Many travelers have long been hooked on cheap flights offered by budget airlines. We monitor discounts and sales, plan trips six months in advance – all in order to save at least half, and sometimes more than 90% of the cost of an air ticket.
If you are new to this kind of flights, then know: there is no catch in the indecently low prices of low-cost airlines. Cheap airlines are simply trying to save money on everything: on distances between seats, airport taxes, and many services that we are used to are simply not included in the price.
So what is paid extra and how to avoid unnecessary expenses?
Luggage
The biggest expense for a tourist can be checked luggage. This is the suitcase that you do not take with you into the cabin, but hand over to the baggage carousel. In all low-cost airlines it is paid and can even cost several times more than the ticket itself. You can only take hand luggage with you free of charge (here we talk in detail about the carry-on baggage allowance) – as a rule, this is a small suitcase weighing up to 10 kg and measuring 55x40x20 cm plus a small bag, like a ladies’ bag. If you are in doubt about the size of your hand luggage, there is usually a stand next to the check-in counter with the name of the airline and a special measuring frame. If your bag fits there, then you’re good to go. However, be careful: even because of the wheels protruding above the frame, particularly scrupulous airport employees may ask you to check your suitcase as luggage and pay for this service on the spot.
Checked baggage fees may vary depending on the season (high or low),
route and whether you registered it online or do it directly at the airport. In one case, you can get away with only 15 euros per suitcase, and in another, you can pay all 70. Therefore, in order not to pay twice, or even three times, add luggage when buying a ticket online – it will be cheaper and there will be no “surprise” in the form of additional a tidy sum to be paid upon boarding.
By the way, not only low-cost airlines, but also some regular airlines, such as Lufthansa or AirBaltic, have recently not included checked baggage in the price of an economy class ticket. Therefore, be careful when booking any airline tickets.
In addition, you will have to pay for the advantage. If your hand luggage exceeds the required weight of 10 kg, then, depending on the airline, you will have to pay for each kilogram of excess or a special tariff, for example, if it weighs from 10 to 15 kg. On average, 1 kg above the norm will cost 10-15 euros.
Check-in at the airport
For those who choose a low-cost airline for the first time, this is the most unexpected and unpleasant moment. A few days or weeks before the flight, you need to check-in online for the flight, that is, register. Usually at this time you receive an email or SMS with a reminder. If for some reason you did not do this, you will have to pay at least 10-20 euros at the airport, depending on the air carrier, just to have your boarding pass printed. Agree, this is not the most pleasant news, considering that this could have been done on a simple sheet of paper at home.
Selecting a location
If you are unpretentious and mentally prepared for narrow seats and cramped rows, you will not need this feature. However, those who love comfort or want, say, to sit by the window will need to pay extra for such a privilege. This can also be done when purchasing a ticket. All seats on the plane are divided into several sections with different prices. Closer to the exit is more expensive, while seats with more legroom are the most expensive. The cost of such a service ranges from 1 to 17 euros.
Meals on board
Often, perhaps the main question of the flight is what they will feed you? Those who like to eat hearty food on the road with low-cost airlines will have a hard time, because all the food here is paid. You will be offered a fairly rich menu, however, for a lot of money. To save money, it is better to order food in advance online – it will be almost half the price. For short flights, you can simply take a couple of packs of snacks with you. As a rule, the crew is loyal to their food on board.
Tea, coffee and other drinks are also not free, the only exception is ordinary water – you can get it for free. But, of course, not a whole bottle, but a glass.
Priority landing
Some low-cost airlines offer not to wait until a huge crowd of passengers go through security, but to buy the right to priority boarding. That is, holders of tickets marked priority will be served at the very beginning. It costs 4-8 euros, and the right to be one of the first can be secured when purchasing a ticket.
Insurance
When you book your ticket, you will be asked to purchase airline insurance. Insurance may cover medical expenses (if something happens during the flight),
and also act in the event of loss or damage to luggage, loss of personal belongings, missed flights, flight cancellations due to weather conditions or the fault of the air carrier; Sometimes insurance covers ticket returns or exchanges. But before you buy insurance, consider whether you really need it. After all, in any case, you must insure your health when traveling abroad, and if your bag is lost, the company must search for it anyway. Moreover, the minimum insurance cost will be 9-13 euros.
Corrections in the ticket
Sometimes, when purchasing a ticket, you may misspell your first and last name or accidentally select a different date. Low-cost airlines set prices for any changes to the booking made after the ticket has been paid for. For example, to change the day or time of departure you need to pay from 30 euros, and to correct a mistake in the name – from 40 to 45 euros.
Late fee
Check-in for flights usually ends 40 minutes before boarding. If a passenger is not punctual, he is no longer allowed to check in after this time. But for some air carriers, for example, Wizzair, this is not a problem and they will definitely let you through, and if you don’t make it on time for this plane, they will offer you another one. True, it’s not free. The late fee is around 70-80 euros.
It turns out that in order to fly really cheaply, you need to take a minimum of things with you, have a hearty lunch before the flight, endure the flight in not the most comfortable seats and, most importantly, be punctual and attentive when entering any information. In principle, these are not the most terrible circumstances that can be endured for the sake of an inexpensive and interesting trip.
