Budget airlines, are they worth the hassle

You see the advert on the Internet or in a Sunday newspaper; the flight is next to nothing and is just where you would like to go, but what about the small print?

Extras such as baggage, a necessity I have always thought, check in desks, free toilets on board, charges for emergency oxygen when the masks drop from the ceiling! Ok I am being a little facetious here, but more and more budget airlines are competing on the sticker price. The extra charges vary depending upon the airline you wish to travel with and that can end up making the total bill a lot different than when you started and sometimes comparable with a regular scheduled airline.

So how do you sort through the chaos of charges, fear of overweight luggage at the airport and the excessive charges that can be brought to bear?

You need to ask yourself a few questions before it is possible to make a well judged decision on the airline you wish to fly with.

• Are you travelling alone?




If you are a couple or a family, in order to sit together you may have to either check in early to get to the front of the queue or pay for speedy boarding. A singleton doesn't really care so that will be free!




• Do you have access to a computer?




Many airlines are charging for airport check in and you will need to print out a boarding pass and check in online to avoid these charges.




• Are you carrying bags or sports equipment?




Some carriers, like EasyJet for example, allow one carry on item that is not weight restricted provided you can carry it and it is not dangerous. Others still have a paltry 5kg limit. Nearly all charge for hold bags and some have a fixed fee for sports equipment or musical instruments. I have been able to take my guitar on board EasyJet for free but had to place it in the hold on Ryan Air for 24 Euros at the airport!




• Do you want to eat on board?




Meals are invariably paid for and vary in quality although I can recommend the ham and cheese Panini on Ryan Air! Rumours abound about airlines charging passengers for bringing their own snacks although I think that will be a little harsh especially for diet challenged passengers.




• What if the flight is delayed or even cancelled?




Ok, here is the thing. Budget airlines are just that, they don't often have the interline agreements that allow them to reroute passengers to another airline or destination. They have a lot of aircraft admittedly but they are all tightly scheduled and delays can frequently cascade through the system.





It is possible therefore that during busy periods or inclement weather conditions that you and your party may get bumped of delayed. Have insurance and plenty of patience. If you are going to be travelling with a family or small children take that fact into consideration when choosing the airline. A regular airline will usually put you up at a hotel and cover immediate meal expenses if they cannot re route you.





If you have to be at work, need to catch a connection, have small children or limited financial means think long and hard about the airline you choose. The extra you pay for with a regular scheduled airline may actually be worth it and give you more peace of mind during that holiday you so deserve.





The flip side of course is that if you don't mind travelling early in the morning, have no bulky bags, can check in online and are prepared to rough it if there is a hiccup on the flight you can travel all over for next to nothing with a bit of forward planning.

So decide what is important to you and your travel partners and make the choice accordingly, happy travelling!

Peter J Smith April 2009