Are budget airlines worth it? These four questions will tell you whether to book
By Ute Junker
If you have ever flown Jetstar to or from Melbourne's Avalon airport, you will appreciate that which airport you land at or take off from makes a big difference. Credit: Rob Homer
There's no denying it — travel is getting more expensive. And when you are trying to stretch your travel dollar, booking with a budget airline seems like the smart move. However things are not necessarily that clear cut. Do your research and you may find that, depending on the flight and the extras you choose, a full-service airline may end up costing more or less the same.
The published fare isn't the only thing to factor into the equation. Before you book budget, ask yourself these four questions.
IS THE FLIGHT GOING TO THE RIGHT AIRPORT?
If you have ever flown Jetstar to or from Melbourne's Avalon airport, you will appreciate that which airport you land at or take off from makes a big difference. In Norway's capital, Oslo, for instance, Oslo Gardemoen airport is 47 kilometres out of town. By contrast, Oslo Torp airport is a whopping 110 kilometres from the city centre. Over in Germany, Frankfurt (Hahn) and Munich West are other airports that are a long way from the centre of town, which means a longer and more expensive trip into town.
DO YOU HAVE CHECKED BAGS?
It is no secret that cheaper airlines charge for checked baggage, but it is easy to underestimate just how much that may add to your fare. Looking for flights between Paris and Berlin recently, I found a budget airline flight that was almost $100 cheaper than Lufthansa — until I added on the cost for baggage, at which point only $20 separated them. That is a negligible difference for me, particularly since I get frequent flyer points with Lufthansa but not with the other airline.
ARE YOU FUSSY ABOUT YOUR SEAT?
Some people don't really mind where they sit on a plane. Others have a definite preference — for window or aisle, for the first few rows or for an exit seat. On a budget airline, you don't just pay extra for exit rows, you pay extra for the ability to choose your seat. If you don't want to fork out the fee for seat selection and your flight turns out to be full, you may well end up in the middle seat — the one place no-one wants to be.
IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOUR PLANS WILL CHANGE?
When you go to a travel site and start looking for fares, the fare that comes up is always the one with the least flexibility. Budget airlines' change fees are often — though not always — higher than those of the full-service airlines. Read the fine print before you make your choice.
And on the subject of changing flights, before booking, consider how often your chosen airline flies that route. It is often smarter to opt for the airline which has multiple flights a day. If your flight is cancelled for technical or other reasons, it is comforting to know that you may be transferred to a later flight.
See also: The questions you should ask before booking a tour
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