How to Fly Low Cost Airlines Without Killing Yourself
Low-cost airlines like WOW Air and Spirit can save you tons of money when you fly with them, but it will still cost you – sane. Here’s what you should know, as well as some tips on how to make your trip more bearable.
What you need to know before booking
To keep your budget airline running as smoothly as possible, you need to manage your expectations. If you know what awaits you, you are unlikely to be surprised or disappointed.
- They charge a fee for everything : everything, including carry-on luggage, checked bags, seat selection, extra legroom, food or snacks ( which is far from decent ), and even water. That’s right, no free drinks. Some low cost airlines like RyanAir even require you to print your own ticket to cut costs. Surprisingly, there is no charge for air. When all is said and done, you can end up paying about the same as for a regular airline flight if you’re not careful.
- Give your trip a little wiggle room : Airlines like WOW Air claim to be pretty punctual , but if there is a delay or flight cancellation it is likely to be big. And customer service for budget airlines will almost certainly leave something to be desired. The cancellation of one WOW Air flight has forced some passengers to lose a day and a half of travel due to a lack of food or hotel offers. Low cost airlines are probably not the best option if you need to get somewhere as soon as possible or have limited vacation time.
- Expect a Blackout : Most low-cost flights don’t have in-flight Wi-Fi or even any in-flight entertainment. These may have power outlets depending on the aircraft, but be prepared to be out of reach throughout the flight. Not ideal if you have to work.
- Pets Not Allowed : To cut costs, most budget airlines don’t even bother providing pet services. If you would like to travel with your pet, look elsewhere ( therapy pets and guide dogs may be an exception if you provide the proper paperwork ).
So yeah, there’s a reason round-trip tickets to Europe are pretty darn cheap – you get what you pay for. These are flights of naked people, people. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try them! You just need to prepare.
Tips on how to survive in flight
Okay, so are you going to try this low cost airline? Great, follow these guidelines, and for the most part, everything should go smoothly:
- Be aware of short connecting times when booking : sometimes low-cost airlines fly from smaller airports or remote terminals that require transfers between connecting flights. With these types of flights, the main thing is to devote a lot of time to yourself.
- Make a contingency plan : Expect delays, cancellations, and other big things to go wrong and have a plan. Find places to stay, things to do, and maybe even bring an extra snack with you. Sleeping at the airport on an empty stomach is not interesting.
- Do everything online before you get to the airport : book your flight, check in for your flight, re-arrange your seats and print your tickets online at home before heading to the airport ! Otherwise, you may encounter additional fees or long lines at several of the available check-in counters.
- Come crazy early anyway ; you may have to take the shuttle to a separate terminal or deal with some luggage problems at the gate. Or worse, find yourself in the wrong airport. It happened to my girlfriend in Iceland, and she was able to catch the flight on time only because she arrived at the first airport so early. Again, take enough time for yourself, otherwise the experience can be very stressful.
- Lightweight backpack : the more you carry with you, the more it will cost you. Remember that you will have to pay for checked baggage and carry-on baggage. If you put everything in one bag , you can save tons of money.
- Bring a bottle of water : flying dehydrates you , but paying for water on an airplane sucks. Bring your empty bottle and fill it at the terminal.
- Bring food and snacks : you know what else sucks? Pay for all meals, even on long haul flights where you usually get free meals. Bring something to eat and something to fill you up with your meal.
- Bring some entertainment : There is no entertainment on these planes, so either bring yourself some pre-loaded movies on your tablet, phone, or laptop, or take a long book with you. Otherwise, you will be very bored. Plus, you’ll need something that distracts you from the onboard Duty Free ads (seriously).
Low-cost airlines have many benefits: they’re insanely cheap, they’re just as safe as other airlines, and they fly to many popular destinations. Just make sure you are mentally prepared for the experience and you will be fine.