When times are tough, travel budgets take a hit, which is why many people are going for low cost carriers rather than any full pledged airline.
Cue the low cost carriers, also known as budget airlines. Basically, NO FRILLS. You get what you pay. Obviously you can't expect a VIP service for a $200 ticket to Ho Chi Minh?
The worldwide revolution in budget air carriers is intriguing for a budget traveler.
After decades of wrestling with train timetables and planning overnight trips to avoid wasting precious daylight in transit, travelers can now fly between cities on their itineraries without emptying their bank accounts.
But the cynical always wonder if there is a catch. Is service sacrificed? How will I be treated at the discount airline counter?
There is no way to quantify the overall experience one might have on the dozens of budget carriers now crisscrossing the globe. It's fair to say your encounters might be awful, tremendous, or anything in between.
From my personal experience, flying budget carriers are basically a traveler, traveling light, simple and hassle-free.
Booking in cyberspace must be done with care. Budget airlines use of the Internet for 95% of its bookings could have drawbacks. As with any online purchase, one careless click or a frozen computer screen could lead to purchases you did not intend. Efficiency aside, this always lead to customers complaining that they're being overcharged of their money when they're the fools. It is why the call-centre lines are always busy.
Some airports are far from the city center. Budget airlines often operate away from the major airports. Most landing meant walking on the tarmac in the rain for a few seconds. Given what you had paid for the flight, don't too concerned about the raindrops. You might feel differently.
If the airport is far-removed from the city, be sure to factor in ground transportation costs as you decide if the fare is a good deal.
Expect a quick turnaround. Aircraft usually will not arrive until probably 15 minutes before takeoff. The airline's business module says this allows for extra rotations (more flights) on high frequency routes, but it sometimes results in delays.
Business travelers: Be slow to assume there will be a delay simply because the aircraft has not yet appeared.
Food service means paying for your meal. In an effort to keep costs down, meals are a la carte on these generally short flights. If that bothers you, consider that you're paying for "free" food when you buy a more expensive ticket elsewhere.
You'd better be on time. Remember: Check-in for every flight closes 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. It's hard for some to accept that they have "missed" a plane that in some cases hasn't even arrived at the gate, but that's the policy. As we've noted, they generally don't make exceptions unless extenuating circumstances exist for a number of passengers. You've been warned. You'll be warned on your confirmation email, too. And you'll be warned by big signs in many of the airports. Plan accordingly.
Heavy baggage will cost you. Budget airlines uses small aircrafts. So please lug your excessive baggages and boxes to a cargo plane if you're not willing to pay for the excess baggage payments.
Final thought; My personal experience was good.Budget travelers do not mind being pampered, but most realize saving money often requires sacrifice. I found those sacrifices are minimal. I saw no difference in seat comfort or service. I travel without heavy baggage, so there were no weight fees to pay. My savings on airfares more than compensated for the higher ground transportation costs.
Your experience with budget carrier could be far different. But the benefits on my flights far outweighed any drawbacks.