Just how cheap are those no-frills flights once the hidden extras are taken on board?

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Title – Just how cheap are those no-frills flights once the hidden extras are taken on board?Source – The Independent
Date – 8th March 2009

I recently commented on this blog about

Ryanair threatening to charge for the use of toilets on it’s flights and I then came across this article highlighting the ‘real’ costs of ‘budget flights’.

Before we look at all the add-ons to the advertised cost of these flights I should point out that with the advent of the ‘budget airline’ the options for the independent traveller have substantially increased and they continue to grow. The launch of an Air Asia service from Stansted to Kuala Lumpur and beyond have added a whole new dimension to the possibilities for independent travel.

Traditional travel agents who always used to be the best option for multi-stop long-haul flights, now have real competition. Anyone wishing to take a trip to South East Asia or even Australia can find cheaper alternatives on-line. But be warned there are positive and negative sides to this change.

But back to the short-haul budget flights….

The table in this article gives you some idea of the extras; but be warned they are likely to continue changing on a regular basis, so make sure you check all the booking conditions before you hand over your credit card (yes there is a charge for that too…)

Remember also to factor in all the other costs as well. It is all very well getting a cheaper flight with a low cost airline, but make sure the airport they are flying from and to do not mean that the increase in cost of getting to / from (or parking at) the airport outweigh the benefits; make sure you clear the cookies on your computer before you book (yes they track your activity and it can increase the cost); take your own food and drink as it saves buying overpriced food and drink on board and it will taste better; make sure you book as early as possible as this will generally make it cheaper (I even know of people who book multiple flights many months in advance as they are unsure of their dates, but know that even if they discard most of their flights in the end it will still be cheaper then booking at the last minute.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Transport Options alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Travel Health, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. The options for the Independent Traveller seem to get greater and greater each and every year, but it is almost getting to the point where the options are so great that it has become confusing and getting the best deals means a lot of research or finding someone you can really trust; many will claim to offer you the best and ‘only’ option, but this is rarely the case. We can help you reduce the number of options you need to investigate and direct you to those which will best suit your plans.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us our Facebook Page and our Facebook Group. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

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