The Highs and Lows of Budget Flights

The cheap thrill of a flight that costs less than a weekly Tube ticket is hard to resist. Just last week I flew to Madrid and back for £30.

Budget airlines are a necessary evil for anyone who wants to get somewhere fast without breaking the bank. In a world where everything seems to be going up in price and the exchange rate is enough to make your eyes water, a bargain journey gets you off to a flying start.

Buying a more expensive ticket doesn’t guarantee punctuality either – bmibaby flights were actually more punctual than British Airways in the first half of this year. And many would argue that a complimentary gin and tonic and a friendly flight attendant are simply not worth an extra few hundred quid.

When things go smoothly, a no frills flight is a no-brainer. But when if things go wrong, the drab holding pen for ‘Tin Can Airlines’ with no information on the extent of the delay can be a pretty sorry place to be.

Some of these cut-price carriers are severely lacking in customer service prowess. The fact, they often seem more interested in hiking up costs and selling extras than actually making sure you’re happy and comfortable. Charging to print out your ticket is a classic, as are all the taxes and levies they fail to mention in their initial quotes.

Luggage is always a massive bugbear too – with everything being weighed and measured with various instruments. Put one foot wrong, and you’ll be charged a fee, even if your indiscretion seems perfectly reasonable. One recent low-point was Ryanair’s idea to actually charge customers for using the loo (presumably they would weigh the contents of that, too). 

Don’t get stung by hidden costs:

1. Compare prices before booking insurance, hotels, or rental cars through the airline. Take your time

2. Consider what method of payment you use. Some ways incur higher charges than others. Ryanair has even launched its own prepaid card. Double check the t&cs before you sign up to anything

3. Check in online and print out your own boarding cards

4. Only take hand luggage and make sure anything you buy in the airport fits in your bag

5. Bring a packed lunch, as well as headphones to block out the endless onboard sales pitches for scratch cards, lottery cards, gifts, dry roasted peanuts… 

Compare flights at kayak.com. 

Next time: Talk the Talk – easy ways to pick up the lingo…