Try Before You Fly
Budget Airlines - the fine print
Sometimes when you're travelling on a budget, you have to be prepared for something more like "magnificent men in their flying machines" than "champagne at 37,000 feet".
So today is the last day of my trip to Spain. I have noticed during my time here that our world economy is in real trouble. I find it hard to understand how such a beautiful place with wall to wall sunshine right through to the end of October and packages currently so cheap that places like the beautiful Costa Del Sol are not thriving.
I travelled here on budget airline Ryan Air and have to say with all honesty it was the most stressful experience considering they boast flights always being half an hour ahead of schedule and yes this was the case but it was the only thing that was positive. You think you are getting a good deal because it seems so cheap when you book but once you add on, online check in, baggage costs, excess baggage if you happen to be a pound over your allocated weight and extortionate prices on board for food and beverages, the hidden costs, you end up paying the price of a normal ticket anyway.
I found the whole concept of the check in and trying to squeeze my bag into a tiny space to prove I was not exceeding my limit, as well as having to pay a pound to weigh the bag, ridiculous. It all felt a little bit money grabbing and something you would expect in a third world country. I accept people want a budget option but it would be my advice to read all the small print as what you think is really cheap can turn out to be nothing more than a rouse to get you to choose Ryan Air.
I have travelled with all the UK budget airlines over the last 5 years, business class on a scheduled flight is rare treat these days. Monarch were always the best on a budget, unfortunately they are no more but a close 2nd is Jet 2. I have always found them to be efficient and good value, no hidden extras and less rowdy passengers in general.
I have learnt on this trip low cost and good value are two completely different things.
On March 24th, 2020 Ryan Air says "No More Flights Until June" Boss Michael O'Leary told the Independent “We do not expect to operate flights during the months of April and May at this time, but this will clearly depend upon Government advice, and we will in all cases comply with these instructions,” in statement.
As more and more airlines go to the wall, consolidate, ground planes or in the case of British Airways and the 747 fleet, the jumbo jet scraped the future of luxury and budget travel hangs in the balance and the only thing we know for sure if we are travelling it's goin to be a lot more expensive. The big question and only time will tell, will the budget airlines survive and change their offering and service or will we change what we will accept from them?
Photo by: Daniel Eledut Unsplash