By Kim Wildman
MSN NZ Travel writer
With the rise of the no-frills budget airline, it's now cheaper than ever to take-off on holiday. Whether you want to fly over the Tasman to visit relatives in Australia, discover remote Pacific Islands such as Samoa and Tonga, or simply hop between New Zealand's North and South islands, you no longer have to scrimp and save for your fare.
Do you have any tips for flying budget airlines? Do you fly budget airlines? What are the best budget airlines? Have your say below.
While low-cost carriers have reduced fares in the Australia, Asia and Pacific region, they're yet to soar to the heights they have in Europe where budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet rule the sky. But with new budget airlines like Kiwijet (which is set to take-off in early 2009) entering the market all the time, increased competition will most certainly lead to better service and greater savings.
Like anything, though, there both benefits and drawbacks to flying on a budget airline:
Pros
- Price: it goes without saying that it's the price of the tickets that makes low-cost airlines most attractive. Because they have few overheads and only service limited routes they can offer customers more competitive prices.
- Frequent airfare specials: budget airlines run regular promotions which slash their ticket prices even further for a limited period. But you need to be quick to get the best deals.
- One way option: many budget carriers offer low fares on one-way tickets, allowing you greater flexibility with your travel plans. However, unlike traditional airlines, you won't receive a discount for purchasing round-trip tickets.
- Newer planes: one of the major benefits of budget airlines is that being new to the market their fleets are usually made up of new, or at least refurbished, planes.
Cons
- Hidden costs: the big catch to the jaw-dropping low fares are the hidden fees such as airport taxes and surcharges which can double or even triple the original published low-cost airfare. Remember budget airlines also charge for all aspects of service such as food and entertainment which can be quite costly.
- Limited flights: flights are usually restricted to major routes, like from Auckland to Sydney, which can fill up quickly. Budget carriers also fly at inconvenient times such as early mornings or late evenings when airport charges are lowest and often only service routes a few times per week.
- Remote airports: to keep their costs low, budget airlines usually service smaller airports in remote locations. So you will need to factor in additional travel time and transportation costs to get to and from these secondary airports.
- No refunds: most budget airlines have a strict ''no refund'' policy. Exceptions are only made in extreme cases, such as a death of a family member, so once you buy your ticket, you own it. That said, many companies will allow you to change your flight dates for a fee.
- Baggage restrictions: luggage limits are much more restrictive than on traditional carriers. Be sure to check the airline's policy in advance, as you may be charged exorbitant fees for excess baggage.
- Unproven reputations: it's a sad reality, but many budget carriers go belly-up within the first few years of service. Before booking, check online to see if any comments have been made that might raise a red flag. You can also read passenger reviews on Skytrax's website.
In general, when it comes to budget airlines it not only pays to do your research, but to also be more flexible with your vacation plans.
Bon voyage!
Useful websites:
Air2There
Air Asia X
Jetstar
Pacific Blue
Sounds Air
Tiger Airways
Virgin Blue
Viva Macau
Quick links:
> Travel deals
> NZ accommodation search
> Compare and book flights
> Book global hotels
Have your say: do you have any tips for flying budget airlines? Do you fly budget airlines? What are the best budget airlines?
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