The 10 mistakes not to make when booking with a low-cost carrier
Booking with a low-cost airline for several people is a habit, for others a mystery, for still others, the only way [...]
Volotea
Ryanair
easyJet
Booking with a low-cost airline for several people is a habit, for others a mystery, and for still others, the only way to be able to afford an airline ticket. In this article we want to talk about the common mistakes made by novice travelers when choosing low-cost airlines.
Common mistakes, legendary errors in booking and how to avoid them
In this article:
Go further never stop at the first site! Choosing a low-cost airline is sometimes a random choice, but sometimes it represents a budget requirement. People often make the mistake of booking directly from the airline's website. What is the mistake? Making an assessment on the first site and booking without checking all the other options.
In fact, we want to recommend some search engines suitable for you to get to know as many companies as possible and select the perfect flight for you. One of them and definitely the most well-known is Skyscanner, but we also recommend Google Flights, Kayak and Kiwi. When you have found your ideal flight, book directly from the company's website.
Booking without having viewed video reviews or articles pertaining to the low-cost airline. One of the most common mistakes people make is booking a random airline just because it is low cost. It's a neophyte's mistake, but we're here to give you some tips. Our advice is to read reviews and watch as many videos as possible so you have a good idea about the company and the type of flight. It's wonderful to have a surprise, but if it's comfort you're looking for, we suggest you read up on it!
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"Only a few vacancies remain." Don't be fooled: chances are it's not true! Take your time; it's just a ploy by marketers that will only divert you from other possibilities.
Do not evaluate flight schedules. One of the most common mistakes is not evaluating the departure time of a flight. It is true that maybe a low-cost airline offers you a flight for 10 euros, but it is also true that you will probably have to take it at inconvenient times, i.e., time intervals when you will not find public transportation when you arrive (e.g., those where you are scheduled to land later than 00:00 am) or flights at 5:00 am that will not allow you to sleep.
Ryanair press office image (credit: Piotr Mitelski)
The emergency exit post. Many travelers think it is an honorable place and are therefore willing to pay the extra charged by the companies because you have more legroom. For us, this is a big mistake. Reserving one of the emergency exit seats can trigger discomfort, especially on flights with time over an hour. In fact, while it's true that you will have more room to sit, it's also true that you won't be able to keep your backpack under the seat in front of you during takeoff/landing because it could be a nuisance during a possible evacuation.
Always choose only the nearest airport. This is more general advice, aimed at improving the quality of the service you are going to pay for. A common mistake is to choose the airport closest to home without sifting through all the possibilities. Sometimes it is possible to find an airport that is less close and reachable by means at low prices, with better fares and benefits offered by an airline.
Do not estimate the distance from home to the airport. Sometimes a mistake is also not to consider distance contrary to the previous paragraph. Usually low-cost airlines depart from secondary terminals or slightly more inconvenient places. It is good to make all the assessments.
Do not consider the price of taxes and baggage. Do not make the mistake of considering the price without taxes and especially without baggage. Many low-cost airlines offer a favorable price excluding taxes and especially excluding luggage. If you are leaving for a day or just have to stopover with a backpack, that is perfect but otherwise you will have to consider the full price. In fact, you have to take into account both taxes and incidental expenses that some low-cost airline sites add to the last step. In addition, the baggage fee is also usually not included and will only magically appear when you have completed everything.
Beware of assigned seat and insurance: don't take anything for granted! Many low-cost companies in order to accumulate more money, all they do is pitch you a series of services before the actual payment. Don't get us wrong, these are useful services, but they may be hiding some catch. So don't make the mistake of booking without thinking about the final cost. Each seat has its own price that varies depending on the rows; usually there is no difference between aisle or window. Know that you will have to add this expense to your flight, generally ranging from 10 to 50 euros. And if you have to take any kind of equipment with you, non-standard luggage, skis for example, you will have to pay an additional fee.
Travel insurance. We are about to hit a sore point. Not having travel insurance is a mistake that even experienced travelers sometimes make. Choosing a low-cost airline has its benefits, and one of them is spending less to fly, but it also has its limitations. These are often delays, ruined or chipped luggage, canceled flights, etc. Having travel insurance will be able to limit the inconvenience and loss of money and additional time.
As you may have observed, there are several factors to consider before booking a low-cost fare flight. When you happen to have to buy an airline ticket in general, but even more so if it is a low-cost airline, take the time to consider the points we have mentioned.
Don't make hasty decisions and evaluate carefully so that you maximize benefits, limit costs, and don't have any nasty surprises.
