The last few decades have seen a complete transformation in the way we travel, and budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and FlyBe are here to stay. The budget airlines have opened up a whole new world of travel to people living in the UK, and destinations in Europe which were previously very hard to get to can now be accessed from many regional airports. If you have not previously travelled on budget airlines, there are a few things to be aware of before you start planning your next holiday.

Get Online

Budget airlines are all about cutting cost, and as such they want you to do as much of the work of booking the flight as possible. Try to avoid call centres as they charge huge per-minute rates for calls. Going online will also make it easier for you to compare different flight options such as flying on a different day of the week, departing from a different airport or looking like flights leaving from one airport and returning to another. Budget airlines never sell return tickets; the flights are considered as two separate tickets so be as flexible as you can to get the best deal. Remember though that the onus is on you as the customer to check and double check that you have entered your personal details and flight dates and times correctly. If you make a mistake, you could be hit with a hefty administration charge for making any changes to your booking.

Be Wary of Connecting Flights

Unlike traditional airlines which allow you to book a ticket from a regional airport to Asia connecting through London, budget airlines don’t offer this service. So, if you are flying from Belfast to Stansted and then on to Rome, you’ll have to pick up your luggage at Stansted and then check in again for the next leg of the trip. This might work well when you have plenty of time between the flights, but often any delay on the first part of the journey can mean missing the second flight and the budget airline has no obligation to assist you. Bear this in mind when looking at your travel options, and weigh up the cost savings of taking two separate flights on a budget airline compared with a more traditional route.

Food and Drink on Board

Budget airlines will not supply you with any food and drink on your flight, so either take your own or be prepared for expensive prices on board. One good option is to look at the price for booking an airport lounge before departing. For around £20 – £30 you can get access to a comfortable seating area, with free food, soft drinks and Wi-Fi. Many lounges will also give you a few beers or glasses of wine to get your holiday started. Shop around to see what the best price is for lounge access, and look into whether you may qualify for free access – this is often thrown in as a perk for people who have packaged bank accounts.