When planning my recent vacation in Europe, my itinerary included three countries and six cities. With only two weeks to cram in a number of major destinations, I had to find a balance between money and time. For my specific situation, I found that it was most cost-effective to travel by high-speed train within each country and by budget airlines between countries. While this may not be the most effective method for every traveler, answering the questions below can help you determine whether it is the best method for you.
Do you have luggage? While a plane ticket on many major airlines offer one check-in bag and one carry-on for free, this is not the case with budget airlines. Most will allow only one carry-on and are very strict about the dimensions of your bag. Be sure to check the specifications of the dimensions beforehand as having a bag just slightly larger than the set limitations will send your bag to the check-in luggage line and burn a hole in your pocket. If you know ahead of time that you will need to check in a bag, make the purchase online when booking your ticket. Again, paying for your check-in luggage at the airport will cost you a tremendous amount more.
Do you have a seating preference? Perks such as selecting your seat in advance are not included in a standard ticket on a budget airline. Having passengers pay for the extra perks is how they make their money. So if you’re someone who couldn’t care less about where you sit on a plane, using a budget airline may be for you. Selecting your seat in advance will cost you about $10-$15 extra so you can weigh the pros and cons on this one.
Will you be able to check-in online? Most budget airlines in Europe will require that you check-in and print your boarding pass in advance. Some will allow you to check-in a month in advance while others require that you do it 24 hours in advance. The latter may not always be feasible when you’re backpacking through Ireland the day before your flight. It is important that you plan ahead because, once again, checking in at the airport means more money for the airline and less money in your pocketbook.
A good way to determine whether a budget airline is for you is to think about all the perks and luxuries that come accompanied with major airlines (e.g., drinks, snacks, pillows, entertainment, etc.). Now, cross them all out because it is likely that none of them will be included in a budget flight. The prices you see on sites such as ryanair.com and easyjet.com offer the bare minimum, every extra perk is an additional cost. And they WILL nickel and dime you because that is how they make their money. So the next time you’re comparing the prices, be sure you account for all the additional costs. If you play your cards right and read all of the fine print, budget airlines can provide great savings.