Cheap airlines in Canada
How to get the best deal with a budget carrier
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.
- 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.