Budget airlines. Low-cost carriers. Whatever you want to them, these no-frills airlines are appealing which are more basic of reasons: wallet-friendly prices as well as an incredibly extensive and various group of flight routes. Those low, low fares are really difficult to resist, particularly if you've got some unused vacation time burning an entire inside your benefits package or a case of cabin fever from the long stretch between trips. However ,, do you get what you pay for?
That depends in large part on doing a bit of homework before you buy, and understanding what tradeoffs you're going to make to bag that too-good-to-be-true ticket. Budget airlines seem to obtain a bad rap for so many things. Some of it is justified, while other criticisms simply stem from misplaced expectations rooted in the offerings of standard airlines, or since the small print hid a few unexpected caveats. But budget airlines aren't the enemy – just ask any of the a large number of travelers who found low-cost carriers unlocked previously off-the-beaten-path destinations like Iceland which quickly became serious bucket list contenders.
Here's what you need to be aware of to obtain your money's worth from those bargain basement budget airline deals.
Leave wiggle room for delays
Delays tend to rank high among the list of annoyances that travelers have with budget airlines, but unless a volcano has just exploded the situation really isn't so bad. Based on the US Department of Transportation, Frontier was among the lower-ranked airlines for on-time arrival rates, squeaking in to the gate on schedule just 73.1% of the time. That's that tardiness that would tick off most high school teachers, but even the highest ranked standard carrier, Hawaiian Airline, only scored 87.7% on-time arrivals.
2022 was simply a tough year for on-time flights, with delays increasing across the board for US airlines. Just leave plenty of padding in your schedule for connections if you're flying with a carrier whose history is at the bottom of the pack – and appearance to see how you'll be compensated if, say, that proverbial volcano does explode and also you get a delay more serious than getting backed up within the runway queue.
Read the fine print and plan for added frills
The other obvious bugbear is the extras you spend for with budget airlines. You will get nickel and dimed for food, entertainment and even a blanket. Wish to pick your seat? Sure, you'll have to pay extra…per sector! Want to sign in more than 15kg of bags? Wish to pay for that flight with a credit card? Yep, you'll have to pay extra. What? You have to pee? Some time back, there have been plans to make you pay for this too. We even know many peeved travelers who didn't observe that they had to print their own boarding pass to prevent paying $25 for it in the airport.
Of course, even regular airlines are cutting all kinds of services nowadays, and it's only intensifying following the COVID-19 pandemic. From cutting alcohol plan to charging customers to sit by empty middle seats, flying is becoming much more of a bare-bones proposition than ever, even if you're not opting for a budget carrier. Having said that, some low-cost operators like the oft-reviled Ryanair are giving customers one less line item to keep watch for by dropping change fees for flights within an unpredictable travel market, moving echoed by bigger carries like Qatar Airways.
Don't get stranded at small airports
What concerning the landing proximity towards the 'actual' city you need to reach? Forget about it. Whenever a budget airline tells you it's taking you to Frankfurt, it could actually imply that it's taking you to definitely Hahn, from which it is a two-hour bus ride to Frankfurt proper. As long as you're reading the fine print, check wherever you'll be departing and arriving and ensure it's not likely to screw up any connections or make you stranded at awkward times of day. Even just in a big city with plenty of public transit like Ny, it can spell disaster to fly into La Guardia only to discover you need to book it from Jersey to Queens to get another flight at JFK.
Watch the clock, too. When a budget carrier tells you that their check-in counters shut 45 minutes prior to the flight, they really do mean it. Rock up one minute late and you are from the plane. Some airlines skimp within the company, and therefore there might be just one counter operating, so arrive early to make sure you make the cut-off time – especially at smaller airports where hours might be more limited than larger hubs which are practically 24 hour affairs. It's particularly important to be on-time since many airlines are juggling new regulations, too, as restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic ease and countries open support.
That said, smaller airports do boast some benefits over their bigger, better-known counterparts. At some, you'll clear customs faster and obtain out quicker than you'd at the main airport. Think Subang Airport versus Kuala Lumpur Airport terminal or Stansted versus Heathrow. At others, you'll score perks like free parking, or local-favorite dining options, like John Glenn Airport in Columbus, Ohio, which boasts Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream and Land Grant Brewing outposts. Using the savings you bag from your budget fare and cheaper parking, you will probably find you have plenty remaining for the bus ride downtown or perhaps a craft beer on your layover.
Pounce on prime fares
Getting a great deal on plane fare is the whole name of the game, and budget airlines do sell tickets for cheap. Really, really cheap. Zero-cost fares (plus taxes and fees obviously)? It isn't the stuff of myth and legend. You're no longer restricted to domestic routes or pool-table routes that bounce you hither and yon, either. Budget airlines are getting into long-haul flights and last we checked, you can snag a return ticket from KL to Europe or Australia to LA for US$1000. Expect to pay more than double for any regular carrier.
To snag those epic deals though, you will need to do a little more than punch your credit card number into Sprit or Easy Jet's website, though. Use a flight aggregator such as Skyscanner, Kayak, or Dollar Flight Club to obtain the lowest fares. If your schedule isn't absolute, you've much more options, especially if the aggregator you're using enables you to search very generally, across multiple airports or whatever dates are cheapest. Being wide open towards the possibilities is key with sites like Scott's Cheap Flights, which alerts members to spectacular deals and mistake fares. The alerts come like a bolt out of the blue, however, and you've got to act quickly or miss out.
Be flexible and be ready to go at any time. You might snag a $1 flight from Melbourne to Hobart-if you book Three to six months ahead of time (oh the agony of awaiting that holiday in the future round). Expect some gnashing of teeth too – a flurry of travelers descending on bookings websites for sale day could be a feeding frenzy and sometimes crashes sites, so be patient. Sometimes, you're best getting information on the booking and jumping onto the actual airline web site to avoid booking fees, too, along with the limitations of overwhelmed servers.
Of course, should you go for the cheapest option, you'll will often have to forfeit the ticket or pay hefty fees if you wish to change dates, so make sure your schedule is really malleable. You'll also want to acquire some travel cover. Make sure your policy covers delays and cancellations, or prepare to sleep in manchester international in case your flight is delayed or cancelled (see exploding volcano point above).
At no more the day, however, budget carriers remain a great option for travelers seeking to save money and don't require the white-glove experience. Using the money you save, you'll have plenty left over for any Lonely Planet guidebook, not to mention other essentials like rental cars, lodging, and all the fun activities you're looking forward to.
