started digging.
Discovery: Finding Waya.travel (Powered by Dohop)
Source - Alt: A girl wearing headphones and a backpack looks out over an empty airport runway
Anna landed on Waya Travel late one evening, coffee in hand. She entered her dates, half-expecting the same depressing results.
Something different happened.
The platform was showing her routes she'd never seen before: Reykjavik → London Gatwick → Cape Town. Not bundled by airline alliances, but intelligently combined from separate carriers.
The price?
£520 return instead of £1,200.
Anna stared at her screen. What was the catch?
The answer was virtual interlining—Waya Travel's technology combines flights from airlines that aren't traditional partners, creating itineraries that don't exist on mainstream booking sites. Low-cost carriers mixed with full-service airlines. Budget routes paired with premium connections.
For Anna's route, that meant Play Airlines (a budget Icelandic carrier) connecting with Norwegian Air's long-haul service to Cape Town. Two airlines that would never typically appear together are now working seamlessly.
But Anna had one big question: What happens if something goes wrong?
How Do Self-Connect Flights Work? A Step-by-Step Booking Guide
Source - Alt: A solo female traveller looks bored waiting in an airport holding her smartphone
Self-connect flights combine separate airline tickets into one itinerary at a lower price than traditional bookings. Platforms like Waya Travel handle the entire booking process in one transaction, with optional protection if you miss a connection due to delays.
Anna selected her route: Reykjavik (KEF) → London Gatwick (LGW) → Cape Town (CPT).
Flight 1: Play Airlines to London Gatwick
Flight 2: Norwegian Air to Cape Town
Waya Travel handled both bookings in one transaction. No juggling multiple airline websites. The platform showed her connection time (4 hours in London), terminal information, and baggage policies upfront.
The important bit: her 20kg checked bag would need to be collected and re-checked in London—standard for self-connect flights. Four hours gave her plenty of time without sprinting through Gatwick.
Then came the game-changer: ConnectSure protection.
ConnectSure is flight disruption coverage designed specifically for self-connect itineraries—the kind traditional travel insurance often won't cover. For £35, Anna protected herself against delays, cancellations, and missed connections.
If her first flight was delayed and she missed her connection, ConnectSure would automatically rebook her on the next available flight at no extra cost. No claim forms, no excess fees, no being stranded.
Anna ticked the box immediately. £35 for peace of mind? Done.
What ConnectSure by Dohop Actually Covers
ConnectSure protects travellers against rebooking costs, hotel stays, meals, and transport if flights are delayed or cancelled.
Here's exactly what Anna's ConnectSure coverage included—and why it's genuinely different from standard travel insurance:
✈️ Free New Flight in Case of Disruptions
If you miss your transfer due to delays or cancellations, Dohop books you onto the next available route to your destination—at no extra charge. You're not scrambling to compare prices or drain your emergency fund. The Dohop team simply sorts it.
🏨 Complimentary Hotel During Delays
If your next available flight isn't until the following day, ConnectSure covers your overnight accommodation. Nobody wants to sleep on airport benches (Anna's back agreed wholeheartedly). Upgrade to ConnectSure Plus and you'll get a premium hotel allowance for extra comfort.
🍽️ Extra Travel Expenses Covered
Transport between airports, meals, and beverages during disruptions are all included. ConnectSure Plus offers even higher allowances, so you're not stuck surviving on overpriced airport sandwiches.
💺 Same Seat and Fare Class (ConnectSure Plus)
With the Plus option, Dohop does its absolute best to match your original seat and fare class, ensuring you're not downgraded from your comfy window seat to a middle seat by the toilets.
📞 24/7 Customer Service
A friendly, multilingual support team is available around the clock. Whether you're panicking at 3 am or dealing with a cancellation during a bank holiday, someone's there to help in your preferred language.
Why it matters:
Traditional travel insurance often specifically excludes "self-connect" itineraries. They see separate tickets as too risky, leaving budget-conscious travellers in a difficult position: pay more for direct flights or take a gamble on cheaper routes without protection.
ConnectSure eliminates that dilemma entirely.
It's built specifically for virtual interlining, giving independent travellers the flexibility and savings of budget airlines with the safety net of full-service carriers. For Anna, this meant travelling smart without sacrificing security—exactly what she needed.
When Things Went Wrong (And ConnectSure Saved the Day)
Source - Alt: A solo female traveller looks at the plane information boards at an airport for her cancelled flight
When Anna's first flight was cancelled, ConnectSure automatically rebooked her on a new route to Cape Town at no extra cost.
Anna's departure day arrived with typical Icelandic weather—moody skies and sideways rain. She'd packed carefully, double-checked everything, and felt surprisingly calm.
Then her phone buzzed.
"Flight PS203 to London Gatwick: CANCELLED due to crew shortages."
Anna's stomach dropped. This was precisely what she'd worried about. Was she about to lose her connection? Pay for a new flight? Watch her budget evaporate?
She took a breath and remembered: ConnectSure.
Within minutes, she was speaking to a real person on Waya Travel's 24/7 helpline. No automated menus, no endless hold music. The support agent, Kristján, was reassuringly calm: "Don't worry, we've got this sorted."
Ninety minutes later, Anna had:
- A confirmed seat on an Icelandair flight to London Heathrow
- An adjusted Cape Town connection from Heathrow
- Zero additional cost
Anna arrived in Cape Town just five hours later than planned—fully protected, fully supported, without spending an extra penny.
She texted her friend from the airport lounge: "Flight got cancelled and I'm somehow MORE impressed than if everything had gone smoothly. This is witchcraft."
Anna's take: "I've had worse experiences with 'normal' airlines when things go wrong. This felt like having a personal travel assistant who actually gave a damn about getting me to my destination."
How Much Can You Actually Save with Self-Connect Flights?
Anna saved over £680 on flights and gained the confidence to book self-connect itineraries for every trip since.
Anna spent two incredible weeks exploring Cape Town, the Winelands, and the Garden Route. She hiked Table Mountain at sunrise, sipped Pinotage in Stellenbosch, spotted whales in Hermanus, and spent an embarrassing amount of time photographing penguins at Boulders Beach.
But beyond the Instagram moments, Anna proved something important: you don't need to compromise on experiences just because you're budget-conscious.
The numbers:
- Traditional direct flight: £1,200+
- Waya Travel booking: £520
- ConnectSure protection: £35
- Total savings: £680+
That £680 funded her entire two-week accommodation, a wine tour, a sunset cruise, and several excellent meals. Money that would have vanished into flights became actual experiences.
Beyond the savings, Anna gained confidence. She'd proven that self-connect flights aren't risky gambles—not with the right tools and protection.
Since Cape Town, she's booked through Waya Travel to Bali, Lisbon, and the Faroe Islands. Every time: ConnectSure ticked, confidence high, savings substantial.
She's become an evangelist among her friends, often sending screenshots with messages like: "LOOK at this price. LOOK AT IT. You're welcome."
Wrapping up
Anna's story isn't unique—it's increasingly common among travellers who've discovered there's a smarter way to fly.
Budget airlines and creative routes unlock incredible savings, opening up destinations that might otherwise feel out of reach. But here's the crucial bit: flexibility without protection is genuinely risky. If something goes wrong and you're not covered, those savings evaporate faster than complimentary snacks on a budget airline.
That's why smart travellers use Waya Travel to access:
- Routes that traditional booking sites can't offer
- Transparent pricing and streamlined booking
- ConnectSure protection that actually delivers when things go sideways
Anna's advice? "Don't assume direct flights are your only option—or even your best option. I used to think anything involving multiple carriers was too complicated or risky. But with the right tools, you can travel farther for less and still sleep well at night. That £680 I saved bought me experiences I'll remember forever. And when things went wrong? I was looked after better than on plenty of 'normal' flights. That's the sweet spot."
Ready to Plan Your Own Connected Journey?
Whether you're dreaming of African safaris, Asian beaches, European city breaks, or Arctic adventures, Waya Travel makes it possible to find affordable, flexible routes with the protection you need.
👉 Search connecting flights on Waya Travel
👉 Add ConnectSure for complete peace of mind
👉 Save hundreds on your next adventure
The world is closer—and cheaper—than you think. Your own Cape Town moment is waiting, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.
