|
 |
 U.S. Discount Airlines
See All Air Travel Resources
Europe -- By Plane or By Train?
 Poll: Are Discount Airlines Overrated?
The discount airline revolution is hardly limited to the United States. The arrival of Ireland-based RyanAir and easyJet changed the face of European air travel in much the same way that Southwest and JetBlue have done stateside. With new airlines now proliferating in the South Pacific and Asia, the rise of discounters is a global phenomenon. We've put together a list of the best-known and most reliable international discount airlines -- but before we get to those, here are a few tips to help you get around the world for minimal cost and hassle.
1. Particularly for newer airlines, route maps may change with some frequency. Keep tabs on new routes and changes on each airline's Web site.
2. For those discounters who do not issue seat assignments, expect a slightly less orderly "line" at the gate than you might find in the U.S., on Southwest for example. The European character's less-stringent premium on personal space can create something more akin to a soccer mob crush than a proper "queue."
3. As in the U.S., many international discounters fly to and from alternate airports. If you are not familiar with overseas airport codes and names, do your homework so your connections, lodgings, and transport to and from the airport go smoothly.
4. Especially at larger airports, discounters can sometimes host gates located in nooks and crannies of the airport. If you are flying into a large airport on a major airline to connect to a discounter flight, check out the airport map to get a sense of how far it might be to your gate, and how to get there using airport transport systems (monorail, buses, etc).
5. Very few discounters have baggage agreements with major carriers, so if you are making a connection to or from another airline, you may have to collect your bags at the luggage carousel, and then recheck them for your next flight.
6. Additionally, luggage restrictions may vary on discount airlines; short-haul carriers tend not to accommodate larger items -- and some discounters have started charging fees to check any luggage at all.
7. No-frills often means exactly that -- food and water cost extra.
8. Not all discount airlines are shoestring operations; RyanAir is said to be the world's most profitable airline at present. However, you should be aware of the financial condition of your chosen airline when purchasing tickets, especially in the fast-growing Asian market, where a shakeout is predicted by many analysts.
9. Most international discounters (and many domestic discounters as well) sell on a first-come, first-served basis, with the lowest fares selling first.
10. While the European rail system is favored by many European visitors, don't assume that the train is always going to be cheaper; many international discount airlines offer astoundingly low fares, such as RyanAir's frequent 2 GBP fare sales. For a head-to-head comparison, see Europe -- By Plane or By Train?
11. Asia may be home to the most rapid expansion in discount airlines anywhere on the planet at present; it is less expensive to move around in Asia than ever. Air Asia, the region's first discount airline, launched just five years ago; they now have more than 15 competitors based in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and China.
12. U.S. discounters sometimes fail to appear on the major booking sites, and this is even more true of international discounters, particularly in Asia. The only way to find and purchase many of these fares will be by monitoring the airline Web site.
Several sites allow you to search multiple discount airlines simultaneously; here are a few of the best and most popular:
DoHop.com
Openjet.com
SkyScanner.net
Wegolo.com
WhichBudget.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can't get enough of Traveler's Ed? Visit the archives!
|
|
|
Share This Page:
E-Mail
Print
RSS
Save
|
