Marcus Webb
If a budget airline is bad then they are all bad, but some are worse than others. While there are some airlines that will offer you a cheap flight and a decent service, there are others where they advertise a low fare but then charge you for every extra feature. I have been flying a lot of budget airlines recently, 40 flights in total on 40 different tickets, over the last year or so, and I have tried to work out which are the best and worst airlines for the three things that matter most to travelers, on-time performance, how many extra fees they try to charge you, and how well they deal with flight disruptions.
EasyJet: the consumer-friendly choice
The airline that scored highest for customer experience in the European Budget Airlines Service Comparison is EasyJet. With clearer bag policies and less ‘upselling’ on the airline’s website than Ryanair, EasyJet is also faster to respond to customer service queries. On the flip side, the airline’s on-time performance was around 78% in the flights I took. On average, EasyJet flights cost 15% to 25% more per trip than comparable Ryanair flights on the exact same route(s), which in most cases ends up lowering the total cost once you factor in all the additional fees of other budget airlines. EasyJet is thus best for travelers that have more than a small backpack with them for trips, those who place a value on good customer service and families with kids or older travelers where airlines are more understanding. It’s far and away the most suitable option for these groups of travelers for these reasons. Many travel guidebooks only compare airlines on cost per trip. This is not enough when doing a true, fair comparison of different airlines.
AirAsia: solid for short-haul Asia
AirAsia is great for short-haul flights within Southeast Asia. Yes, on-time performance is around 74% (lower than EasyJet), but as already mentioned bag and other fees are clearly stated on the website before you even start to book your flights, so you know what you are getting. Most routes are operated by AirAsia, and you will be surprised by the competitive fares they offer on many routes compared to full service airlines. On some routes you can save up to 50% or even more compared to a full service airline. However, it’s always worth noting that if your flight is delayed or canceled you will be left to your own devices to book an alternative flight online via the AirAsia portal and not receive any personal assistance at the airport. Thus, it depends on your individual circumstances and travel needs.
Wizz Air: cheap with caveats
For those traveling within Eastern Europe and parts of Central Europe, Wizz Air, is the main budget airline and is generally cheaper than Ryanair on comparable routes by around 10% to 20%. As for baggage, the policy is similar to that of Ryanair, in that it is a mandatory paid service, with a restrictive policy on what can be classed as hand luggage. In terms of on time performance, my flights averaged around 71% for Wizz Air which is below the average for the other three airlines tested, but for short flights this is not a huge issue. Also, of all the airlines tested, Wizz Air’s customer service is by far the worst, however, most tasks can be completed via the airline’s app. A tip I have picked up along the way for Wizz Air flights is to check in online as early as possible for the flight the day before travel to ensure that you get to choose your seat.
Ryanair: cheap when you do it right
Ryanair is the cheapest airline to offer flights within Europe. By following a few simple rules (check-in online 24 hours before your flight, pay for your bags from 10kg upwards, pay to choose your seat etc) you can get flights for a low price. The average cost of a ticket on Ryanair is cheaper than most other budget airlines for flights on the same route. The on-time performance for Ryanair in my recent flights averaged 75%. Although customer service in disruption situations is pretty poor, the automated rebooking via the app works well in these circumstances. Overall Ryanair is great for backpackers that travel light, for people that can adapt to rules, for flights where other budget airlines do not offer comparable prices or services. However, if you travel with children, lots of bags, children or older people and need human service then avoid flying with Ryanair at all costs. As with all things, follow the simple rules and it will treat you well.
Spirit & Frontier – The budget airline option in the USA | Spirit Air & Frontier Air – Latin America
The US-based budget airlines, such as Spirit and Frontier, follow a similar policy to the European-based low-cost airlines. As with many of the other low-cost carriers, the price of the ticket initially appears to be very competitive. However, after adding in the costs of seat selection, baggage, and the ‘flight passenger usage charge’ the ticket can, in some cases, be more expensive than the ticket on a mainline airline for the same flight. In contrast, JetSmart is a low-cost carrier that is based in Latin America and offers flights in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and other countries. For the long-haul, budget flights between cities in the same region, such as from one end of South America to the other, JetSmart is similar to Ryanair in that it can be a cost-effective way for backpackers to travel. For short-haul, regional flights, the ticket can work out to be relatively cheap, although for flights within the US and its territories, on many routes Southwest Airlines will still be the most cost-effective option, even when including the baggage fees that the airline charges.
How to think about the real cost
So, save money on aspects of your travels where significant cost savings are likely (e.g. your method of transport, the cheap city you’ll be based in, very cheap street food in countries that have a lot of it), and then splurge to your heart’s content for the things that are of real value to you – a few, really amazing ‘experiences’ during your travels, that one great seat on a very long flight (e.g. in a ‘ Suites Class’ product with full-sized bed, etc. on Singapore Airlines from Houston to Singapore for example, for $12,000+), or even travel gear that, although probably relatively expensive upfront, could provide years of value (e.g. very light and packable travel jacket with integrated water repellent ‘parka’ style hood). In short, cheap travel and good travel are not the same. In fact, I have found that many of the most memorable parts of the very best of my travel experiences actually cost very little to even have occurred. So long as you budget wisely, saving a small percentage of your travel budget here and there in anticipation of events (e.g. an extra night or two in a hotel, when you’re traveling long, becoming ill along the way) which are, by their very nature, completely outside of your control, but will always cost something when they occur, and then simply spend that small contingency fund as required, it really is relatively simple to ‘travel on a budget’ without having your travel experiences become (in worst case, rather poor) instances of what I call ‘slow financial leakage’.
