Low-cost airlines are a great way to travel inexpensively between countries or within one country. But you need to take into account some of the nuances.
Where do they fly
The largest number of low-cost airlines fly between the countries of the European Union. For the residents of St. Petersburg, for example, it is very convenient to fly from the nearest countries: Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There are also low-cost airlines in Southeast Asia, the USA and some Latin American countries. In Russia, low-cost airlines, as a rule, do not exist for long. At the moment it is "Victory".
When to buy tickets
On the official websites, you can subscribe to the promotions of each airline and track the best deals. European low-cost airlines sometimes sell a limited number of tickets for 1 or 10 euros as part of promotions. If you buy at standard prices, it is better to do this in advance; the closer to the departure date, the more difficult it is to find tickets at the lowest price.
Why are low-cost airlines convenient?
When you want to fly somewhere for only two or three days, this is the best option. When you plan a multiple route, with arrival and departure from different countries, as the price of a ticket "only there" is not more expensive than if you buy in both directions. This is a great opportunity to visit several countries in one trip. Flights are often cheaper than a bus or train.
Why low-cost airlines are inconvenient
Low cost by default means that the indicated price does not include payment for luggage, meals, has restrictions on the weight and quantity of hand luggage. Read the rules carefully. If you are traveling with luggage, be sure to pay for it in advance on the Internet - it will be much more expensive on the spot. In many companies, you need to check in and print your boarding pass in advance, which is not always convenient when traveling. Moreover, the check-in and printout of the coupon on the spot at the airport may exceed the cost of the ticket. Food and drinks on board are generally expensive. If you are flying only with hand luggage, remember the rules for carrying liquids and what foods are equal to them. This means that it will not work to bring wine and cheese (unless they are bought in duty-free).
Things to Remember When Planning a Route
If you are planning a route with many flights, then the task appears to match the dates, since you can not find low prices for all dates. Pay attention to which airport the plane arrives at. Some European companies fly to remote airports (for example, Charleroi in Brussels, Beauvais in Paris), which are formally considered urban, but are actually located in the suburbs. And most importantly, the price of a bus from such airports can be comparable to the price of a ticket, and all the savings are lost. For example, a bus from Charleroi to Brussels city center costs 17 euros one way. Often, if you add baggage, lunch at the airport and transfer to the city to the ticket price, you get the same price as for a standard airline flight. Pay attention to the time of departure and arrival, not everywhere city transport runs around the clock, so it is possible that the budget will also have to include paying for a taxi. If you are connecting two flights on your own, then leave enough time in case the plane is late. Although this applies not only to low-cost airlines.
