When choosing a budget airline, consider cost, destination, stability of travel plans, connecting flights, and comfort. Low-cost airlines may have hidden fees and limited schedules, and may not offer protection for changes. Choose an airline with free online access to tickets, seat selection, and partnerships for connecting flights.
To choose the best budget airline, consider your budget, your destination, the stability of your travel plans, any connecting flights you may need to make, and the level of comfort you expect while flying. While it may seem to fit your travel budget, a low-cost airline can turn out to be more expensive than a mainstream, major air carrier. Your destination is also a factor, as many of these airlines adhere to a regional flight schedule that can limit your options. It can also complicate the process of booking and transferring to connecting flights with competing airlines, as well as providing minimal amenities and cramped seats.
Cost is the most important factor to consider when choosing a budget airline. While the advertised airfare for a particular flight may be well below competing fares, many of these airlines will fold additional fees into the final cost during the purchase transaction. Research all applicable fares for your specific flight before committing to buying any ticket from a low-cost airline. Keep in mind that many of these airlines offset the savings they offer by charging more fees for baggage handling, online seat pre-selection, or airport help desk usage.
Some low-cost airlines offer you no protection if your travel plans change after you buy your ticket. Try to find a low-cost airline that allows flight changes after purchase but before departure, or look for an airline that offers bargain travel insurance that you can afford. Choose a low-cost airline that offers free online access to your tickets, allows you to print boarding passes before you arrive at the airport, and allows you to select seats before boarding the plane.
Connecting flights can be difficult to manage, especially with smaller airlines that focus on serving regional areas rather than domestic flights. You may need to string together multiple connecting flights to get to your destination, and these connections may not always be with partner airlines of the budget airline you book your tickets with. For flights requiring multiple connections with competing airlines, each airline may charge you a transfer fee for both you and your baggage. To get to your destination with as little hassle as possible, choose a low-cost airline with partnerships operating in your connecting cities
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