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Budget flights
Purchase your in-flight snacks before going onboard, as costs can be a startling 3 times higher than on the ground! Beware of exaggerated airport prices too and try to pre-empt your needs in a local supermarket beforehand.
8. Budget extras
If you âre booking a Budget flight online, you need to be super careful of all the Extras (many of which are automatically checked). Instead of asking if you want speedy boarding or Insurance for example, its automatically and frustratingly added. Such online tactics are akin to con tricks and an expression of desperation on the strategy of certain Budget Airlines. If you âre not Internet savvy you could easily miss these tricks and each Budget airline has a different way of featuring the information too, so watch out. Recently I purchased a flight on Air Asia and after 20 attempts it was impossible to accomplish the booking without the insurance, which I did not need. Easyjet, Ryan air and more besides are culprits of such annoying tactics, which can elevate prices to higher than scheduled airlines on occasions, so it always pays to cross-reference and keep all factors into consideration.
9. Travel light
Airlines these days are charging a fortune when its comes to check-in luggage. I mean really 15 kgs (the weight that Ryanair adopts) for a 2 week vacation is a bit much. Again if you need to bring more luggage, scheduled airlines may in the long run provide you with a better option all things considered. We are entering the era of packing light and with some discipline it is possible, but it needs a mentality shift and some planning.
It must be said too that the convenience of not having to collect luggage at the baggage reclaim makes the concept of taking only hand luggage on board most attractive, especially for business and short trips. Here Ryanair the markets traditional lowest allowance only permits 7kg, whereas Easyjet allows any weight within reason, but restricts the size, which in our view is a sensible policy.
10. Go electronic.
The cost of choosing what is becoming an outdated paper airline ticket is now on average a more costly affair. If you opt for an e-ticket and print it out online, you pay zero (no ticket issue charge) and achieve the lowest available price. Once you have your e-ticket for convenience you can check-in online, meaning that you save precious time by not going to the airport ridiculously early. With no check-in luggage you can go straight through to the Departure Lounge also.
In summary, there has never been a better time to travel and using the above tricks you can save a fortune too!
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