Cheap Island Travel
Cheap Travels by Cheap Airplanes
The sudden proliferation of “budget airlines” (sometimes called as cheap or “no-frills” air travel) has made island hopping as easy as going to the next-door neighbor. It entered the consumers’ common vocabulary. These cheap airlines have made island-hopping available to the ordinary working family to go anywhere they want to go.
Cheap Island Travel
The best airline packages in these no-frills airlines are no extras for the passenger. Do not expect a stewardess to serve you any drinks on the flight. There are no complimentary newspapers or magazines either for you to read. The whole point of the very low airfares is just to get you from point A to point B in no time at all.
A History of Bargains
Discount airlines first appeared in the 1980s in Europe when Irish carrier Ryanair started a modest 15-seater small aircraft flying from Waterford in Ireland to London’s Gatwick airport. This was the world’s first budget airline ever and it has found a niche among travelers who do not want to spend a fortune on plane tickets.
Average fares are more likely to range from $32 to $126, depending on the route. That is still often half the price of those offered through the more-established national carriers. There is a budget airline for almost every European country now. In some countries, there are even two or more budget airlines competing fiercely for passenger traffic. This open competition has made some national carriers lose money and there are trends for these national airlines to be privatized.
Tips to Savings
To get the cheapest fares in Europe, aim to travel in spring and autumn, mid-week and try also early morning or late evening flights. Keep an eye on airline websites as there are often last-minute discounts announced there. An astute passenger should check websites as often as possible before booking a flight online.
Flight Bookings
To operate cheaply and still turn in a profit, these budget airlines cut expenses to the bone. As mentioned earlier, there are no stewardesses on board. You also check-in your luggage yourself as there are no porters around. It is almost like a self-service restaurant type of customer service. Passengers do things on their own. The only airline-related personnel that you often get to see is the pilot himself.
Majority of discount airlines do not offer any onward connections. Passengers must collect their baggage and check in again to connect to another flight. There is no compensation for missing such a connection. Do not expect refunds either.