By Michelle Barronn- travel advisor
Image by Shutterstock
The Low-cost airlines – Is it too good to be true?
When booking a trip well in advance low-cost airlines are usually at their best value, HOWEVER, this only stands for the fare itself; remember the additional costs. A myriad of extras can then be added to the fare including reserved seats, checked baggage, carry-on or checked-in 10kg hand luggage. Transfers, train tickets, airport lounge access, parking, and snacks on board are also available to prepay – the choices are endless.
The “unreal deal” of €12.99 one-way fare can easily end up at €70 return when you include 10kg hand luggage on board and reserved seats so I would recommend to always checking a few airlines before making your final decision and ideally booking well in advance if you have fixed dates that you must travel within. Check out their cancellation or change of date policy, and if you are flexible on dates travel midweek for a cheaper deal.
Check with your local travel agent first before you book your flights, as we are experts in finding you the best deal on both your flights & holiday – instant money savers.
Consider an indirect flight to save money
It is always worth checking indirect flights too, especially for Christmas or October midterm break. For example; Dublin to Gran Canaria 23rd to 30th last year: Flying directly with Aer Lingus cost €779pp or Ryanair charged €646pp. An indirect flight via Barcelona with Vueling costs €446pp. A family of 4 could save anywhere from €800 to €1330 just by adding a few hours to their journey – wouldn’t all that extra spending money come in handy!
The benefits and convenience of a “through” indirect flight
Sometimes there is no direct flight available for your destination or date so here is where KLM, British Airways, and Lufthansa show up to the party. They offer frequent connections throughout Europe and beyond. When you purchase a “through” flight – for example, Dublin/Amsterdam/Zagreb or Cork/London/New York all your flights are on the one airline ticket/reference.
So, if your baggage is included in the fare, it will be checked all the way through to your final destination saving you hassle and time at the airport. In the event of delays to any flight within the ticket that caused you to miss the onward connecting flight, the airline must ensure they re-route you to get you to your final destination, at the earliest opportunity. And if flights are cancelled by the airline, refund/travel credit can easily be requested.
