The airscape has changed greatly over the past decade or so. Where once the legacy carriers, such as Air Canada, offered plumped-up pillows and complimentary cookies in the back of the plane, now we pay for ... well, just about everything.
How to save money with low-cost airlines
On the whole, booking and flying with low-cost airlines is the same as flying with any scheduled carrier except that your fares (hopefully) are cheaper. There are a few points you can follow when booking to try and catch the best bargain available:
- Book ahead. As with charter flights, prices will rise as the plane fills up. The very cheapest tickets available, such as $250 to London, will be available months in advance of the travel date.
- Keep an eye out for sales. Even more than scheduled carriers, low-cost airlines love seat sales. It’s great promotion for them and it’s when you’ll find the best deals. To make sure you never miss out on a seat sale, keep an eye on Cheapflights' US travel news blog, Cheap Flight News, which carries details of all the Canadian seat sales in the Savings and Deals section.
- Book online. One of the ways that low-cost carriers keep costs down (and therefore can offer such cheap seats) is to take most of their bookings from the Internet, instead of costly call-centres or shops. You may have to pay extra if you want to book your seat by phone, so if possible always book online.
- Give up on the frills. Don’t expect complimentary drinks, food (on short flights) or in-flight entertainment. On a low-cost airline, all will come at an extra cost – and it can be a high extra cost. If you want to make sure you don’t pay much more than the actual price of your ticket, pack your own food, bring a bottle of water and a good book. Services such as drinks from the bar or the rental of some headphones can set you back as much as $5 for each individual requirement. Come prepared, and keep your money in your wallet.
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated March 2010
